The order issued by the mayor of Villasimius, Gianluca Dessì, banning adults from putting up beach umbrellas and allowing shade only for children and over-65s, is stirring controversy.
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To enjoy the paradise of Punta Molentis, one of the most renowned gems of Sardinia, bathers will also have to fork out an entrance fee of 10 euros per person. The strict measure, in force from 6 June to 31 October 2026, stems from the need to protect the coastline's fragile ecosystem, which was hit dramatically by a devastating fire on 27 July 2025 that endangered tourists and destroyed vegetation and cars.
The core of the measure is an extremely tight cap on visitor numbers, designed to limit the impact both by land and by sea. “Access to the area by land is limited to a maximum of 70 vehicles a day and in any case to no more than 150 people at the same time [...], with a ban on setting up umbrellas or any other shading devices; one umbrella is allowed for family groups with children up to the age of 10 and elderly people aged 65 and over,” reads the mayor's order of 5 June.
For access by sea, limited to 100 people at a time and only through authorised operators, there is also a “ban on disembarking with backpacks and cool bags” and a maximum stay of one hour.
The mayor: “We have to protect the environment”
Dessì has justified the drastic measures by explaining that “it is necessary to adopt extraordinary measures aimed at protecting the site's environment, safeguarding protected habitats and ensuring users' safety.”
The order also specifies that, in order to preserve the geomorphological balance of the beach, it is forbidden to drive poles, tents or gazebos into the ground on your own, stressing that “it is essential to keep the human pressure within limits compatible with the current conditions of the beach.” Checks to ensure compliance with the opening hours (access allowed from 8:00 to 20:30) will be carried out by the local police with three inspections a day.
Residents: “Do I have to hire a child to go to the beach?”
The reaction of local people and tourists on social media, which has even made it into the British press, has swung between fury and biting irony. The Facebook page of the Municipality of Villasimius is awash with sarcastic comments: “So to put up an umbrella do I have to hire a child?” asks one user, while another quips: “To come to the beach with an umbrella I either bring my grandfather with me or I have to have a baby between today and tomorrow.”
While some are calling for an immediate boycott of the beach, others among the residents are demanding that the proceeds from ticket sales at least be reinvested in services, suggesting that it would be “only fair to repair the dirt roads leading to the beaches and install lighting for the night, not just pocket the money from the car parks.”