The Italian seaside resort of Lignano fears 80,000 visitors over Pentecost and takes precautions: "Ticking time bomb"

Created: 2022-06-02 21:22

By: Marcus Giebel

The beach in Lignano.

Things could get chaotic here over the Pentecost weekend.

(Archive image) © TOBIAS STEINMAURER via www.imago-images.de

This Pentecost weekend alerts the Italian seaside resort of Lignano Sabbiadoro.

Because a real wave of tourists is expected.

That's why German-speaking police officers also arrive.

Munich - Lignano Sabbiadoro - a place name can hardly sound more Italian.

This immediately awakens thoughts of sun, sand and sea.

Vacation!

This is exactly what the 7,000-inhabitant seaside resort on the Adriatic coast stands for.

From the point of view of the locals, only with far too many people keen to travel.

Because they fear a real wave of tourists over the Pentecost weekend - not only because there are no restrictions for the first time since the beginning of the corona pandemic.

80,000 people could then cavort on the 16 square kilometers.

Most of them probably with the goal of partying on the beach, forgetting the stressful everyday life and cooling off in the sea.

"We fear that the young Austrians have recharged their batteries during the two-year break," Martin Manera, the town's hotel president, was quoted as saying by the

.

Tourist rush at Pentecost?

Hotel president fears “ticking time bomb”

However, Lignano Sabbiadoro is making sure that the Pentecost parties don't get too out of hand, as other Austrian media are also reporting.

According to estimates, 20,000 holidaymakers will make their way from the Alpine Republic alone.

In addition, this Thursday (June 2nd) is the Italian national holiday.

So many locals are likely to stop by.

Manera warns: "Families meet lively young people, it's a ticking time bomb." But, he emphasizes, partying guests are also welcome, as long as they don't go overboard.

Video: Storm surge devastates popular beaches on Italy's Adriatic coast

Wave of tourists in Lignano?

Alcohol only in bars, drinks only in plastic and cardboard cups

Mayor Luca Fanotto and his supporters, who have just lost part of the beach as a result of a storm surge, want to draw the right lessons from the experiences of the past few years.

It is therefore forbidden to consume alcoholic beverages outside of the bars over the weekend, and only plastic or cardboard cups are allowed to be served at the tables.

The sale of drinks in glass bottles or cans is also prohibited.

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In addition, the operators of the bars are called upon to reduce the music volume.

From midnight or, in exceptional cases, from 1 a.m., the music should be turned off.

Violations of the regulation could result in fines of between 500 and 5000 euros.

But it's not just about liquids and music: it's forbidden to sell watermelons.

These have been a hit among young people in recent years, but the remains would have polluted the city center.

In order to prevent similar damage, fountains and flower beds in the center of Lignano Sabbiadoro would be closed off, the

and

with reference to local media.

The fountains would be drained so foam parties would be a thing of the past.

Lignano braces itself for 80,000 vacationers: police officers from Austria support

In addition, more and more security forces would make their rounds, especially at night, the controls on the beach, which was recently affected, should be tightened.

The Italians are therefore also relying on German-speaking police officers from Tramin in South Tyrol and from Carinthia.

For example Martin Macor, who is traveling with a colleague from Austria.

"The police understand that people want to party, but if a certain point is exceeded, it can be expensive," emphasizes the Carinthian police officer.

His Italian colleagues would show no mercy in the case of extreme drunkenness or exposed genitals in public.

He also makes it clear that urinating in public places can result in significant penalties: "In Italy, this is a criminal offence."