Aart Heering
Where do the experts say you should be to see the most beautiful beaches in Italy? The Italian environmental organization Legambiente, in collaboration with the Touring Club Italiano (say the Italian ANWB), shares a few hundred Bandier Blu (blue banners) to beaches where the water quality is good enough for carefree swimming. This year there are 458, which together cover a significant part of the almost 8.000 Italian coastal kilometers. The full list, broken down by province, here..
The most beautiful beaches in 2023
The Italian environmental organization Legambiente and the international foundation FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education) annually award so-called Bandiere Blu (blue flags) to beaches where you can swim carefree in a pleasant environment. This year there were 458 in 226 municipalities. Legambiente then makes a reasoned choice of the most beautiful beaches in the country, in collaboration with the Touring Club d'Italia.
Just like the number of clean beaches, the number of these has also increased this year, from 18 to 21 sea beaches and from 7 to 11 lakes. This indicates that not only the quality of the water is gradually increasing, but also that of factors such as nature and ecology, accessibility and culture. Sometimes this leads to seemingly unsympathetic but necessary measures. For example, a maximum number of visitors has been set for the famous beach of Baunei in Sardinia and Lake Molveno in Trentino.
We also saw most of the 32 winners on the list that was drawn up in 2022. Like last year, Sardinia has the highest number of super beaches, or 7 against 6 last year, followed by Tuscany, which has four, as in 2022.
Two southern regions are represented in the premier league for the first time this year. In Calabria provides Tropea beaches with crystal clear water, where it is certainly not crowded in the early and late season (but it is in August!) and a beautiful location on a cliff Old Town. In addition, the surrounding area is famous for its culinary specialties, especially the local type of onion, the slightly sweet cipolla di Tropea. The hinterland is wonderful for a day of trekking through nature, for example in the Parco del Pollino in the Appennines. It is beautifully situated in the middle of the same Central Italian ridge Lake of Scanno in the region Abruzzo. The heart-shaped lake, which is more than 900 meters high, is a well-known water sports center in the middle of the Appennino Abruzzese, and is a refreshing change from the then dry and hot mountains, especially in the summer.
It is also striking that, just like last year, the celebrities of mass tourism, the Adriatic beaches from Trieste to Pescara on the east coast, and the Riviera Ligure in the west, are completely missing from the list. The reason for this is undoubtedly that although the beaches here are well maintained and the water is gradually becoming cleaner, they have little to offer nature lovers and are anything but quiet during the season. Perhaps the latter is also the reason why the Cinque Terre have been removed from the list this year. The five villages on the Ligurian south coast, which descends steeply into the sea, are idyllically situated, but they are also clearly victims of overtourism.
The complete list of municipalities and beaches with the Bandiera Blu 2023 can be found here.
The coasts of Italy
If we compare the list of 2023 with that of last year, we see that in Sardinia the beaches of Baunei, Posada and the Gallura have been promoted. If new entry figures Bosa, a colorful town on the Sardinian west coast, just like Cabras, which is close to the Gulf of Oristano mentioned last year. In short, all of West Sardinia is worth it. At the southern tip of the island, a few kilometers inland, lies the rustic village Domus de Maria, with its wide sandy beaches, hard-to-reach coves and rock climbing. (Last year, roughly the same coast was included as the Litorale di Chia, a small seaside resort.)
The Sardinian capital Cagliari is nearby and always worth a visit. South of the chic Olbia with its airport mainly used by tourists. is Budoni. known for its wide white beaches. It is one of more than 20 seaside resorts with Bandiera Blu on the east coast of Sardinia, between the equally famous places of San Teodoro and Posada.
In Tuscany it will be Island of Capraia praised once again. The Maremma Toscana, which was presented as a whole last year, now has two entries. Castiglione della Pescaia, an ancient village with almost exclusively paid beaches, and the beautiful medieval town Capalbio, which was once known as a refuge of leftist Romans with money.
The beaches of the seaside district of Capalbio Scalo are beautiful, but in the nature reserve to the north there is a kilometer-long unspoilt free beach that can only be reached on foot. It's new on the list Island of Giglio, one of the islands off the Tuscan coast. Less well known than the larger Elba, Giglio, which has only 1500 inhabitants and is largely uninhabited, offers both sandy beaches and rocky coasts where it is good to walk in peace, in addition to the typical seaside activities in the three small villages that make up the island.
In Apulia Dealer Nardo en Porto Cesareo mentioned, which are not actually newcomers, but last year came under a heading as Alto Salento Jonico, the west side of the heel of the boot. Well new Vieste, on the Gargano, the bulge in the northwest of Apulia. The Gargano has a number of beaches less known among foreigners, but is also a national park with rustic villages and dense wooded mountains over 1000 meters high, ideal for trekking and horseback riding. On the edge of the park is San Giovanni Rotondo, which has become world famous as the center of the cult around the popular saint Padre Pio.
In Campania is the famous one Cilento Coast, which was still listed as a whole last year, now represented with two locations that are actually mountain villages, but whose territory extends to the sea, San Giovanni a Piro en San Mauro Cilento. That is also the attractiveness of these places. So you are baking by the sea and half an hour later you are enjoying a cool breeze, local wine, meat or fish and a magnificent view of the Ionian Sea.
Further west, beyond the well-known (Marina di) Camerota, on the edge of the Parco Nazionale del Cilento, the three municipalities offer Pollica, Acciaroli and Pioppi the same alternation of sea and mountain. In Basilicata, Matera kept its position and Sicily also remained unchanged, with the islands of Pantelleria and Salina.
The lakes
The 7 Awarded Lakes of 2022 (Mis, Fiè, Monticolo or Appiano, Molveno, Avigliano, Accesa and Garda west) are all promoted. This year, the number of award-winning lakes has increased to 11, but that is partly coastal because the two Lombardy lake beaches, the one of Toscolano Maderno and Gardone Riviera last year both fell under the heading of the West Bank of Lake Garda.
The main newcomer is the Lago di Scanno, which has already been mentioned above. In addition, they became Cannero on Lake Maggiore (Piedmont) and the beach of Alpago on Lake Santa Croce, a reservoir in Veneto. In Trentino, Lago di Ledro was added, a mountain lake with crystal clear water whose temperature can rise to over 650 degrees in summer despite its high location (20 metres). The lake is also known as the site of a village on stilt houses from the Bronze Age.
Cinque Vele for the most beautiful beaches
In addition, also many (sails) handed out for 'the most beautiful beaches', whereby in addition to the quality of the water and the beach itself, other factors are also considered, such as sustainability, environment, nature, tranquility and accessibility.
This includes opportunities for activities such as cycling, canoeing, diving and trekking and the proximity to rustic eateries. The highest category is that of Five Sails, five sails, and that is reserved for only 25 small and large coastal areas, of which 18 on the sea and 7 on lakes.
6 winners in Sardinia
The Sardinia region is the big winner, with no fewer than 6 entries, which is no wonder, because despite the mass tourism on this island you still had a remote, surrounded by steep slopes and an azure blue sea, creek (beach the Sardinian way).
The 7 lakes, which should come as no surprise, are all but one in the north. It is striking that, apart from the extreme southern tip and the Tremiti archipelago, not a single Adriatic beach has proved worth 5 sails. But yes, when you see those endless rows of beach chairs and umbrellas against the background of an equally endless buildings, you can imagine the reason for that.
18 most beautiful beaches by the sea
Below now the 18 sea beaches, in the order of Legambiente:
1. Bauneis
The number 1 of the sea beaches is Baunei on the southwest coast of Sardinia in the province of Nuoro. White beaches with exotic names such as Cala Luna and Cala Birioli, and hiking trails in a beautiful nature where the green is punctuated with yellow broom and pink oleanders. Close to the wild interior of Dorgali.
2. Cilento Antico
The beach of Cilento Antico in the province of Salerno, Campania. At the foot of the 1.130 meter high Monte Stella, in the national park that also contains the famous temples of Paestum lie.
3. Maremma Tuscany
The Tuscan south coast still offers long stretches of free beach, including in the municipality of Capalbio, against an unspoilt nature reserve.
4. Isola di Capraia
Also in Tuscany is the island of Capraia, with less than 400 inhabitants and a rocky coast, with scarce beaches, beautiful caves and steep paths.
5. Litorale di Chia
On the south coast of Sardinia, not far from Cagliari, the white beaches of Chia are considered by many to be the best beaches in Italy. The waters here are an enchanting shade of turquoise and the sand resembles liquid gold. Framed by sand dunes and juniper bushes.
The lagoon behind Chia Beach is an important breeding ground for flamingos and dolphins are regular visitors to the bay. Popular with locals and surfers alike. Some, such as Cala Cipolla, can only be reached on foot.
6. Isola di Salina
The second largest of Aeolian Islands, above Sicily, less crowded than Lipari and less sophisticated than Panarea, consists of an 860-meter-high volcano with a series of pebble beaches at its foot.
7. Gallura Costiera
Back in Sardinia. This time the northeastern coast around Santa Teresa Gallura and the AMP (Area Marina Protetta: maritime reserve) of Capo Testa.
8. Costa d'Argento
In the extreme south of Tuscany, long white beaches between Orbetello and Monte Argentario. At Porto Ercole, the former pleasure center of the Oranges. The neighboring island of Giglio is also taken along.
9. Alto Salento Jonico
The most beautiful beaches of Apulia can be found in the Salento, at the bottom of the heel of the boot. To the west, on the Ionian Sea around the coastal towns of Gallipoli and Nardò and the maritime reserve of Cesarea.
10. Alto Salento Adriatico
On the shores of the Adriatic Sea, but without artificially raised sandy beaches for a gently sloping bottom. Instead, mountains descending steeply into the sea with crystal clear water and the beautiful town of Otranto within cycling distance.
11. Baronia di Posada
The east coast of Sardinia, extensive beaches with fine white sand without the intensive development and the amusement parks of the Costa Smeralda more to the north. Ideal for water sports, including kayaking, with the authentic Sardinia of the Barbagia in the hinterland.
12. Cinque Terre
The well-known 5 towns on the Ligurian south coast, with their mountains that descend steeply into the sea, ancient terraces, breathtaking hiking trails and more and less remote beaches.
13. The coast of Maratea
On either side of the rustic seaside town of Maratea is the mountainous and only 20 kilometers long Tyrrhenian coastal strip of the small region of Basilicata. The narrow winding road high above the sea offers beautiful panoramas and is easy to do by bike.
14. The Gulf of Oristano
White beaches, crystal clear waters, pine trees for shade, antique watchtowers against Saracen raids and large numbers of flamingos. All this on the Sardinian west coast.
15. Costa del Mito
The 'mythical coast' of Palinuro and Marina di Camerota in the Cilento. Erratic rocks that descend straight into the sea with fascinating caves, beaches that can only be reached by boat and on top of nice villages and reasonably priced restaurants.
16. Pantelleria
The island of Pantelleria is located in the middle of the Channel of Sicily. The paradise of capers and dessert wine, exclusive holiday resort with a beautiful coastline.
17. Isole Tremiti
The Tremiti Islands form an archipelago of 3 small islands, plus the uninhabited and inaccessible Pianosa, east of the Apulian coast. The whole area is a marine reserve and wonderful for divers and snorkelers.
18. Planargia
On the northeast coast of Sardinia, north of Oristano. Relatively quiet and unspoilt, with numerous large and small pebble and sandy beaches. Loved by windsurfers from all over the world.
7 most beautiful beaches on a lake
And then here are the 7 lakes with the most beautiful beaches in Italy:
1. Lake del Mis
Reservoir in the valley of the same name in the National Park of the Dolomiti Bellunesi in the Veneto region. Not crowded, with pure nature, hiking trails and waterfalls.
2. Lago di Fie
Völser Weiher in German. Alpine lake at an altitude of more than 1.000 meters in the province of Bolzano/Bozen. Idyllically situated at the foot of the Dolomites.
3. Laghi di Monticolo
Oder Montiggler Seen auf Deutsch† Also near Bolzano, two small lakes at 500 meters altitude. Swimming, fishing and rest in summer and ice skating in winter.
4. Lake Molveno
In Trentino, at the foot of the Dolomiti di Trento, a popular starting point for trekking, cycling and mountain biking.
5. Lago di Garda (West Bank)
The program Lake Garda Needless to say, Legambiente prefers the west coast, in the Lombardy province of Brescia, with towns like Sirmione, Salò and Desenzano.
6. Lake Avigliana Grande
The larger of 2 lakes in the province of Turin. Protected area as a landscape park.
7. Lago dell'Accesa
Small oasis in the Maremma in Tuscany with archaeological park (Etruscans). Made sadly famous last summer by an illegal rave party in the middle of the corona crisis, but normally accessible and popular with local bathers and anglers.
Here you will find all locations of the most beautiful beaches in Italy with 5 sails
Source most beautiful beaches Italy 2022: Il Messaggero
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