Sicily revokes century-old Mondello beach concession over mafia links

It is one of Europe’s most celebrated shorelines, framed by mountains and 19th-century villas and famed for its Caribbean-blue water and white sand.But Mondello beach in Palermo, Sicily, has also been mired in controversy, the subject of complaints stretching back a century from residents and tourists who say its private lidos, cabins and deckchairs have left scant room for public access.All that could change after Sicilian authorities revoked the permit of Italo Belga, the company that has controlled the beach for all that time, citing the risk of mafia infiltration into another firm subcontracted to carry out maintenance.Last year, an inquiry by the regional MP Ismaele La Vardera and reporting in La Repubblica newspaper revealed that individuals who worked for the subcontractor GM Edil had relatives who were members of Cosa Nostra, the Sicilian mafia that controls the Mondello area. La Vardera was subsequently given police protection.Residents and tourists have complained for nearly a century that private lidos, cabins and deckchairs have left scant room for public access to Mondello beach. Photograph: Igor Petyx/EPAItalo Belga strongly denied having any dealings with mafia figures and its managers are not under investigation for mafia-related offences. The company said it was unaware that employees of its subcontractor had familial links to the mafia and that it has operated “in full compliance with the law”.It said in November that it had already cut ties with GM Edil after the prefect of Palermo, a representative of the interior ministry, flagged the risk of criminal infiltration. “In light of the anti-mafia interdiction order issued by the prefecture of Palermo against GM Edil, any relationship with the company in question, already suspended as a precautionary measure, has been definitively terminated, while we reserve the right to consider further action,” Italo Belga said in a statement at the time.In its revocation order on Thursday, Sicily’s regional department for territory and environment said that “while no specific concerns had emerged regarding Italo Belga’s senior management”, the company had outsourced maintenance work to a firm with “links to figures in organised crime”, which showed a “systematic willingness to employ individuals close to the mafia”.Italo Belga has said it is considering filing appeals against the order and bringing legal action in administrative tribunals.Speaking after the order, La Vardera said: “I am struggling to contain my emotion. After almost a year of battles and personal sacrifices, today we can finally write the word ‘end’. After more than 100 years, Italo-Belga no longer holds the concession for Mondello beach. This proves we were right to fight: today the rule of law prevails, along with that part of Sicily that says no to abuse of power. And Palermo wins too, because the beach is returned to its citizens.”Private beach resorts along Italy’s extensive coastlines reported declines of between 15% and 25% last June and July compared with the same period in 2024. Photograph: ReutersThe revocation order comes against a backdrop of growing complaints from Italians across the country about soaring prices charged by beach concession holders.For decades, renting the same cabin, sun bed and parasol each summer has been a ritual of Italian holiday culture. But last season opened with a marked drop in visitor numbers. Private beach resorts along Italy’s extensive coastlines reported declines of between 15% and 25% in June and July compared with the same period in 2024.Outside the quieter autumn and winter months, only small parts of Mondello beach remained open to the public, leaving beachgoers who were unwilling or unable to pay crowded at the edge of the sea.For now, the future of Mondello beach remains uncertain. The revocation will be examined by Palermo’s city council, which must decide whether to launch a new tender inviting other companies to manage the shoreline or to leave the beach entirely public.