The Italian beaches at risk of disappearing

Italian beaches are increasingly at risk due to the climate crisis, which is raising sea levels; coastal erosion, aggravated by increased storm surges; and the construction of infrastructure, ports, and buildings in coastal areas. According to the Report: Sunken Landscapes, circa il 20 percent of Italian beaches could be submerged or significantly reduced by the 2050 unless effective adaptation and coastal defense strategies are implemented. But which beaches are most at risk? Where are they located? And what is being done to avoid the disaster that has been predicted?

Why are the beaches receding?

The first factor is thesea ​​level rise, which makes flooding and incursions into low-lying coastal areas more frequent. The second is theerosion: storm surges become more intense, carrying away sand and weakening dunes and coastlines. The third is the impact of human activities along the coast: when construction is too close to the shoreline or the coast is "blocked" with invasive interventions, the beach loses space and the ability to regenerate.

The result is a paradox: when ineffective measures are taken along a stretch of coast, we end up making it even more vulnerable. Effective protection means reducing fragility and planning interventions, without chasing an emergency once the season has begun.

The most at-risk beaches, from North to South

Here are some of the most vulnerable coastal areas, starting from the north and moving south, along a map spanning the Upper Adriatic, the Tyrrhenian Sea, and the islands. From low, sandy shores, more exposed to the sea's advance and storm surges, to beaches squeezed between the sea and urban development, to stretches where dunes and wetlands can no longer act as a natural barrier: in each case, the risk arises from the intertwining of climate, erosion and coastal transformations.

• Trieste and the coast of Friuli Venezia GiuliaLow-lying, urbanized stretches of coastline, where rising sea levels compound storm surges. Here, the beach is often squeezed between water and infrastructure: it doesn't take much for it to recede and break apart.
• Lignano SabbiadoroA large beach, a symbol of the Upper Adriatic, beloved for its fine sand and family-friendly atmosphere. Its flat morphology and tourist pressure make it more difficult to manage: when the sea comes in, the sand tends to shift rapidly.
• GradeThe sea may appear calmer, but the balance is fragile: lagoons and wetlands are a precious natural buffer, and when stressed by tides, extreme events, and coastal developments, the coastline loses its protection.
• Delta del Po (between Veneto and Emilia-Romagna)A beautiful, flat landscape, made of water and land in perfect balance. Here, the risk is twofold: marine ingress and coastline retreat, with knock-on effects on beaches, pine forests, crops, and infrastructure.
• Venice Lagoon and nearby coastline (Lido and surroundings)Iconic and "historic" beaches, where protection measures and infrastructure have been implemented over time. If the coast doesn't have space to absorb the sea's impact, it becomes more vulnerable to extreme events.
• Pisa area (Marina di Pisa, Tirrenia and nearby coast)The northern Tyrrhenian Sea alternates between beaches and urbanized areas: when the beach is thin, a season of intense storm surges is enough to see a noticeable and repeated retreat.
• Grosseto and the coastal MaremmaDunes, pine forests, long stretches of sand: a "natural" image that, however, must be carefully protected. If the dunes deteriorate (trampling, erosion, aggressive cleaning), the beach loses its best shield.
• Fiumicino and Ostia (Lazio)Here the sea encounters mouths, canals, urbanization and infrastructure. The risk is that of a coast that retreats and it fragments in critical points, making flooding more frequent during storm surges.
• Gulf of GaetaBeaches of great scenic and tourist value, where the quality of the sea and the preservation of the coast are part of the local economy. If erosion and sea level rise increase, the beach may shrink and become more fragile, even off-season.
• Gargano (Puglia)Cliffs and sandy shores coexist within a few kilometers: it's a spectacular area, but the coast can be very sensitive to storm surges and changes in sediment. When the sea "eats" the sand, some beaches can quickly become thinner.
• Poetto (Cagliari)An urban beach, used year-round, requires a balance between use and protection. The risk increases if the shoreline fails to regenerate sand after intense events and if the defenses are incompatible with natural dynamics.
• Oristano (Torregrande and Arborea area)A wide, windy coastline, with low, sensitive stretches. Here, the problem is often a combination of an advancing sea and a receding shoreline: without regular, targeted interventions, the beach loses ground season after season.

What is being done (and what is really needed)

Coastal protection works when it combines different measures in a coherent and continuous manner, avoiding waste and one-off solutions. In practice, the most effective actions have three key elements: space, nature, rules.

• Giving space back to the beach: where possible, avoid new construction near the shoreline and plan gradual retreats in the most vulnerable areas.
• Protect dunes and vegetation: the dunes are not an aesthetic detail, they are a natural barrier against wind and storm surges.
• Smart maintenance: Overly aggressive cleaning and heavy vehicles can impoverish the beach and make it more vulnerable.
• Targeted and monitored beach nourishment: useful only if done well, with compatible sands and checks over time, otherwise they become an ongoing cost.
• Integrated Coastal Management: a plan that unites municipalities, regions, technical bodies and local communities, because the beach doesn't end where the umbrella ends.

Read also:

• Free beaches: the silent expropriation
• Smoke-free beaches: where are they in Italy?
• Anna Kowalska, the Polish teacher who single-handedly cleans Cagliari's beaches