Overview

• Italy now boasts 246 Blue Flag coastal municipalities, 487 certified beaches, and 84 tourist ports, representing 11.5% of global awards.
• The number of Blue Flags for lakes dropped to 22, with San Maurizio d’Opaglio among five municipalities losing recognition.
• Liguria remains the leading region with 33 Blue Flag locations, followed by Puglia with 27 and Calabria with 23, each gaining new entries.
• The awards are based on 32 environmental and service criteria, including water quality, waste management, accessibility, and safety.
• Municipalities are now required to implement sustainability action plans for 2025–2027, focusing on climate action, biodiversity, and sustainable urban development.