Beaches, the Romagna Riviera is full of green flags: there are 10

Seaside suitable for children and 'high quality' hospitality: Romagna confirms itself as an excellent tourist destination for families. There are 10 green flags and among these there is the record of Riccione which has had it for 16 years

RIMINI – Clean sea, services and restaurants, but also lots of space to play among the umbrellas and the ever-present lifeguard service: Romagna confirms itself as a tourist destination suitable for children and families, and this year too it has collected well 10 green flags, a recognition that comes from 3,000 Italian paediatricians and which is dedicated to tourist locations particularly equipped for children.

THE RICCIONE RECORD

The 10 green flags were awarded to Ravenna, Cervia – Milano Marittima – Pinarella, Cesenatico, Gatteo, San Mauro Pascoli, Bellaria, Rimini, Riccione, Misano Adriatico and Cattolica. And among the different locations there are some records: Riccione, for example, has held the green flag for 16 consecutive years and Cervia – Milano Marittima – Pinarella for 14. Furthermore, Cesenatico and Bellaria – Igea Marina have held green flags for 12 years.

Legacoop Romagna celebrates: “It is a confirmation of the value of the tourism model that our seaside sector has been able to build over the years”. From the Ravenna beaches to Cattolica, the 10 flags arrived “for the clean sea”, for the fact that “on the beach the space between the umbrellas allows you to play freely next to the parents”, because “safety is guaranteed by an efficient rescue service, there are equipment and services, restaurants, bars, sports facilities”.

IN ITALY THERE ARE 147 GREEN FLAGS

In total, 147 Green Flags have been awarded in Italy, recalls Legacoop, and the “Romagna coast makes Emilia-Romagna the second ‘greenest’ region, after Abruzzo, in terms of density of flags: one every 13.5 kilometres”. The criteria chosen by the paediatricians, adds the cooperative centre, “are the snapshot of the open, dynamic, innovative and welcoming organization made possible by our seaside businesses and their cooperatives, made up of high quality services fair prices, accessibility, cleanliness and safety of the beach”. The cooperatives between beach establishments, he continues, “have been able to create an efficient and supportive system over time, which guarantees hospitality of the highest level on the beach to residents and tourists and is particularly attentive to the needs of families, as attested by the Green Flags that have been awarded in Romagna since the first edition”.

Today, however, Legacoop points the finger, “uncertainties regarding concessions also put this virtuosity at risk. The first objective must therefore be to guarantee continuity and future for the seaside sector, fundamental for our tourism, protecting a model made up of family businesses and defending the income of those who work on the beach”.

The Green Flags in Emilia-Romagna with the year in which the first Flag was awarded are: Ravenna – Lidi Ravennati 2015; Cervia – Milano Marittima – Pinarella 2010, Cesenatico 2012; Gatteo – Gatteo Mare 2015; San Mauro Pascoli – San Mauro mare 2016. And again, Bellaria – Igea Marina 2012; Rimini 2016; Riccione 2008; Misano Adriatico 2015; Cattolica 2012.