There are practically countless of locations in Italy where one can enjoy a beautiful swim, from isolated coves to places full of activities.
The Blue Flag certification identifies those places that fulfill certain criteria in terms of the quality of the area and the associated services. The idea is to highlight places where swimming can be enjoyable, safe and with respect to the environment.
Some of the more important of these criteria are:
1. The quality of the water must be within EU limits.
2. There should be no outlet of sewage water in the proximity.
3. The beach itself needs to be clean, with adequate services for swimmers to dispose of trash.
4. An appropriate number of personnel should be on hand to ensure the safety of the swimmers and such personnel should be equipped with appropriate tools to carry out their work
5. There should be at least one place where to get drinking water on the beach
5. Provisions should be made for disabled access to the beach.
Italy has 113 such places across its huge coastline (and a couple of its lakes) and the map below will help you identify them - some are very famous, some are less well known but they all represent good places to enjoy a swim. They do not, however, necessarily represent the absolutely best places as any isolated beaches are, by definition, not admissible in this category.
Below is a list of the places divided by region and provice:
LIGURIA
IMPERIA
Camporosso
Bordighera
SAVONA
Finale Ligure
Noli
Spotorno
Bergeggi
Savona - Fornaci
Albissola Marina
Albisola Superiore
Celle Ligure
Varazze
GENOVA
Chiavari
Lavagna
Moneglia
LA SPEZIA
Lerici
Ameglia - Fiumaretta
TOSCANA
LUCCA
Forte dei Marmi
Pietrasanta
Camaiore
Viareggio
PISA
Pisa - Marina di Pisa; Tirrenia; Calambrone
LIVORNO
Livorno - Antignano; Quercianella
Rosignano Marittimo - Castiglioncello; Vada
Cecina
Bibbona - Marina di Bibbona
Castagneto Carducci
San Vincenzo
Piombino – Riotorto - Parco Naturale della Sterpaia
GROSSETO
Follonica
Castiglione della Pescaia
Grosseto - Marina di Grosseto; Principina a Mare
Monte Argentario
FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA
GORIZIA
Grado
UDINE
Lignano Sabbiadoro
VENETO
VENEZIA
San Michele al Tagliamento - Bibione
Caorle
Eraclea - Eraclea Mare
Jesolo
Cavallino Treporti
Venezia - Lido di Venezia
EMILIA ROMAGNA
FERRARA
Comacchio - Lidi ComacchiesiRAVENNA
Ravenna - Lidi Ravennati
Cervia
FORLI - CESENA
Cesenatico
San Mauro Pascoli - San Mauro Mare
RIMINI
Bellaria Igea Marina
Rimini
Cattolica
MARCHE
PESARO - URBINO
Gabicce - Gabicce Mare
Pesaro
Fano
Mondolfo
ANCONA
Senigallia
Sirolo
Numana
MACERATA
Porto Recanati
Potenza Picena - Porto Potenza Picena
Civitanova Marche
ASCOLI PICENO
Porto Sant’Elpidio
Fermo
Porto San Giorgio
Cupra Marittima
Grottammare
San Benedetto del Tronto
ABRUZZO
TERAMO
Martinsicuro
Alba Adriatica
Tortoreto Lido
Giulianova - Lungomare Zara
Roseto degli Abruzzi
Pineto
Silvi Marina
CHIETI
Francavilla al Mare
Fossacesia
Rocca San Giovanni
Vasto
San Salvo
L’AQUILA
Scanno
MOLISE
CAMPOBASSO
Termoli
LAZIO
LATINA
Sabaudia
San Felice Circeo
Sperlonga
Gaeta
CAMPANIA
NAPOLI
Massa Lubrense
SALERNO
Positano
Agropoli
Castellabate
Montecorice - Agnone; Capitello
Pollica - Acciaroli; Pioppi
Casal Velino
Ascea
Pisciotta
Centola - Palinuro
Vibonati - Villammare
Sapri
BASILICATA
POTENZA
Maratea
PUGLIA
FOGGIA
Rodi Garganico
BARI
Polignano a Mare
BRINDISI
Ostuni - Marina di Ostuni
TARANTO
Castellaneta
Ginosa - Marina di Ginosa
LECCE
Castro
Salve
CALABRIA
COSENZA
Cariati - Marina di Cariati
CROTONE
Cirò Marina - Punta Alice
REGGIO CALABRIA
Roccella Jonica
Marina di Gioiosa Jonica
SICILIA
CATANIA
Fiumefreddo di Sicilia - Marina di Cottone
RAGUSA
Pozzallo
Ragusa - Marina di Ragusa
AGRIGENTO
Menfi
SARDEGNA
OLBIA-TEMPIO
Santa Teresa Gallura - Rena Bianca
La Maddalena - Punta Tegge;Spalmatore
