Despite the notable number of coastal peoples which gave rise to several significant ancient civilizations within the Mediterranean basin, the Mediterranean Sea did not have a specific name for many centuries. For example, Herodotus employs the names of smaller seas and bays comprising it in order to define it. Other ancient Greek authors refer to it using descriptions such as “the ocean extending from the Pillars of Hercules”, or “the sea inside said Pillars”. Strabo, for example, describes it as: “the interior sea we call ours”.

This definition was later adopted by the Romans who translated it as “mare nostrum” ( = our sea) or “mare internum” ( = interior sea), as well as “Mare magnum” ( = the Great sea). Thousands of years later and with the objective to protect the environment and promote the sustainable development of the beaches around the Mediterranean, a pioneering and innovative tool was created: the Costa Nostrum ( = our coast) standard, which can be applied on both public and “private” beaches, resulting in various environmental, social and financial benefits for the municipalities / regions, as well as the individuals who implement – adopt it.