Relaxing under an umbrella at Sardinia’s popular Punta Molentis beach is now banned for most visitors. The rule applies to all beachgoers except families with children under 10 and visitors 65 or older. Everyone else must brave the heat without shade equipment. Those allowed to bring umbrellas are limited to one per group.
In addition, the majority of visitors will have to pay a €10 ($11.50) per person fee between early June and late October — peak season. Visitors with disabilities and those accompanying them get free entry. The umbrella exemption for families and older visitors doesn’t extend to the fee.
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This isn’t the only Italian island tightening beach rules this year. In February, Capri banned local tour guides from using umbrellas to stand out in crowds and direct their groups. Officials said that rule aimed to prevent peak-season tourism from disrupting locals’ lives.
The ban at Punta Molentis comes after a fire in July of last year. The blaze highlighted safety risks posed by large numbers of umbrellas propped up close together on the sand. A Villasimius municipality representative told CNN the new rule was a required safety measure following the July 2025 incident. The fire that took place on the beach that month demonstrated the specific danger created when shade gear is densely packed, complicating evacuation efforts. The representative explained that the sheer number of umbrellas set up made it difficult to evacuate the beach, which drove the commune to establish this rule.
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“It is essentially because of that fire and the difficulty we had evacuating the beach due to the sheer number of umbrellas set up that the commune has set up this rule,” the representative said.
“This is also an area where the paid beach establishments are prohibited, meaning people set up umbrellas next to each other, which blocks access, causes various hazards and blocks the view of the sea, which also led to the ordinance,” the insider added. Because no commercial beach clubs or paid concession stands operate at this stretch of sand, visitors bring their own equipment and arrange it in close quarters, creating a dense patchwork of canopies that impedes movement and sightlines.
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In a general information notice, Villasimius officials gave fire safety guidelines. One directive: find a safe escape route, take shelter in areas that have already burned, and stay away from flammable containers. They also told beachgoers not to obstruct emergency responders and to stay on the shoreline or in shallow water. Another reminder was not to attempt to retrieve vehicles in danger. The notice further instructed that, in the event of a fire, people should take shelter in areas that have already burned, as those zones are less likely to reignite, and should keep clear of any containers holding combustible materials. The guidelines emphasized that beachgoers should not block the path of emergency personnel and should remain on the shoreline or in shallow water rather than fleeing inland through smoke. Additionally, the directives warned against trying to drive or recover vehicles that might be threatened by flames.
Located on the southeast coast of Sardinia, Punta Molentis draws such large crowds that access is already restricted during peak summer months to prevent overtourism. For visitors who want to avoid the new rules, other Sardinia beaches include Cala Goloritzé, Spiaggia di Tuerredda, and La Pelosa.