NUDISTS have insisted that prudes in swimsuits should be banned from Spanish beaches as they tell them “don’t knock it until you’ve tried it”.
Sunseekers who prefer to bathe naked on the sandy banks of Costa Brava, Catalonia, are fighting back to keep their community alive.
GettyNudists in Catalonia have insisted that prudes in swimwear should be banned from their naturist beaches[/caption]
The nudists are now demanding action from the local authorities as every summer sees an influx of tourists sporting swimming trunks and bikinis on their beaches.
And with a lack of untouched sands and deserved coves left along the Spanish coastline, the naturists territory has seemingly been colonised by the clothed invaders – leaving them no choice but to fight back and claim their space.
Dubbed “textiles” by the nudists, the non-naturists have also reportedly been giving them judging, disapproving looks as they stroll around baring their flesh.
One avid nudist – Segimon Rovira, president of the Catalan Naturist Club – revealed that these actions are incredibly demoralising to his community.
“We don’t want to impose ourselves where people don’t feel comfortable with their nudity,” Rovira told La Vanguardia newspaper.
“But people have to know where they are going and integrate. If you come to a place with a naturist tradition, at least try it!”.
The Catalan Naturist Club has now hooked up with the Naturist-Nudist Federation of Catalonia where as a joint force they have demanded the government to step in.
They are asking for clearer signposting of their nudist beach and more information for visitors that will encourage them to participate in the nudity or find another place to sunbathe.
They have even requested civic agents to be placed in some of Catalonia’s 60 naturist beaches to explain to them what they can expect.
Within Spanish laws, any beach is free for nudity and even public swimming pools allow visitors to enter without wearing a bikini top.
It comes after Free Nipples’ activists fought for the topless law to take effect in Catalonia.
The idyllic northwest Spanish region officially passed the law in 2020 under a Catalan equality bill which now allows bathers to go topless.
As a result, the regional government was allowed to fine authorities who don’t follow the ruling by up to £430,000.
But holidaymakers could be slapped with a whopping £2,500 fine if they are caught strolling through the streets of Majorca topless.
According to the Majorca Daily Bulletin, people are only allowed to go topless on the beaches.
It means they should be fully clothed when they visit town centres or go sightseeing to avoid getting shirty with the cops.
In some areas, walking from your car to the beach not fully dressed is also banned, so it’s best to stay covered up until you hit the sand.
Driving topless could also see Brits slapped with a fine.
Spanish law bans anything that impacts safe driving.
That is said to include wearing “inappropriate” clothes and could see holidaymakers slapped with the £170 bill.
Several tourist hotspots, including Barcelona and the Canary Islands, have also banned smoking on the beach, with fines of up to £1,700.