News from Italy
Blue Flag 2022: 427
Vita gazette – Also this year Italy has maintained its place in the Blue Flag, one of the most prestigious world awards for tourism and the environment. Italy’s blue flag beaches reach 427. Liguria, Campania, Tuscany and Puglia top the list.
This year, 427 beaches in 210 locations have been awarded the Blue Flag by Fee, an international NGO based in Denmark, for their “sea quality and services”. 9 other beaches have received the blue flag this year, while 5 beaches have been removed from the list.
The awarded municipalities are 9 more than 2021 last year. San Mauro Cilento and Sapri in Campania, Ventotene in Lazio, the Tremiti Islands and Otranto in Puglia have not been confirmed this year. The 14 new entries among the municipalities are Alba Adriatica in Abruzzo, Caulonia and Isola di Capo Rizzuto in Calabria, Ispani in Campania, Riccione and San Mauro Pascoli in Emilia Romagna, Porto Recanati in the Marche, Cannobio in Piedmont, Castro, Rodi Garganico and Ugento in Puglia, Budoni in Sardinia, Furci Siculo in Sicily, Pietrasanta in Tuscany.
The evaluation criteria
The international Blue Flag program led by the non-profit organisation Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) assigns its environmental quality recognition to the places whose waters are “excellent” in the last 4 years, based on the analyzes carried out by the Arpa (Agencies Regional for the Protection of the Environment).
LIGURIA – 32 locations confirmed. In the province of Imperia: Bordighera, Sanremo, Taggia, Riva Ligure, Santo Stefano al Mare, San Lorenzo al Mare, Imperia, Diano Marina. In the province of Savona: Ceriale, Borghetto Santo Spirito, Loano, Pietra Ligure, Finale Ligure, Noli, Spotorno, Bergeggi, Savona, Albissola Marina, Albisola Superiore, Celle Ligure, Varazze. In the province of Genoa: Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure, Chiavari, Lavagna, Sestri Levante, Moneglia. In the province of La Spezia: Framura, Bonassola, Levanto, Lerici, Ameglia
CAMPANIA – It has 18 Flags, with a new entrance and two exits. In the province of Naples: Vico Equense, Piano di Sorrento, Sorrento, Massa Lubrense, Anacapri. In the province of Salerno: Positano, Capaccio, Agropoli, Castellabate, Montecorice, Pollica, Casal Velino, Ascea, Pisciotta, Centola, Camerota, Ispani, Vibonati
TUSCANY – A new entry and a total of 18 Flags. In the province of Massa Carrara: Carrara, Massa. In the province of Lucca: Forte dei Marmi, Pietrasanta, Camaiore, Viareggio. In the province of Pisa: Pisa. In the province of Livorno: Rosignano Marittimo, Cecina, Bibbona, Castagneto Carducci, San Vincenzo, Piombino, Marciana Marina, Livorno. In the province of Grosseto: Follonica, Castiglione della Pescaia, Grosseto
PUGLIA – It has 18 Flags with three new entrances and two exits. In the province of Foggia: Rodi Garganico, Peschici, Zapponeta. In the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani: Margherita di Savoia and Bisceglie. In the province of Bari: Polignano a Mare and Monopoli. In the province of Brindisi: Fasano, Ostuni, Carovigno. In the province of Taranto: Castellaneta, Maruggio and Ginosa. In the province of Lecce: Melendugno, Castro, Salve, Ugento and Nardò
CALABRIA – There are 17 awards, with two new entries. In the province of Cosenza: Tortora, Praia a Mare, San Nicola Arcella, Santa Maria del Cedro, Diamante, Roseto Capo Spulico, Trebisacce, Villapiana. In the province of Crotone: Cirò Marina, Melissa, Isola di Capo
MARCHE – The Marche also rises to 17, with a new entry. In the province of Pesaro-Urbino: Gabicce Mare, Pesaro, Fano, Mondolfo. In the province of Ancona: Senigallia, Ancona, Sirolo, Numana. In the province of Macerata: Porto Recanati, Potenza Picena, Civitanova Marche. In the province of Fermo: Altidona, Pedaso and Fermo. In the province of Ascoli Piceno: Cupra Marittima, Grottammare and San Benedetto del Tronto
SARDINIA – It reaches 15 locations with a new entrance. In the province of Sassari: Badesi, Castelsardo, Sorso, Sassari, Santa Teresa Gallura, Aglientu, Trinità d’Agultu and Vignola, La Maddalena, Palau, Budoni. In the province of Oristano: Oristano. In the province of Nuoro: Tortolì and Bari Sardo. In the province of Cagliari: Quartu Sant’Elena. In the province of South Sardinia: Sant’Antioco
ABRUZZO – It rises to 14 with a new entrance. In the province of Teramo: Martinsicuro, Alba Adriatica, Tortoreto, Giulianova, Roseto degli Abruzzi, Pineto, Silvi. In the province of Pescara: Pescara. In the province of Chieti: Francavilla al Mare, Fossacesia, Vasto, San Salvo. In the province of L’Aquila: Villalago and Scanno
SICILY – It is at 11 with a new entry. In the province of Messina: Alì Terme, Roccalumera, Furci Siculo, Santa Teresa di Riva, Lipari, Tusa. In the province of Agrigento: Menfi. In the province of Ragusa: Modica, Ispica, Pozzallo and Ragusa
LAZIO – It drops to 10 with an exit. In the province of Rome: Trevignano Romano and Anzio. In the province of Latina: Latina, Sabaudia, San Felice Circeo, Terracina, Fondi, Sperlonga, Gaeta, Minturno
TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE – No change in the number of flags. Trento: Bedollo, Baselga di Pinè, Pergine Valsugana, Tenna, Calceranica al Lago, Caldonazzo, Lavarone, Levico Terme, Sella Giudicarie, Bondone
EMILIA ROMAGNA – Number of flags increased to 9 with two new entries. Ferrara: Comacchio. In provincia di Ravenna: Ravenna e Cervia. In provincia di Forlì-Cesena: Cesenatico e San Mauro Pascoli. In provincia di Rimini: Bellaria Igea Marina, Riccione, Misano Adriatico e Cattolica
VENETO – 9 flag reaffirmed. Venezia: San Michele al Tagliamento, Caorle, Eraclea, Jesolo, Cavallino Treporti, Venezia, Chioggia. In provincia di Rovigo: Rosolina e Porto Tolle
BASILICATA – Basilicata confirms its 5 locations. In the province of Potenza: Maratea. In the province of Matera: Bernalda, Pisticci, Policoro and Nova Siri
PIEDMONT – There is a new entry in Piedmont which obtains 3 Flags. In the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola: Cannobio and Cannero Riviera. In the province of Novara: Gozzano
THE OTHER REGIONS – Friuli Venezia Giulia confirms the 2 of the previous year: Grado (Gorizia) and Lignano Sabbiadoro (Udine). Molise remains with 1 Flag, Campomarino (Campobasso), Lombardy also confirms 1 Blue Flag: Gardone Riviera (Brescia). As for tourist landings, Liguria is the region most awarded with 14 Blue Flags
