[Sportschosun, Jang Jong-ho] A dispute over gender-zone rules at an Italian beach escalated into a physical altercation, prompting police to respond.
According to foreign media outlets, including the New York Post, the clash between tourists took place on the 20th local time at Bagno Marino La Lanterna beach in Trieste, a city in northern Italy.
Known locally as Pedocin, the beach has operated with separate areas for men and women for more than 100 years since opening in the early 1900s. It is widely regarded as the last remaining gender-segregated beach in Europe.
The trouble began when a female tourist from Milan entered the men-only section. She reportedly crossed the boundary in disregard of the rules so she could spend time with her boyfriend, who was in the men’s area.
When beachgoers explained the rules and asked her to calm down, she reportedly pushed back strongly, saying, "You are living in the Middle Ages." She then argued that the rules were "sexist" and "a form of discrimination."
In particular, when a woman in her 50s politely explained the rules, the tourist allegedly called her a "sexist" and an "outdated person."
Local media reported that the tourist raised her hand and approached the other woman in a threatening manner during the argument. Fortunately, nearby male beachgoers stepped in and calmed the situation, preventing a physical confrontation.
However, a female staff member who tried to stop the disturbance was reportedly shoved. In the end, the tourist and her boyfriend left the beach and are said to have demanded a refund of their admission fee. The entrance fee is about 2.40 euros, or roughly 4,200 won.
Meanwhile, Pedocin is a pebble beach along the Adriatic Sea, with a wall about 2.7 meters high separating the men’s and women’s sections. Women and children use one side, while men use the other. If visitors want to interact, they can meet in the sea around the buoys.
Local residents have long accepted the system as part of the beach’s tradition and culture. Women can sunbathe without worrying about men’s gaze, and some even relax topless. Men, too, enjoy their time freely in a separate space.
Jang Jong-ho, bellho@sportschosun.com
