by InTrieste
A new book hitting Italian bookstores this summer offers a humorous and affectionate portrait of a singular cultural landmark: the gender-divided beach known as “Il Pedocin.” “Longhi al Pedocin”, written by journalist and author Micol Brusaferro with illustrations by Chiara Gelmini, completes a trilogy devoted to the iconic Bagno Lanterna, Trieste’s most idiosyncratic seaside institution.
Published by the local house White Cocal Press, led by editor Diego Manna, the volume will be officially presented on July 18 at 6 p.m. at the beach’s outdoor kiosk. The event is expected to draw longtime fans of the series and Triestini with a nostalgic fondness for the Pedocin.
The trilogy began ten years ago with “El Pedocin”, followed by “Ciacole al Pedocin”—both of which blended reportage, illustration, and comic social commentary to depict the daily life, traditions, and transformations of the only public beach in Europe where a physical wall continues to separate men and women.
“Longhi al Pedocin” focuses on more recent developments at the beach, some of which have been perceived by its devoted visitors as disruptive or even dramatic. Among these are the introduction of turnstiles and automated ticketing machines, as well as capacity limits that have led to long lines and growing frustration during peak season.
Despite—or perhaps because of—these modernizations, Brusaferro maintains her signature tone: part satire, part tribute. Her stories reflect the microcosm of local society that has long gathered at the Lanterna, where habits and unwritten rules often matter more than any official regulation.
As the trilogy concludes, “Longhi al Pedocin” serves as both a chronicle of change and a celebration of continuity—capturing the spirit of a seaside community that has resisted uniformity in favor of its own unique rhythm.
The final installment may be the end of a literary project, but it underscores what many Triestini already know: the Pedocin is more than just a beach. It is a cultural artifact, shaped as much by those who frequent it as by the walls that divide them.
