Blue Flags 2024, the ranking of the cleanest beaches in Italy
There are ten more locations than last year that will be able to fly the Blue Flags assigned by the NGO Fee this summer
(In the photo Taormina, new entry in the 2024 Blue Flags)
ROME – The number of coastal locations awarded has risen to 236, ten more than last year, which this summer will be able to fly the Blue Flags< /strong> assigned by the NGO Fee, Foundation for environmental education. The total number of beaches that will bear the banner reaches 485, which represents approximately 11% of the beaches awarded worldwide.
Obtaining recognition is not easy given that to grant it the Fee requires compliance with 32 criteria, one more than last year: that of social commitment and of inclusiveness. However, the purity of the water remains the main criterion and the certification, relating to the last four years, must come from the regional agencies for environmental protection. With the blue sea, those also being rewarded are the sustainable tourism, the functionality of the purification plants, the waste management,the >presence of separate waste collection, the enhancement of the territory and the initiatives that the municipalities implement for a better liveability of the tourist resorts during the holiday months.
REGINA ONCE AGAIN, LIGURIA
This year too, the Liguria is confirmed as first, marking 2 new entries but losing two Flags, thus confirming 34 locations; Puglia followed by this rises to 24 with 3 new Municipalities and one exit, while Campania and Calabria follow on equal terms with 20 Flags, with one more recognition each. In fourth place are the Marches which receive 19 Blue Flags, while Tuscany drops to 18, which loses a Municipality. Sardinia confirms its 15 locations and Abruzzo also rises to 15 thanks to a new entry, Sicily reaches 14 Flags with three new entries, Trentino Alto Adige rises to 12, Lazio remains at 10. Emilia Romagna has 9 locations and the 9 Flags of Veneto have been reconfirmed. Basilicata always has its 5 localities, and there are always 5 Municipalities in Piedmont that obtain the Flags. Lombardy confirms 3 Municipalities, Friuli Venezia Giulia maintains its 2, like Molise. This year there are 23 Blue Flags on the lakes, with 2 new ones.
THE NEW AWARDED BEACHES AND THOSE NOT RECONFIRMED
Here are all the new entries in the rankings (there are 14): Ortona (Abruzzo), Parghelia (Calabria), Cellole (Campania) , Borgio Verezzi (Liguria), Recco (Liguria), Porto Sant’Elpidio (Marche), Lecce ( Puglia), Manduria (Puglia), Patù (Puglia), Letojanni (Sicily), Scicli (Sicily) , Taormina (Sicily), Tenno (Trentino Alto Adige), Vallelaghi (Trentino Alto Adige). Four municipalities have not been reconfirmed: Ameglia (Liguria), Taggia (Liguria), Margherita di Savoia (Puglia) and Marciana Marina (Tuscany).