The long wait is over. In the Italian holiday resort on the Adriatic Sea, the motto is again this year: “Tutto Gas!” Strict rules are in place to keep the thousands of guests under control. No fewer than 100,000 guests are expected in the party metropolis this Whitsun weekend; 20,000 alone come from Austria to celebrate exuberantly.
Friday evening it was already warm on the beach and on the boardwalks. The gray sky couldn’t spoil the good mood. And that meant full commitment to the Italian police officers and their colleagues from Carinthia. “Actually, my colleague and I wanted to get an idea of the situation first and maybe take a few more pictures,” reports Martin Macor. “But the party was in full swing from the start!”
No glass bottles, watermelons prohibited
As in 2019, those in charge of the city of Lignano want to get the party crowd under control again this year with strict rules. Drinks – only from paper and plastic cups – may only be consumed in bars. Particularly strange: the sale of watermelons is prohibited during the Whitsun weekend. In addition to a bottle of vodka, the pumpkin fruit is the main ingredient for the infamous “vodka melon”. Officially, however, the city council only speaks of excessive pollution from the cores – and the large, green balls could still be walked on.
Party guests from Austria and Bavaria
This year there is a special mix of guests, which already led to minor friction on Friday. The partiers from Austria and Bavaria were probably a little too noisy for the Italians. The long waiting times in the restaurants also caused conflicts. Even Lega boss Matteo Salvini didn’t hesitate for a moment, warning against the “good guys who come to Lignano to cause chaos here”.
‘Party from half past ten in the morning’
“We are happy with every guest – and that we can finally welcome them again without a mask,” says tourism expert Ardito. Lignano showed his best side on Saturday. After a night of drinking on the beach, many were awakened by the first rays of the sun. And just a few hours later, there was a lot of activity.
“The party was in full swing from 11 a.m. on Saturday,” said police officer Martin Macor, who mediates between German-speaking holidaymakers and Italian authorities: “Actually, I was only on standby during the day, but our compatriots have the police and we are constantly on the road.”
A group of revelers from Klagenfurt put it in a nutshell: “Lignano is only once a year – you have to enjoy it to the fullest!” A summary of the first two days is relatively mediocre: several reports of drunkenness in public (up to a fine of up to 309 euros) and an arrest for resisting state authority.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
