Rimini, August 14, 2026 – Make way for pools on the beach in Rimini. The amendment to the beach plan, approved a week ago by the city council, will allow beach establishment operators to build the structures. Not all, however: only the large establishments (those that will be formed by merging at least 8 beach clubs) and medium-sized ones (at least 2 clubs together) will be allowed to have pools. A revolution for Rimini, where in the past some lifeguards were prosecuted for having built hot tubs. A move rejected by Brothers of Italy, who say the pools will “cement over the beach.”
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But the revolution is also not accepted by Legambiente and many environmental associations. For Legambiente Emilia-Romagna, “facing a climate crisis that is making water an increasingly scarce resource, authorizing new pools on the Rimini coastline seems a short-sighted choice.
It is not about demonizing biopools of 100 square meters (in reality, the larger ones can reach 300 meters, ed.), but about understanding what kind of development model we want to build for our territory. The paradox would be to design pools to cool tourists while the surrounding territory suffers from water shortage.” The Greens and the CGIL also raise doubts about pools on the beach: a choice that “does not take into account climate change” and the water crisis, which has become a continuous emergency.
The mayor: “Pools are indispensable”
For years, Rimini lifeguards have been asking to be allowed to build pools on the beach. Mayor Sadegholvaad, can this really be a turning point for tourism?
“It has been said that Rimini is finally breaking the taboo. But the truth is that others have already broken the taboo, for years. Pools on the beach exist all over the world. And there is no need to look far: they have long existed in Riccione, Misano, San Mauro. Because the way of vacationing has changed and tourists’ needs today are different from yesterday. Pools will never replace the sea. They are an additional service, for those who are afraid to enter the sea or for a thousand other reasons prefer the pool. And Rimini can no longer do without pools on the beach.”
For some opposition councilors and many environmental associations, starting with Legambiente, pools will only bring more concrete to the beach.
“Our beach plan already provides for a 10% reduction in built-up areas compared to existing ones. And those who build pools will have to give up part of the structures. To be clear: if you build a 100 square meter pool, you must remove an equal number of square meters of cabins or other structures. We have estimated that if all the beach establishments that on paper can build pools actually did so, we would reduce built-up areas by 22%. But there is also another aspect that should not be underestimated.”
Which one?
“When we talk about pools on the beach, we mean biopools. Eco-friendly and removable structures, with resin flooring and materials with natural colors. To be clear, we think of pools like the one built on the beach of Misano. Slides and water games will be prohibited, and technological systems must be incorporated into existing structures.”
It has been pointed out from many sides that using drinking water for pools, in times of climate change and water crisis, is a serious mistake.
“Precisely for this reason, we are exploring the possibility of using salt water for pools on the beach. Our offices are already working on it. It is not a simple solution; we will have to understand how sustainable and feasible it is.”
According to environmentalists, it will be difficult to use seawater, due to authorization and technical issues.
“In the city council, we have publicly committed to conducting all necessary studies to evaluate this solution. But we should move beyond the pools yes/pools no debate. Because the beach plan is part of a revolution that started long ago, with the new promenade and the sewer network improvement works. Thanks to the Sea Park, we have eliminated 92,000 square meters of concrete (equivalent to 22 soccer fields) and created green oases, bike paths, playgrounds, and gyms. And thanks to the major sewer works, bathing bans due to sewage discharge into the sea have decreased by two-thirds.”
The new beach plan will break another barrier in Rimini: it will be possible to dance on the beach.
“Yes, but dancing entertainment will only be allowed in the largest establishments, outdoors and under certain conditions… There will be no discos on the beach. Moreover, with the plan, we promote ‘de-seasonalization’ and winter sea tourism, giving operators the possibility to set up temporary structures and thus organize events and sports activities all year round. And we allow beach bars and restaurants to build panoramic terraces.”
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