/ 3 July 2007

Sun, sea and cellulite

Italian women are flocking to the country’s first all-female beach: a short stretch of sand designed to let bathers relax away from prying eyes and football talk.

Bathers arriving at beach number 134 on the 80km stretch of beach clubs linking Rimini to Riccione on the Adriatic coast are greeted by a large sign featuring a crossed-out image of a man.

Deep-fried squid and chips, mainstays of Italian beach-club menus, have been replaced at number 134 by tuna and avocado tart, as well as prawns tossed with tomato, black olives and capers.

”We hope women will not feel required to dress in this year’s bikini, wear make-up or always cover up that bit of cellulite with a slip,” said beach manager Francesca Ravaglia.

A beach without leering men is the season’s biggest novelty in a resort where hundreds of beaches dream up new specialities every year to compete for 40-million paying punters.

Fausto Ravaglia, owner of the beach, said one man would be allowed in. ”The lifeguard must be a man. Clearly, to save a woman you need a man. It’s a question of muscles.” — Â