There are 32 program evaluation criteria that the municipalities must meet; not only the quality of the water, which must be excellent in the last 4 years based on the analyzes carried out by the Regional Agencies for the Protection of the Environment (Arpa) but also the collection and management of waste, from cycle paths to pedestrian areas, from the quality of the services offered by the beaches to the hotel hospitality, and then urban furniture but also the commitment of the administrations in the environmental education of residents and tourists.
416 beaches awarded (407 in 2020) for the crystal clear sea, 201 coastal resorts (there were 195 in 2020) and 81 marinas (75 in 2020). Data that corresponds to about 10% of the award-winning beaches worldwide (http://www.bandierablu.org/common/blueflag.asp?anno=2021&tipo=bb).
Lakeside locations
Let's start with the Blue Flags assigned to lakeside locations which drop to 16 compared to 2020, with two releases.
Many awards go to Trentino, especially the environmental education projects that aim to transform the high-altitude lakes of the Dolomites into natural oasis. Awarded the beaches of Bendone, Pergine Valsugana, Baselga di Pinè, Lavarone, Bedollo, Caldonazzo, Tenna, Levico terme, Sella Giudicarie and Calceranica al lago.
In Abruzzo confirmed the Blue flags of Scanno and Villago, both in the province of L'Aquila.
Coastal locations.
Among the coastal towns there are 15 new entrants but also 9 municipalities that have not been reconfirmed.
Among the novelties Campania with Camerota, Puglia with Bisceglie, Nardò and Monopoli and Abruzzo with Pescara, Francavilla al Mare and Martinsicuro, Calabria with Diamante and Santa Maria del Cedro, Lazio with Minturno and Fondi, Marche with Altidona , Sardinia with Aglientu and Sicily with Modica and Rocca Lumera.
Among the non-reconfirmed, Tuscany loses Monte Argentario and others, thus falling in the ranking of the regions.
Marinas.
For tourist ports, there are 6 new features included in the special Fee ranking. In fact, the Blue Flags have been assigned in Basilicata to Marina di Policoro (Policoro), in Friuli Venezia Giulia in Portopiccolo Marina (Duino-Arusina), in Liguria at the Port of Bordighera (Bordighera), in Puglia at the Marina Resort “Bisceglie Approdi ”(Bisceglie), in Sicily at Capo D'Orlando Marina (Capo D'Orlando), in Veneto at Marina Resort Portobaseleghe (San Michele al Taglimento).
The ranking of the italian regions.
1st place Liguria confirms itself as the queen of the Blue Flags in Italy with 32 award-winning locations;
2nd place Campania with 19 flags assigned (a new entry, Camerota, but also with an exit);
3rd place with equal merit for Tuscany (with three exits, surpassed by Campania) and Puglia with 17;
4th place in the uphill Marche with 16 flags;
5th place also goes to Calabria with its 15 flags;
6th place Sardinia with 14 flags;
7th place Abruzzo with 13;
8th place Lazio with 11. The flags assigned remain unchanged;
9th place with equal merit for Trentino and Sicily with 10 flags;
10th place for Veneto, which saw the confirmation of the 9 flags of the past edition;
11th place for Emilia Romagna with 7;
12th place for Basilicata which had 5 assigned;
13th place with equal merit for Piedmont and Friuli Venezia Giulia with 2 flags;
14th place close the ranking with 1 flag each Molise and Lombardy;
