How one beach keeps men and women on separate sides

Pedocin beach in Trieste has a wall down the middle, sticking out into the sea, men on one side, women on the other.

It hit the news is because a fight broke out when someone tried to get to the other side and since then there has been a debate about the merits of sex-segregated beaches.

You can understand why sunbathing women might prefer to nod off on a topless beach without men wearing sunglasses so they can have a good look.

You know what some men are like.

They have the mirrored shades and angle their heads slightly away while they gawp at a bit of flesh.

It’s stupid and I still have a bad shoulder from it.

Since it hit the news there has been an increase in visitor numbers.

They have sold tens of thousands more tickets. Yes, it’s a beach you need a ticket for.

Would you pay €2.40 to be sure you weren’t around the opposite sex?

Steve Allen wonders about being segregated from his wife and children on a beach (Image: Steve Allen)

Here’s the strange thing about this story.

The person who tried to get to the other side was a woman.

She broke into the man zone.

She wasn’t on the pull.

The beach has a protocol for that.

If you want to fraternise you are allowed to go out beyond the wall that protrudes into the sea and meet up.

Technically the advice is 'you have to reach the tip of the groyne' but I understand why they don’t put it that way.

When I first heard about this story, I thought it had uncovered a backwards tradition that doesn’t fit in 2026.

I thought I wouldn’t use a beach like that.

I only go to the beach with my family, so why would I want to be segregated from them?

Then I realised it was the men’s section that was the desired side.

It’s because the rules are that men go on one side while women and children under 12 go on the other.

It’s a day at the beach where you get away without doing any parenting and you can just relax.

Yes, there’s a chance your partner will be waving at you angrily but you can pretend you’re not looking.

All you need is some mirrored sunglasses and the skill to make it look like you’re glancing elsewhere.

Men, our training has finally paid off.

• Steve Allen is a comedian, broadcaster and author, for more from Steve, listen to his podcast ‘Steve N Allen Almost Daily’.