The problem
Since the beginning of August the wonderful beach Arenauta is closed.
An enclosure of the whole beach (photo)
forbids approaching the rocks or the climbing cave.
Whoever is found transgressing the ban is accused and punished.
The official motivation is safety: the danger of falling rocks.
Curiously, the fence has been built even in the long part of the beach
in front of the dune which is located at a great distance from the rocks.
The local climbers are worried
- that the beach might remain closed for a long period
- that climbing in that wonderful spot stay forbidden
- that the exceptional natural beauty of that place might
be destroyed by buildings and other interventions
- that those who are interested in transforming the beach into a bathing
establishment might profit from the situation and obtain
the concession for the beach Arenauta.
9.9.2011
Your signature is still important!
The situationhasn't changed the cave is open, but the
walls remain closed. A request for financing for
safety measures has been communicated to the provincia, which has yet
to respond
The situation on 23.10.2010
The enclosure of the beach has been taken away on the 26th of september.
But it is still prohibited to climb in the left part of the beach
(seen from the sea). The problem is not yet solved. Now the region has
been asked to pay the security measures which are a precondition for the
reopening of the beach for climbers. The region has not yet taken the decision.
Today 883 people of 27 countries have signed this petition. Help us to reach 1000!
The local climbers confirm that it is important and helpful to visibly maintain
international attention to that beach.
photos of the beach: 1, 2, 3, 4
Petition:
We, European climbers and climbers from all over
the world are alarmed by the news spread through
various channels that the marvellous beach Arenauta,
presently closed to the public, might be in danger.
We would like to address you, the authorities of Gaeta,
in order to ask you to make all possible efforts to save
this wonderful beach and its surrounding rocks.
Please do act in a way which guarantees
- that the natural beauty of the beach Arenauta and
its present morphology will be preserved
- that this marvellous climbing place remains open
for climbers and the climbing routes will not be
destroyed but rather renovated to enhance safety
- that the beach remains a free beach accessible to
the public for a modest prize
- that the beach will not be closed in the evening
for those who wish to enjoy its beauty
- that no additional constructions will be allowed.
We address this petition to you, the authorities of Gaeta,
as people who appreciate a lot this extraordinary place.
Many of us have spent unforgettable moments on that very
special beach and hope to come back in the future. We know
that the beach Arenauta is one of the very rare places in the
whole world where climbing can be combined with enjoying sea
and sun in a wonderful natural setting. Gaeta is known among
climbers in the whole world for that reason. We hope that the
present concern about the possibility of falling rocks in some
parts of the beach will not provoke an overreaction and that
the beach will be reopened to the public in the near future.
All measures that will be taken to enhance safety should be
done in a way which protects as much as possible the morpho-
logy of the rocks, in full awareness of the value of these
rocks and with great respect for their natural beauty.