The Mediterranean can be fun and interesting, don’t you think so? Let’s see. The coast is 46.000 km, over 28.000 miles, long. The sea touches three continents, 21 countries and has countless beaches. Everyone can find a beach for themselves. And some are really special.

One of those interestingly weird beaches is in the north of Italy in a city called Trieste. The beach is called beach La Lanterna or El Pedocin, as the locals call it. This beach is a real part of history. It was created in 1903, in the times of Habsburg Monarchy, when they built a wall that separated the men from women and children. Even though it sounds like something out of the history books, it is still very real. And not just that, the beach was renovated in 2009. There were a lot of suggestions to abolish the separation in the past decades, but the passionate supporters of this beach loudly opposed.

There is a 3 meters, about 10 feet, high wall between the male and female part of the beach, and a rope in the sea. The lifeguards controlling this area are relentless, they make sure that the men and women don’t mix. So this beach is definitely not intended for couples on their honeymoon.

So, why does it work? Let’s look from the men perspective. You bring your wife and children; you leave them, with all the bags and toys, at the entrance of their part, and go enjoy yourself on the other part of the beach. Just imagine all the peace and quiet. There are maybe a few hundred men relaxing, maybe enjoying a beer or playing cards. Sounds like a fun day at a beach.

How about the women’s perspective? You come with your children, bags and probably ten toys. You husband leaves you at the entrance, and then you fight your way, with a kid on one hand and ton of things on the other hand, to find a small spot for yourselves. This part of the beach is usually crowded. There are usually over thousand women and children there. If you are early, you can probably get more space, not just enough for a towel. When you are all set up, you still have to reach the water; you have to make sure not to step on an old lady or a small child. And make sure you don’t lose your children before you get to the water. Doesn’t sound like a fun day at the beach, does it?

But it is actually not as bad as it sounds. This beach is perfect for more conservative people that don’t feel well in bathing suit, when there is the opposite sex present. It is for people that come to relax and lay on the beach, and not flirt. Especially women love to sunbathe topless and in thong, because there is no curious gazing from men. The entrance fee is really low and besides, it is always nice just to enjoy the beach for a few hours.

I met an older couple into their seventies that have been coming to this beach for decades. They kiss each other at the entrance and go on their respective sides of the beach for a few hours. When they are in the water, they say a few words over the rope.  Maybe this is the recipe for a long and happy relationship?

A fun fact about the beach. Why is the beach called beach El Pedocin? One of the legends says that during the first World War, after the occupation of Trieste, the Italian soldiers bathed on this beach to get the lice off themselves. A louse is called pidocchio in Italian. Could this be true? Well, it sounds funny enough to be.

Beach El Pedocin


Beach El Pedocin


Beach El Pedocin


Beach El Pedocin

Do you want to visit this beach? Here is some information about it.
Length: 150 m
Width: 30 m
Beach type: fine gravel beach
Suitable for: youth, families, elders, disabled persons (there is an entrance suitable for disabled)
The beach has: a lifeguard, toilets, showers, parking, access for disabled, trash bins.
GPS coordinates:
45°38'53.88"N
13°45'16.54"E