Italy has more coastline than France or Spain, and whichever bit of coast you choose you know there will be lively cities, gorgeous landscape and everything else we love about Italy not far away. But here we offer a selection of sensational seasides (and a few lakesides too) with excellent property options nearby.
If you are looking for a property near a nice beach with crystal clear waters and good facilities, the list of Blue Flag (Bandiera Blu) beaches is a good place to start. In 2024, the Blue Flag was awarded to 485 Italian beaches in total. Of these, 14 seaside resorts in 10 municipalities won for the first time. More than 80 marinas were also recognised.
The beach at Cefalu, Sicily
This prestigious award not only relates to the water quality at beaches, marinas, lakes and other waterside locations. It also recognises beaches that follow stringent environmental, safety and accessibility criteria.
Find homes in Italy via our property portal.
Benefits to property owners
Owning a property in an area that proudly flies the Blue Flag means, you are assured that the local community is dedicated to protecting not just the seaside environment, but also the people who live in it.
By protecting the ecosystems and providing a high level of tourist services, it benefits the whole community and the businesses that depend on it. Awarded each year by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), the Blue Flag helps promote Italy as a top tourist destination, and highlights some of its most beautiful beaches.
Criteria for a Blue Flag
It is by no means easy to get a Blue Flag. There are 32 criteria that have to be met. Firstly, the water quality must be excellent. Secondly, the location must offer adequate and efficient services to bathers, such as rescue services, health care, hygiene facilities and waste management. Other important criteria include the protection of the environment, safety, and accessibility for people with motor disabilities.
In addition, they look at the cleanliness of the beaches, purification plants and sewerage connections, care of street furniture, energy efficiency, fishing activity, landscape value, protection of marine biodiversity and enhancement of natural areas.
In the tourism section, the jury also evaluates the information available to tourists, density, landing places, areas equipped for campers, cycle paths, and the presence of accommodation facilities with environmental certification.
The 14 new entries for the 38th edition of Blue Flags in Italy are:
Trentino Alto Adige : Tenno (TN) and Vallelaghi (TN)
Liguria : Recco (GE) and Borgio Verezzi (SV)
Marche : Porto Sant’Elpidio (FM)
Abruzzo : Ortona (CH)
Campania : Cellole (CA)
Puglia : Lecce (LE), Patù (LE) and Manduria (TA)
Calabria : Parghelia (VV)
Sicily : Letojanni (ME), Taormina (ME) and Scicli (RG).
Top 4 Blue Flag Regions
1. Liguria has 34 Blue Flags
Liguria is the region with the most Blue Flags in Italy. With new entries in Borgio Verezzi in the province of Savona, and Recco in the province of Genoa, the region now has a total of 34 Blue Flag locations. These include 67 beaches and 16 ports, all of which are very committed to protecting the environment and promoting eco-sustainable tourism.
No wonder Liguria has branded itself as the “Queen” of Blue Flags. The province of Savona alone has fifteen, including the long beaches of Laigueglia and Borghetto Santo Spirito. At Noli the sand and pebble beach is ideal for families, with the town located right behind the promenade. Here you can find playgrounds for children, as well as bars and restaurants. Then there is the clean sandy beach at Spotorno or the quiet beach coves of Bergeggi.
The provinces of Imperia, Genoa, and La Spezia also boast Blue Flag locations. For example, in the province of Imperia, the popular town of San Remo has a great beach and some gorgeous sea view properties for sale. Lido Imperatrice beach is a well-equipped sandy beach just few minutes’ walk along the main promenade of San Remo, not far from the casino. Plus, The Porto Sole Sanremo is among the 16 Blue Flag docks listed. You can read about Sally’s experience of buying a property in Sanremo here.
See property for sale in Liguria at Your Overseas Home
2. Puglia has 24 Blue Flags
21 municipalities have had their Blue Flags confirmed for another year. Among the most well-known locations are Vieste, Monopoli, Polignano a Mare, Rodi Garganico, Gallipoli and Otranto. There are several Blue Flags flying along the coast between the ports of Bari and Brindisi. All within 35 minutes of an airport.
Between Bari an Brindisi
Firstly, there are beaches alongside the towns of Polignano a Mare and Monopoli. Then, further down the coast are the beautiful beaches of the Fasano province. In fact, it is in this area that the 2024 G7 summit was held at the Borgo Egnazia resort. Not only, is Puglia impressing World Leaders, it is also “Enchanting the rich and famous”.
One of the most photographed hill top towns is Ostuni. Although slightly inland, it’s just a 10 minute drive from the Adriatic coast and 7 Blue Flag beaches. Continue down the coast towards Brindisi and you have four further Blue Flag beaches that come under the municipality of Carovigno.
New entries in Puglia
New entries this year are San Castaldo and Patu in the province of Lecce, and the long sandy beach backed by sand dunes at San Pietro in Bevagna (Manduria). The latter, is the nearest beach to my home, so I can highly recommend this beach and all the beaches along the coast below Taranto.
Salento beaches
The province of Lecce covers the lower part of the heel of Italy, with the town of Lecce in the centre. This area is also known as Salento and is a very popular holiday destination for those who love to be near the sea. As Salento is a peninsula, even inland villages are never more than 30 minutes’ drive from the coast. Beaches near the towns of Gallipoli and Nardo are particularly popular.
To see property for sale in Puglia visit Your Overseas Home
3. Campania has 20 Blue Flags
Among the locations in Campania that have maintained their Blue Flag status, are the renowned resorts of the Amalfi Coast and Cilento. Palinuro and Marina di Camerota, as well as Capri and Anacapri, are already well known for their scenic beauty and their luxury tourist services.
Cilento coast
While there are Blue Flag beaches near Naples, it is the province of Salerno, that boasts the most Blue Flags. The Cilento, which is the southern section, has a National Park, protected by UNESCO, and a beautiful coastline. Rugged and wild vegetation are the backdrop to the sparkling blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The Cilento coast has some beautiful beaches, such as Trentova Bay in Agropoli. Here unspoilt nature, blends with the beach and blue waters. It’s a tranquil haven enjoyed by couples, the elderly and families. It’s also a beautiful location to go snorkelling. Other lovely Cilento beaches are Capaccio, Positon, Agropoli, Castellabate, Ascea, and Pisciotta.
New entries at Caserta
Caserta is most famous for having the largest royal residence in the world by volume, with an amazing 1,200 rooms. The historical owners of The Royal Palace of Caserta were the Bourbons of Naples. However, this year Caserta has also put itself on the coastal map, with Blue Flags flying for the first time at Baia Felice and Baia Domizia Sud.
4. Calabria has 20 Blue Flags
In 2024, Calabria now has 20 Blue Flags with the new entry of Parghelia. In the area of Tortora and Praia a Mare, the Tyrrhenian coast of Cosenza is known as the “Riviera dei Cedri”. Here the Regional Marine Park offers breathtaking views, best discovered by boat.
Highlights along this stretch of coast are the Isola di Dino ( Praia a Mare ) and Isola di Cirella ( Diamante ). It is the latter which is included among the Blue Flags of Calabria. Along the Riviera dei Cedri, you’ll also discover the Blue Flag beaches of San Nicola Arcella and Santa Maria del Cedro .
Achaean Coast
Moving to the opposite coast, the Upper Ionian part is known as the Achaean Coast. Here you’ll find the Blue Flag resorts of Roseto Capo Spulico , Trebisacce , Villapiana Lido and Rocca Imperiale. At Roseto beach is the famous Frederickian castle overlooking the sea (the Castello della Pietra).
Catanzaro beaches
The Blue Flags in the province of Catanzaro are Sellia Marina, Catanzaro Lido ( Giovino ) and Soverato. The long sandy beach at Soverato, extends into the Regional Marine Park of the same name. Also known as Ippocampus Bay, the presence of seahorses, is a good indicator of the cleanliness of the seabed.
New entry at Tropea
Going up the coast, there are the Blue Flag seaside resorts of Cirò Marina and Melissa. Then on the Tyrrhenian coast of Vibo, is the new entry of Parghelia, at the town of Tropea. Tropea is a very popular tourist town which boasts a series of fine beaches, in addition to the famous Marina dell’Isola beach.
Reggio Calabria
In Reggio Calabria, along the Costa dei Gelsomini, are the towns of Roccella Ionica, Caulonia and Siderno. These destinations all have a long coastline of fine sand and deep seabeds. The beach of Roccella Ionica is watched over by the Carafa Castle and has a beautiful seafront.
Other Italian regions with Blue Flags
Marche: 19 Blue Flags – New entry Porto Sant’Elpidio (FM)
Abruzzo: 15 Blue Flags – New entry Ortona (CH)
Sardinia: 15 Blue Flags
Sicily: 14 Blue Flags – New entries are Letojanni (ME), Taormina (ME) and Scicli (RG).
Lazio: 10 Blue Flags
The Blue Flag lakes of Trentino Alto Adige
When I think of Trentino Alto Adige, I picture mountains. Yet, for a region that isn’t by the sea, Trentino Alto Adige has an amazing number of Blue Flags. This year, 12 Blue Flags have been awarded to Trentino beaches along a total of nine lakes. These beaches score particularly high for sustainability, care of the environment and quality of services.
In fact, Trentino has 297 lakes. The best-known is without a doubt Lake Garda, renowned throughout the world for its beaches, sailing and windsurfing. Near Lake Garda, Lake Tenno is a new entry for 2024.
Other beautiful lakes in Trentino, that have Blue Flag beaches include Lake Caldonazzo with the beaches of Lido, San Cristoforo, Tenna and Calceranica. Then there is Lake Levico, Lake Idro, Lake Roncone, and the Lido Bertoldi at Lake Lavarone. Finally, you can enjoy beautiful natural surroundings by the Lake’s of Terlago, Serriaia and Delle Piazze. For the names of all the individual beaches see the Trentino tourism website.
Tenno lake, now holiding a Blue Flag
Italy has 7500km of coastline and hundreds of beaches. Even those that don’t meet all the criteria to be awarded a Blue Flag may be just what you are looking for. To see the full list of Blue Flags in Italy visit the Ministry of Tourism website. Here you will also find a list of Blue Flag landing places, ports and marinas.
