More than 1,700 people appealed to officials Spain They said that in order to retain the characteristics of the country’s oldest official nude beach, the newly installed bar limits the practice of nudism in the area.
Costa Natura Beach is a long, narrow sandy beach near the small town of Estepona in southern Spain. It was designated as the country’s first nude beach in 1979.
Spain is emerging from a dictatorship that has lasted more than three years General Francisco Franco At the time, supporters of naturalism were forced to spend Nearly three years Convincing officials that this approach will not cause any social harm to the Spaniards.
Even as Spain continues to build nude beaches, years of efforts have turned the natural coast into an enduring symbol. “This is very special because it is the first one,” Almudena Medrano Martín said. “Spain was far behind other countries in accepting naturalism.”
However, recently, she and other nudists who frequent the natural coast have begun to worry that the spirit that has been permeating the beach for a long time is being eroded. A bar that opened in mid-July triggered a complaint after nudists said they were told that their sunbeds prohibited people from wearing birthday suits.
“It feels like we have taken another step backwards,” Medrano Martin said. “If they are disturbed by us, they shouldn’t be set up here.”
She and other nudists initiated Online petition Earlier this month, it called for “respect for the nudity of Estepona’s natural coast beaches”. The petition states that the rules for the large land occupied by sunbeds and lounge chairs at the beach bar “limit the possibility of practicing naturalism.” To date, 1,752 people have signed the agreement.
The bar did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the Estepona City Council stated that the bar has obtained all the necessary authorizations to use the plot and, like any other restaurant, the use of its facilities must comply with the specifications set by the company. “The nudity characteristics of the beach have not changed in any way,” it said in a statement.
Medrano Martín said that to date, efforts to resolve the matter directly with the beach bar and local officials have proven to be futile. “So far, we have never encountered any problems in this area,” she said. “Naturists and textile bathers have been living together peacefully here.”
