Seascape. Beach of Numana. Marche. Italy. Europe. (Photo by: Mauro Flamini/REDA&CO/Universal Images ... [+]
REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesHow about a dive in Santa Margherita Ligure, Numana, Positano or another breathtaking Italian beach this summer? In 2021, the choice is almost limitless: in fact, 416 beaches in the country were awarded with the ‘Blue Flag’ prize. This is the international award that the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) gives every year to the destinations that meet the highest standards on their beach and sea, according to 32 factors ranging from water quality monitoring to environmental management principles.
Out of more than 4,000 locations worldwide, about 201 destinations of the 2021 Blue Flag edition are located in Italy, and 15 were rewarded for the first time. These include: Francavilla al Mare, Pescara and Martinsicuro in the region of Abruzzo; Diamante and Santa Maria del Cedro in Calabria; Camerota in Campania; Fondi and Minturno in Lazio; Altidona in Marche; Bisceglie, Monopoli and Nardò in Puglia; Aglientu in Sardinia and Roccalumera and Modica in Sicily. Altogether, Italy’s Blue Flag beaches account for about 10% of the awarded seaside locations in the world.
The Italian region with the most Blue Flag sites is Liguria. “For the twelfth year in a row our region still scores first in Italy, with 32 Blue Flags. This is an important result, especially in the lead up to the summer, which is going to need to be the season of rebirth for Ligurians as well as for our economy, after months of closures. The world envies our landscapes and Liguria is ready to welcome many tourists safely, especially starting from its beautiful blue flag [beaches]. Let’s go!,” Giovanni Toti, president of Liguria, wrote on his social media pages.
Claudio Mazza, president of the Italian branch of the Foundation for Environmental Education, added: “Like last year, when the Blue Flag seaside towns responded to the new and unknown challenges coming from Covid-19, guaranteeing an efficient and safe management of the summer season, we are convinced that also in 2021 Italian tourism will be an engine for the entire country’s recovery.”
As Italy gets ready for the season and prepares itself to welcoming tourists also from abroad (especially from the US and the UK), the government has adopted new, more relaxed rules to regulate travel in the country. Specifically, starting from May 15th, entering Italy will only entail being vaccinated, having recovered from the virus or have a negative test 48 hours before arrival. A 5-day quarantine will no longer be required.
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Coronavirus rates in Italy have been improving over the past weeks. Latest figures indicate that there have been 5,080 new cases in the country over the past 24 hours (the lowest since mid-October) and 198 deaths. “I understand people’s need to get back to a normal life. We need to be patient for another two or three weeks, wait until all people over 80 are vaccinated and until we reach at least 30 million Italians covered with the first dose of the vaccine,” said Health undersecretary Pierpaolo Sileri to daily Corriere della Sera. Notably, chances are that the Ministry of Health will allow for no mask wearing in open air spaces, unless they are very crowded. “In June we will be like the UK,” Sileri added.
The Link LonkMay 11, 2021 at 01:42AM
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Holiday Destinations: Where Are Italy’s 15 New ‘Blue Flag’ Beaches - Forbes
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