Fernando Suarez, the mayor of the municipality of Ribadeo which the beach is in, has called the plan a mistake and local businessmen are planning to organise a mass petition opposing it.

Under the scheme, reservations can only be made a fortnight in advance and potential visitors have to fill in a form with their name, address and passport or National Identity Card number.

Cathedrals Beach, As Catedrais in Galician, has been declared a National Monument by the regional government.

It takes its name because of its giant natural rock formations, with 30 metre-high arches, galleries, domes and caves evoking the structure of cathedrals carved out by the sea and wind.

The whistling of the wind between the monoliths, best seen at low tide, is said to resonate like organ music inside a church.

Travel guide Lonely Plane describes the beach as “arguably the most striking in Galicia”