Fano, September 11, 2026 – All beach concessionaires of Pesaro, Gabicce and Mondolfo-Marotta can sleep peacefully until 2033 because no one will be able to take their beach concession from under their feet by putting it up for auction.
It is a completely different story for Fano, which in extending the concessions “skipped” a not insignificant detail, namely the public tender, something that saved the three municipalities but not Fano, which finds itself in the same conditions as Senigallia. All the city’s baths, about 55, go to the highest bidder.
Thus comes to an end the now famous Bolkestein according to which municipalities must prepare tenders by June of next year and offers must be submitted by September 2027.
“Unfortunately – says Andrea Giuliani, provincial head of lifeguards associated with Confartigianato – Fano was the first to have the intuition to extend the concessions based on the Centinaio law, but it did not do so through a public tender, which instead was done by the municipalities of Pesaro, Gabicce and Mondolfo. The Council of State considered this public tender a fundamental step. I don’t know – Giuliani continues – how much interest there is from large groups to buy beaches in less famous locations. Because in the case of Fano, the brands do not have advertising returns as can happen in some locations in Versilia. Here we are facing heavy investments that in the end must pay off.”
Has no one come forward to explore and make evaluations?
“Yes, some have come to ask and gather information. But I advised everyone against participating in the auction tenders because the game might not be worth the candle.”
Once the auction is done, for how many years is the concession granted?
“We are talking about an extension up to a maximum of 15-20 years in exchange for an improvement project that can reach up to 800,000 euros. You spend this amount but if at the end of the concession you have amortized the expense, you no longer get anything.”
Maybe the central beaches of Lido and Arzilla could also be of interest…
“There might be some interest in those. But I repeat, this is not Versilia.”
Maybe Gabellini, who wants to build a hotel at the Lido, could combine the beach as a service. There are cases in Pesaro. What do you say, Giuliani?
“Look, as far as I know, I don’t think Claudio Gabellini is interested in such an operation.”
Anyway, the concession rumba begins in Fano, so until the end of the public auctions everyone is holding their breath. In Pesaro, Gabicce and Mondolfo-Marotta, peaceful sleep until 2033. All because of a skipped procedure in the case of Fano: the extension of concessions without public tender.
m. g.
