There are practically countless of locations in Italy where one can enjoy a beautiful swim, from isolated coves to places full of activities.

The Blue Flag certification identifies those places that fulfill certain criteria in terms of the quality of the area and the associated services. The idea is to highlight places where swimming can be enjoyable, safe and with respect to the environment.

Some of the more important of these criteria are:

1. The quality of the water must be within EU limits.
2. There should be no outlet of sewage water in the proximity.
3. The beach itself needs to be clean, with adequate services for swimmers to dispose of trash.
4. An appropriate number of personnel should be on hand to ensure the safety of the swimmers and such personnel should be equipped with appropriate tools to carry out their work
5. There should be at least one place where to get drinking water on the beach
5. Provisions should be made for disabled access to the beach.

Italy has 113 such places across its huge coastline (and a couple of its lakes) and the map below will help you identify them - some are very famous, some are less well known but they all represent good places to enjoy a swim. They do not, however, necessarily represent the absolutely best places as any isolated beaches are, by definition, not admissible in this category.

Below is a list of the places divided by region and provice:

LIGURIA

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IMPERIA

Camporosso
Bordighera

SAVONA

Finale Ligure
Noli
Spotorno
Bergeggi
Savona - Fornaci
Albissola Marina
Albisola Superiore
Celle Ligure
Varazze

GENOVA

Chiavari
Lavagna
Moneglia

LA SPEZIA

Lerici
Ameglia - Fiumaretta

TOSCANA

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LUCCA

Forte dei Marmi
Pietrasanta
Camaiore
Viareggio

PISA

Pisa - Marina di Pisa; Tirrenia; Calambrone

LIVORNO

Livorno - Antignano; Quercianella
Rosignano Marittimo - Castiglioncello; Vada
Cecina
Bibbona - Marina di Bibbona
Castagneto Carducci
San Vincenzo
Piombino – Riotorto - Parco Naturale della Sterpaia

GROSSETO

Follonica
Castiglione della Pescaia
Grosseto - Marina di Grosseto; Principina a Mare
Monte Argentario

FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA

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GORIZIA

Grado

UDINE

Lignano Sabbiadoro

VENETO

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VENEZIA

San Michele al Tagliamento - Bibione
Caorle
Eraclea - Eraclea Mare
Jesolo
Cavallino Treporti
Venezia - Lido di Venezia

EMILIA ROMAGNA

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FERRARA

Comacchio - Lidi ComacchiesiRAVENNA
Ravenna - Lidi Ravennati
Cervia

FORLI - CESENA

Cesenatico
San Mauro Pascoli - San Mauro Mare

RIMINI

Bellaria Igea Marina
Rimini
Cattolica

MARCHE

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PESARO - URBINO

Gabicce - Gabicce Mare
Pesaro
Fano
Mondolfo

ANCONA

Senigallia
Sirolo
Numana

MACERATA

Porto Recanati
Potenza Picena - Porto Potenza Picena
Civitanova Marche

ASCOLI PICENO

Porto Sant’Elpidio
Fermo
Porto San Giorgio
Cupra Marittima
Grottammare
San Benedetto del Tronto

ABRUZZO

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TERAMO

Martinsicuro
Alba Adriatica
Tortoreto Lido
Giulianova - Lungomare Zara
Roseto degli Abruzzi
Pineto
Silvi Marina

CHIETI

Francavilla al Mare
Fossacesia
Rocca San Giovanni
Vasto
San Salvo

L’AQUILA

Scanno

MOLISE

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CAMPOBASSO

Termoli

LAZIO

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LATINA

Sabaudia
San Felice Circeo
Sperlonga
Gaeta

CAMPANIA

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NAPOLI

Massa Lubrense

SALERNO

Positano
Agropoli
Castellabate
Montecorice - Agnone; Capitello
Pollica - Acciaroli; Pioppi
Casal Velino
Ascea
Pisciotta
Centola - Palinuro
Vibonati - Villammare
Sapri

BASILICATA

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POTENZA

Maratea

PUGLIA

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FOGGIA

Rodi Garganico

BARI

Polignano a Mare

BRINDISI

Ostuni - Marina di Ostuni

TARANTO

Castellaneta
Ginosa - Marina di Ginosa

LECCE

Castro
Salve

CALABRIA

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COSENZA

Cariati - Marina di Cariati

CROTONE

Cirò Marina - Punta Alice

REGGIO CALABRIA

Roccella Jonica
Marina di Gioiosa Jonica

SICILIA

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CATANIA

Fiumefreddo di Sicilia - Marina di Cottone

RAGUSA

Pozzallo
Ragusa - Marina di Ragusa

AGRIGENTO

Menfi

SARDEGNA

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OLBIA-TEMPIO

Santa Teresa Gallura - Rena Bianca
La Maddalena - Punta Tegge;Spalmatore