The region of Liguria — home to the Italian Riviera and the Cinque Terre — on Italy’s northwest coast has been awarded with more Blue Flag beaches this year than any other region in Italy. With two new entries for 2013 — La Spezia Mirabello and San Lorenzo al Mare, Liguria now has 20 of the cleanest beaches in Italy.
The Blue Flag organization, in conjunction with the United Nations’ Environment Program, has analyzed beaches and marinas worldwide since 1987 to monitor quality and cleanliness.
A total of 248 beaches in Italy were awarded Blue Flag status this year (and 62 marinas). According to ANSA, “Some 86% of last year’s Blue Flag beaches were confirmed this year while nine new entries included resorts in Carrara, Tuscany, Francavilla al Mare in Abruzzo and a lake beach resort in Levico Terme, in the north-eastern Trentino-Alto Adige region.”
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Photo by dmytrok, flickr.com
