In June, a conflict arose at the Alla Lanterna beach, better known as Pedocin, Trieste, after a woman tried to sunbathe on the men’s side. The woman, who was with her partner, was reprimanded by another beachgoer.
Pedocin is considered the only beach in Europe where men and women are separated by gender.
After this incident, which sparked international discussions about whether the woman was right to refuse to move, the number of visitors to the beach increased significantly.
Local media reported that in July alone this year, authorities sold 53,610 tickets. For comparison, there were about 35,000 in 2025, and just over 40,000 in 2024.
About 100,000 people visited the beach in the last three months, and 120,000 euros were collected from ticket sales alone.
“Il Piccolo” reported that most visitors to this beach are women.
The conflict ignited
However, not everyone is happy with such separation. During the June conflict, an older woman asked a younger woman to leave the men’s area.
The younger woman called her “sexist” and “backward.” She also stated that Trieste is “medieval” because of such separation by the water, adding: “If you follow such customs, you are not Italians.”
It is said that this woman and her partner came from Milan.
“You live in the Middle Ages,” she reportedly said. “You are a bunch of sexist bigots… this is a form of discrimination. Shame on you.”
You live in the Middle Ages.
The woman who reprimanded her had come to the men’s side of the beach from another area separated by a wall to help her husband take their disabled son to the toilet.
After the outburst of anger, the young woman, as “Il Piccolo” wrote, “threateningly” approached the older mother and raised her hand.
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However, the men present on the beach managed to calm the situation, although one beach employee was pushed. After the conflict, the tourist couple left the beach but demanded a refund of the 2.40 euro entrance fee.
Meeting the opposite sex – in the water
At the Pedocin beach, there is a wall dividing the zones: the part for women and children under 12 is separated from the area reserved for men.
To meet someone of the opposite sex, beachgoers have to swim out to the buoys in the sea – this ritual has been in place for over a century.
It is said that women appreciate this separation because it allows them to sunbathe topless away from prying eyes.
“And for everything else – just swim to the buoys,” beach visitors told “La Repubblica.”
Unique origin of the place
The name Pedocin means louse or nit. It is believed that travelers once cleaned lice off horses in this area, although in the Trieste dialect mussels are called “pedoci,” and there are mussel farming sites nearby.
The beach is mentioned in literature and film. A 2016 documentary followed the regular visitors of this bay throughout the year.
It is believed that travelers once cleaned lice off horses in this area.
Pedocin beach has more pebbles than sand. It is close to the city center and attracts older visitors who often return here.
The entrance fee before the pandemic period was just 1 euro.
