italian riviera beaches - pay to lay?

The last time I was at a beach in Italy was in 1996, but at that time, there were no charges at Cinque Terre or Santa Margherita. Portofino doesn't really have a "beach". All you really need is a RS Italy book!

While things may vary from town to town, figure that the following apply:

If a beach has public access (you do not have to go through a hotel or other private property to get to it) then most any stretch of open sand/rocks is fair game and should have no cost.

If there are chairs, Umbrellas, or a section roped off, then that area may be reserved for a Hotel or a concession where you must be a guest or pay a fee.

On occasion (maybe not so much on the Italian Riviera) a Beach Club/Restaurant may have chairs or umbrellas at no charge, as long as you order a drink or two or some food.

In general, any town with a Beach will have a Public section since the locals like the beach as well. As an example, the beach in Monterosso al Mare does have quite a few concessions, but plenty of open public space.

Do not overlook though spending a few euro for a chair or umbrella, especially if you will be on the beach a few hours, makes the day much more relaxing.

We were at the beach in Monterosso in September. There are public access areas which don't have a fee, but you are sitting on your bum on the rocky sand :). We rented two chairs and and umbrella for something like 20 euro for the day--worth it in my opinion.

Beaches are not private. They are public property. Some portions of the beach however may given by the local authorities to private establishments in concession. Within that portion, the concession can set up chairs and umbrella and other amenities which they offer to the public for a fee. The portion given to the concession will not include the 5 meter strip from the water edge. That portion is always public and must not be encumbered (so no umbrellas, chairs etc. you can walk, or sit there on a towel however).
Regional governments establish the rules for beach use and concessions. The riviera is under the jurisdiction of the Liguria region. That Region generally establishes that no more than 50% of a beach can be given in concession to private establishments.
Be aware that, especially at the Cinque Terre, there are extortionist scammers who try to get foreign tourist to pay a fee for staying in areas of the beach which are totally public and not given to concessions. Just tell them to bug off (the correct Italian translation is "vaffanculo") or you will call the Carabinieri.

Roberto,

LOL! Perhaps a more polite version of telling the scammers to "get lost or I'll all the Carabinieri" would be more appropriate.

sounds good, thanks for the advice!

@Ken and Roberto - yes, a more polite but curt phrase would be very welcome. I'm a short, middle-aged woman, and the idea of using that word with any sense of authority on an Italian male had me in fits of giggles. I don't use the corresponding English phrase here! Suppose I could practice scowling and swearing in advance...

Nelly,

I'll leave the question on which word to use to Roberto as his Italian language abilities are much better than mine.

I only saw the beach at Paraggi in the off season, but it is small (surrounded by cliffs, which I like) and looked like it could easily be controlled by the concessionaire there.

sounds good, thanks, @laura!

if i read anything elsewhere or come across any info on this, i'll post on this thread just so people are aware.

P.S. Google Maps has a good photo of Paraggi, with a couple of different vendors' chairs on the majority of beach. But I bet they won't be in full swing in May.