Brits dreaming of a summer beach holiday in Italy might want to reconsider what they're packing as one of the country's most stunning coasts has a unique rule that could catch out unsuspecting holidaymakers. La Pelosa in northern Sardinia is one of Europe's most sought-after beaches, famed for its crystal clear waters, white sands and a historic 16th-century tower just off the shore. But it also boasts one of the strictest rules for tourists in Europe – beach towels are banned on the sand.

This rule was introduced in 2018 amid fears that visitors were damaging the pristine landscape by taking home large amounts of sand trapped in their towels. In 2017, the island as a whole made it a criminal offence to take home shells, sand or pebbles, with fines ranging from €300 to €5,000 (£250 to £4,183).

To get around the towel rule, authorities at La Pelosa encourage visitors to place their towels on rented straw mats instead.

Landscape photo of beachgoers and tourists laying on white sand, overlooking a background of mountains and clear blue sea. This is La Pelosa beach in Sardinia.
Tourists flock to La Pelosa for its natural beauty

Locals in the town of Stintino, where La Pelosa is based, did not take too well to the rule being introduced at the time, according to TheLocal.it website. Antonio Diana, the former mayor of Stintino, was accused of turning the beach into a resort for wealthy tourists, reports the Liverpool Echo.

But he hit back at critics, telling La Repubblica newspaper in 2018: "People can say what they want, but the important thing is to save La Pelosa. The idea of banning towels is not our invention, the entire plan currently being implemented is based on scientific studies in which towels are indicated as one of the greatest dangers, because when they are damp they retain a lot of sand. It is not an idea made up in thin air."

Echoing these sentiments, La Pelosa's authorities underscored the urgency to safeguard the beach from further erosion and transformation. Its website said: "[The beach] is as beautiful as it is fragile: over decades it has undergone change and erosion, including by maxiflux. To protect it, regulations have been enacted."

Photo of a man, topless but with shorts, walking on a wooden path on beach. To his right is a giant blue sign warning people of the rules of using the beach. This is La Pelosa beach in Sardinia, Italy.
The beach has some other rules tourists must abide by

Moreover, visitors to La Pelosa must comply with several rules listed on the beach's official site:

  • Rinse sand from feet before exiting the beach
  • Only smoke within designated spots
  • Promptly dispose of waste
  • Refrain from using shampoo or soap while on the sands
  • Avoid bringing dogs between 8am and 8pm

With its popularity leading to excessive crowding, especially in the high season, La Pelosa has introduced a cap of 1,500 daily visitors throughout the summer months.

Entry tickets can be bought online via the La Pelosa website for €3.50 (£3) for anyone wishing to visit. While this year's tickets are not yet on sale, prospective beachgoers are encouraged to book as soon as they go live.

Reviews on TripAdvisor for La Pelosa beach are a mixed bag. A disgruntled visitor lambasted the strict rules, venting: "Absurd rules like no sandcastles, and literally have security patrolling around checking if you have an arm band or not. Completely kills the vibe and is the only time I've seen anything actually enforced in this country."

Meanwhile, others sang the spot's praises for its untouched appeal. An utterly smitten holidaymaker gushed: "The most beautiful beach I ever seen and the most clear water with white sand. You can't skip this!"

And another succinctly summed up their experience with: "The most beautiful European beach I have seen."