People sunbath at Ostia beach, west of Rome. Italy's beaches are a family affair - and that's a problem for the Euro Zone's third-largest economy. Most of the beaches along Italy's 7,500 km of sun-kissed coast have for decades been managed by small businesses operating concessions that are passed on from generation to generation. Though licences are state-owned, they rarely come up for public bids, allowing Italy's balneari - or beach managers - to keep a tight grip on amenities ranging from single-shack parasol rentals to up-market bars and restaurants. Reuters/Max Rossi