Blue Flag Beaches 2023 in Italy: the complete list from north to south

With around 8,000 km of coastline, Italy is one of the most popular destinations for beach tourism. Our coasts are an invaluable heritage, but every year we are reconfirmed with the awarding of Blue Flags by the FEE. This year, the 458 most beautiful beaches represent around 11% of the awards given globally, and if we take into account the surface area of our country, we feel truly proud and honoured by this recognition.

As last year, Liguria remains at the top of the list in terms of flags obtained, with 34 awarded locations, followed by Apulia, with 22 flags. In third place, tied, there are Tuscany, Campania and Calabria with 19 blue flags. New entries include Orbetello, Gallipoli, Catanzaro, the Tremiti Islands and Vieste. On the other hand, Cattolica has been excluded this year. The list also includes, surprisingly, regions such as Lombardy and Trentino-Alto Adige, which are not washed by the sea, but awarded for their lakes.

It is certainly a fine recognition, but what does 'Blue Flag' mean in practice? And what are the requirements for obtaining it? The Blue Flag is an international voluntary award, established in 1987. It is issued by the FEE (Foundation Environmental Education), a non-governmental, non-profit organisation founded in 1981 and based in Denmark, which certifies the quality of beaches and coastal resorts globally. The main objective of the programme is to protect the environment and promote a sustainable culture and use of the coastal territory.

The factors that make a Blue Flag beach are numerous. Beautiful, crystal-clear sea is not enough. These beaches must meet a series of requirements that range from various features and are updated every year. These range among a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria that must be met and maintained.

Let’s now see, region by region, reconfirmations, new entries and the only one excluded in 2023.

Liguria is confirmed as the first Italian region, for the 14th consecutive year, with 34 award-winning locations and two new entries. Compared to last year's excellent results, the region managed to add two more locations: Laigueglia, a town in the Savona area, and Sori in the province of Genoa. Santa Margherita Ligure, Camogli, and Sestri Levante in the province of Genoa, Sanremo in the municipality of Imperia, Levanto and Lerici in the municipality of La Spezia, and Varazze and Finale Ligure in Savona, among others, were reconfirmed.

Despite its geographically disadvantaged position due to its distance from the sea, Piedmont makes a good impression with five lake flags. Two of these are new entries in 2023: Verbania, on Lake Maggiore, and San Maurizio d'Opaglio, on Lake Orta, in the province of Novara. 

Even Lombardy, despite not having a sea, defends itself more than well and even advances, going from one to 3 flags thanks to Lake Garda. The Blue Flags are all in the Brescia area with the reconfirmation of Gardone Riviera and the new entries of Sirmione and Toscolano Maderno.

Known for its mountains and snowy slopes, Trentino-Alto Adige surprises with 10 flags (unchanged since 2022) for the environmental quality of its lake resorts. The beaches of 7 lakes received the recognition: Lake Caldonazzo (with 4 beaches) and Lake Levico in Valsugana, Lake Lavarone in Alpe Cimbra, Lake Roncone and Lake Idro in the Chiese valley, Lake Serraia and Lake delle Piazze on the Piné tableland.

In Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the situation remains unchanged compared to 2022, confirming two Blue Flags: Lignano Sabbiadoro in the province of Udine, and Grado in the province of Gorizia, both awarded for the environmental and tourist quality of their coastal resorts.

Veneto Adriatic coast reconfirms last year's nine Blue Flags. The award-winners are the lidos of the Venetian coast - Bibione, Caorle, Eraclea, Jesolo, Cavallino-Treporti, Lido di Venezia, Sottomarina - and two locations in Polesine - Rosolina and Porto Tolle - in the province of Rovigo.

The list of Blue Flag awards for Emilia-Romagna still includes 9 beaches but, compared to last year, there is a new entry and an exit. Cattolica leaves the list as the only Italian resort not reconfirmed for this year, but Gatteo Mare, in the province of Forlì-Cesena, enters the list. There is also no shortage of all those long sandy beaches that make Romagna famous: Cervia, Riccione, Bellaria-Igea Marina and Comacchio, among others. 

With 19 Blue Flags, Tuscany is in third place, tied with Campania and Calabria. This year's recognition includes one more resort: Orbetello, in the province of Grosseto. In the same province, Castiglione della Pescaia and Grosseto stand out among the others. In the province of Livorno, San Vincenzo, Castagneto Carducci and Cecina were confirmed. In Versilia, blue sea in Camaiore, Pietrasanta, Forte dei Marmi and Viareggio. In Massa-Carrara both Massa and Carrara were awarded and in Marina di Pisa for the province of Pisa.

In 2023, with the addition of Porto San Giorgio, in the province of Fermo, Marche reached 18 Blue Flags. The award-winning beaches are well distributed throughout the region's coastal territory among all five provinces. There are suggestive beaches starting from the province of Ancona on the Conero Coast, with sandy beaches close to rocks and suggestive coves, to Senigallia, with its 13 km of fine sand, up to Grottammare, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

Two resorts in Molise have been awarded with the Blue Flag this year: Campomarino Lido and the new entry Termoli. Both offer long sandy beaches and a wide range of activities, and they are also particularly family-friendly.

10 municipalities in Lazio have been awarded with the Blue Flag status for the beauty of their beaches, reconfirming the same locations as last year. For the province of Rome, the list includes Anzio and Trevignano Romano, on Lake Bracciano. For the province of Latina, besides the city of Latina itself with its Latina Mare beach, there are Fondi and Minturno, Sabaudia, San Felice Circeo, Terracina, Sperlonga and Gaeta. In short, the best sea in Lazio is to be found along the south coast, from the Pontine provinces to the coast of Campania. 

As Tuscany and Calabria, Campania has 19 Blue Flags in 2023, with the confirmation of last year's 18 and the new entry of San Mauro Cilento. Campania is therefore on the third step of the podium thanks mainly, as always, to the contribution of Cilento with 14 beaches including Castellabate, Positano and Capaccio Paestum. Of course, Sorrento and Anacapri in Naples are also present.

Basilicata's Blue Flags are still 5 for 2023. The awards have been confirmed for the Maratea beach in the province of Potenza on the Tyrrhenian Sea and for four beaches in the province of Matera on the Ionian Sea: Metaponto lido in Bernalda, Nova Siri lido, Marina di Pisticci lido and Policoro.

In second place for the number of Blue Flags for 2023 in Italy, Apulia boasts 22 locations and four new entries: Gallipoli, the Tremiti islands, Leporano and Vieste. In the province of Bari, the blue flags of Polignano a Mare and Monopoli are confirmed. At regional level, the 'bluest' sea is that of Salento with six municipalities in the province of Lecce, where the famous 'Maldives of Salento' in Marina di Pescoluse are located.

Calabria, as said, also takes the third place with 19 flags. After all, with its 800 km of coast overlooking two seas - Tyrrhenian and Ionian - how could it be otherwise?

Among a variety of coastlines and seabeds and many options for families and water sports enthusiasts, the FEE awards the Riviera dei Cedri with five locations, including Praia a Mare and Diamante, and the province of Cosenza on the Ionian Sea. This year there are two new entries: Catanzaro and Rocca Imperiale in the province of Cosenza.

The first of our islands, known worldwide for its beautiful Mediterranean Sea, collects 11 flags: 6 in the Messina area, 4 in the Ragusa area and one in the province of Agrigento. In the province of Messina the beaches of Furci Siculo, Roccalumera, Alì Terme, Lungomare Santa Teresa di Riva, Spiaggia Lampare in Tusa and Acquacalda in Lipari are confirmed. The beaches of Marina di Modica, Raganzino in Pozzallo, Ispica and Marina di Ragusa are in the province of Ragusa. Finally, Lido Fiori Bertolino in Menfi, in the province of Agrigento, also won the award.

The most sought-after seaside destination in Italy confirms its 15 Blue Flags thanks to the crystal-clear waters and natural wonders of locations such as Quartu Sant'Elena, in the province of Cagliari, Sant'Antioco, and the coasts of Tortolì and Bari Sardo, in the province of Nuoro. Torregrande beach is awarded for the Oristano area. The province of Sassari obtained the majority of flags with Castelsardo, Sorso, Santa Teresa Gallura, Aglientu, Trinità d'Agultu e Vignola, Palau, and Budoni. In the province of Olbia, of course, La Maddalena and Badesi could not be missing.