Parco del Mare project in Ostia takes shape.
Rome has unveiled plans to transform the Ostia coastline into a seafront park as part of the ambitious Parco del Mare park in the coastal district southwest of the capital.
The project, presented on Monday by urban planning councillor Maurizio Veloccia and regional authorities, aims to turn a concrete-heavy coastline into a modern, green and sustainable linear park.
The move marks a shift in how Rome interacts with its coastline, focusing on “depaving” the waterfront with the goal of undoing decades of urban sprawl.
The project, which covers 7.4 kilometres of coastline, aims to reclaim the natural landscape “for public use, entirely pedestrian and cyclist-friendly and in direct contact with the beach”, the city said in a statement.
Key features
The plan includes reducng asphalt surfaces by 55 per cent, depaving an area of more than 150,000 sqm, and introducing 9.5 kilometres of new pedestrian paths and 15 equipped public squares.
The plan calls for a 150 per cent increase in green spaces and dunes, featuring the planting of over 2,000 new trees and shrubs to bolster the local ecosystem.
A new “Parco delle Dune” (Dune Park) will be created between Piazzale Magellano and Piazza Cristoforo Colombo, restoring the natural sandy landscape that originally defined the Roman shore.
The dune park will feature the new Dolia, a flexible structure capable of hosting rest areas, water features, sports activities, kiosks and play areas.
Investment and reaction
The project represents a total investment of more than €50 million, with around €23 million coming from the Lazio region and €30 million committed from Roma Capitale.
The city said that 70 per cent of the investment will have to be contracted out by June 2026, while the entire redevelopment set for completion by 2028.
The project attracted a mixed reaction online, with many commentators welcoming the move while others expressed concerns that the park could quickly become a run-down, unsafe area. One person asked ironically if Teletubbies were included in the plans.
Village demolition in Ostia
The move comes as authorities on Tuesday demolished illegally-built beach huts along the Paolo Toscanelli seafront in Ostia, including those severely damaged by recent fires that have ravaged the former “Village” beach resort.
Around a dozen people were evicted from the beach huts in an operation involving 60 police officers who remained on the scene as demolition works got under way.
The Village had been included in the final round of tenders issued in 2025 by Rome city council for the awarding of concessions for public beaches and beach resorts in Ostia.
However, the process was halted due to a fire that broke out just hours after the concession was awarded, preventing the winner of the public tender from starting operations.
Fires
Over the last year, the facility has been affected by two fires: the first last February, and the second in June. The flames destroyed most of the cabins and wooden structures; those that remained intact were subsequently occupied and remained so until the recent intervention.
The Village, for years linked to the Fasciani criminal clan, was seized in 2018 and placed under receivership, state broadcaster RAI News reports.
Between 2019 and 2022, management was entrusted to a foundation, before being handed over to the national agency for the administration of assets seized and confiscated from organised crime.
Repeated fires, however, have thwarted attempts to reopen and return it to the community.
