Bibione

Bibione faces the Adriatic Sea, and occupies a peninsula situated between the Lugugnana canal and the river Tagliamento. Given the soil consistency and on the basis of some excavations, it can be assumed that Bibione originally consisted of a small group of islands. These were connected to the mainland and the lagoon by a narrow stretch of land, mentioned in several Roman and medieval documents as insulae bibioni or Bibiones.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Bibione fell under the suzerainty of the bishops of Concordia. Over the following centuries, the islands were neglected and pinewoods spread over the whole area. The actual land reclamation started at the beginning of the 20th century, when drainage canals and embankments were built. When the works ended, around 1950, Bibione was left with its pine forests and its sandy beach. In the following years, the first holiday accommodation was built and Bibione became a tourist resort.

Tourists come largely from Germany and Austria, but also from Italy, Eastern European countries and other parts of Europe (depending on the season and on the town district preferred). The cityscape is characterized by numerous hotels, guest houses and campsites, which provide a total number of beds that is forty times higher than the number of inhabitants.

Bibione is divided into different areas: Lido dei Pini, Bibione Pineda, Bibione Spiaggia and Lido del Sole. In summer 2014, a smoking ban was imposed on the area between the shore and the first row of beach umbrellas and Bibione thus became Italy´s first smoke-free beach. However, smoking is still allowed in the area where beach umbrellas are for rent.[2]