Today, the bathing station “la Duna degli Orsi” (translated “The Bears’ Dune”) situated in Marina di Ravenna is well known in the whole of Italy. It is widely spoken about, it has assumed the role of a “phenomenon of social custom” and for many it is now a modern myth. And, as any myth which respects itself, it is necessary to reconstruct its origin, its development and its significance.

   The Duna degli Orsi has bared this name since 1986; it started out as a surfers’ haunt and the first parties began in a spontaneous and improvised manner. This sprang of a desire to remain with friends whilst listening to music on the beach in the evening, enjoying the splendid natural scenery of the dunes, the pine-wood and the sea. Since 1994 the bathing station has been run by Roberto Tondini, a windsurfer who, after having travelled at length (Hawaii, Barbados, Africa, The Caribbean, Australia), stored up a heritage of experience, emotions and suggestions which opened him up to a whole new idea of beach life. For this reason, the Duna can be distinguished for its conception of being “out of the ordinary”. Few sun shades made of natural materials so as to make the most of the beach and to allow a good view of the ocean from the bathing station’s bar; excellent music; theme parties which make it possible to meet up again in the evenings too.

   With the arrival of Mr. Tondini the custom of holding happy hours was introduced (as for some time already widespread all over the world), which contributed to fuel, by means of a non-stop “pass the word on”, a large confluence of young people to Marina di Ravenna, not only from the inland city, but also from afar (Bologna, Modena, Parma, Milano, etc.). A phenomenon of such large scale which could not but stir up the interest of the national press. Maybe for the first time in history, Marina di Ravenna had become a resort of notable hustle and bustle, preferred by a large public which had probably been previously drawn to more renowned resorts on the Adriatic Riviera; such an impetuous phenomenon that it did not fail to arouse problems and disputes too.

   However, lets briefly run through the sequence of the events.
   In 1996, the problems which were already in the air due to the habit of spontaneously dancing on the beach, are sharpened which culminates in a hefty fine and a local authority ordinance to close the Duna for three days starting from 20th August. This is executed on the grounds of an interpretation of article 10 of the consolidation act of the Police law; a regulation which really, at this stage, can hardly be deciphered and is poorly consonant with the times since it dates as far back as 1931! The owner, Roberto Tondini declares to the press: “I have not organised any kind of dancing entertainment; I have all the requisites legally necessary to transmit music and in my bathing station there is neither a dance floor nor are there psychedelic lights. If people start dancing amongst the tables and on the beach, what am I supposed to do? This is so-called ‘spontaneous dancing’, which members of the local authority have affirmed is permissible”.

   The problem does not only concern the Duna but also the other bathing stations and it creates an involvement of the entire youth community which gets organized and in the afternoon of Sunday, 25th August gives life to the initiative “no music no life”. More than two thousand youths meet up on the beaches of Marina di Ravenna and form a more than two kilometre-long human chain which together with music coming from the bathing stations’ loud speakers calls to everyone’s attention the necessity to freely act upon the desire to aggregate on the beach. It’s a pacific and joyful demonstration which induces the local authorities to tackle the problem.