Pebble beaches: opportunities for securing and protecting the Marina di Pisa coastline
Discussing the safety and enhancement of pebble beaches is the aim of the meeting organized by the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies together with the Tuscany Region, the Municipality of Pisa, and the University of Florence in Marina di Pisa on November 27 at the Sala Parrocchiale in Marina di Pisa. In addition to the presence of Virginia Mancini, Councilor for Public Works of the Municipality of Pisa, about twenty representatives from local and regional institutions, trade associations, civil and environmental organizations collaborated on the topic of pebble beaches, protection works that are now strongly integrated into the context of Marina di Pisa. The event was part of a European project (Med Iren, funded by the Horizon EU program) that aims to promote Nature-Based Solutions, i.e., solutions based on nature to protect against the impacts of climate change and safeguard natural ecosystems. Marina di Pisa is a prime example of these naturalistic solutions with its pebble/gravel beaches, which have been protecting the coastal marine ecosystem and infrastructure of this area for years.
The debate on gravel beaches is deeply rooted in the area, with many contributing to it. " Finding a balance between the use of these protective structures and the safety of the area is a fundamental challenge for the future of Marina di Pisa,“ says Professor Marco Frey, director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Sustainability and Climate at the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies.
”This project offers an opportunity to contribute to the safety of Marina di Pisa and its citizens," says Virginia Mancini, Councilor for Public Works of the Municipality of Pisa. In fact, the debate revealed that public safety is a priority for all categories present, as also stated by the two project partners, namely the Tuscany Region, represented by Luigi Cipriani, and the University of Florence, represented by Prof. Lorenzo Cappietti. At the same time, all those present recognized the importance of managing pebble beaches as a solution to ensure access to the sea for all members of society.
This event is the second in a series of four participatory events that will end in late 2026. In the first, held last May, the debate focused on the needs of the area, problems related to extreme weather and marine events, and an analysis of expectations regarding existing solutions. The outcomes of the first meeting provided useful suggestions for the content of the November 27 event.
Marina is a pilot site for the European project, which involves local stakeholders in order to gather suggestions and recommendations for improving the governance of this coastal area. This participatory process aims to generate new ideas for making these spaces a key element of the territory, capable of protecting the urban environment and enhancing its attractiveness.
