The Blue Flags have been awarded, an international recognition given every year by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to seaside resorts and tourist ports that respect the 32 established parameters of sustainable land management. In Italy there are 14 new entries, while 4 beaches have not been reconfirmed. This year there are a total of 485 beaches reported, 27 more than in 2023, divided as follows: 236 coastal locations (+10 compared to last year), 81 tourist ports, 236 Municipalities, all equal to 11.5% of the world-wide award-winning beaches.
The 14 new entries are those of
- Ortona in Abruzzo
- Parghelia in Calabria
- Cells in Campania
- Borgio Verezzi
- Recco in Liguria
- Porto Sant’Elpidio in the Marche
- Lecce, Manduria and Patù in Puglia;
- Letojanni, Scicli and Taormina in Sicily
- Tenno and Vallelaghi in Trentino Alto Adige
- Vallelaghi.
Four municipalities were not reconfirmed: Ameglia and Taggia, in Liguria; Margherita di Savoia, in Puglia, and Marciana Marina in Tuscany.
This year too, Liguria holds the record in the number of locations with the Blue Flag recognition awarded by FEE Italia: there are 34, the same number as a year ago given that the two failed confirmations (Ameglia and Taggia) are compensated by the two new entries Borgo Verezzi and Recco. Puglia follows, which rises to 24 Blue Flags, registering 3 new Municipalities and one exit; Campania and Calabria follow with 20, both with a new entry.
Then the Marche with 19 (one more than in 2023), while Tuscany drops to 18, having lost a municipality. Next is Sardinia with the confirmation of its 15 locations, and is joined by Abruzzo which records a new entry.
Sicily rises to 14 Blue Flags thanks to the three new entries; Trentino Alto Adige at 12 (+2). Lazio does not grow but does not lose either, confirming its 10 Blue Flags from a year ago; in Emilia Romagna the figure is 9, as is the case in Veneto. Five confirmations for both Basilicata and Piedmont; confirmation of 3 Blue Flags for Lombardy, and 2 for Friuli Venezia Giulia and Molise.
