Italian Beaches Putting Daily Cap on Summer Visitors

Photo: CNN

(CNN) - As temperatures rise and summer beckons, it’s fast approaching that time of year when tourists from all around the world descend on Italy’s coastline.

But the huge popularity of Italy’s two largest islands Sicily and Sardinia, known for their pristine beaches and fluorescent blue waters, has come at a cost to the local environment, with trash and sand theft among the biggest problems.

However, this summer, local authorities are taking extra steps to preserve the natural environment by enforcing strict daily visitor limits, with some of the most highly rated beaches in the popular islands in the frontline.

While Baunei, a small village in a remote area of eastern Sardinia, has implemented daily visitor caps in previous years, restrictions on the number of sunbathers permitted to visit some of the most beautiful beaches along its 40-kilometer coastline overlooking the Gulf of Orosei are being tightened even further this summer.

Four beaches are affected. Cala dei Gabbiani and Cala Biriala both now have a daily cap of 300 visitors in place, while Cala Goloritze has a limit of 250 visitors per day, and Cala Mariolu, the largest of the beaches, has a daily limit of 700 people.

Visitors to Cala Goloritze, which is only accessible by foot or boat, will be charged an entrance fee of six euros (US$6.5.)

Beachgoers must book their spot at all of these locations through an app called Cuore di Sardegna (or Heart of Sardinia) at least 72 hours before their visit. The entrance fee for Cala Goloritze can either be paid online, or with cash at the entrance to the inlet.

This charge will help fund surveillance, a parking area and maintaining the paths and toilets on the beach, according to local authorities.

At Cala Mariolu, one of Sardinia’s most famous beaches, a one euro per passenger fee is now applicable to any boats or dinghies that dock here.

Stintino, a fishing village on the northern coast, is adopting strict measures to protect its most stunning asset – the pinkish coral beach of La Pelosa, which offers views of the Isola Piana island, known for its stone lookout tower.

Named after the grassy, hairy (pelosi in Italian) plants that jut out of its soft sand dunes, La Pelosa is among the most beautiful – and crowded – beaches in Italy.

In high season, its sands are often a maze of towels and sunbathers, while a swim in its beautiful waters usually involves zig-zagging between countless inflatable water mats.