In 2018 Italy boasts 368 Blue Flags Beaches and region Liguria has again the highest number of Blue Flag beaches.

Italy has 368 top beaches, twelve more than last year, in 175 municipalities. The figures emerge from the 2018 Blue Flag table, which certifies the services and environmental friendliness of coastal and lakeside resorts, as well as the cleanliness of the water.

Blue Flags are international distinctions, created in 1987, with patronage and support from UNEP, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the World Tourism Organisation, which aims to promote a sustainable development at beaches and marinas through strict criteria such as water quality, environmental management, safety and services provided close to or within the beach area. To the Blue Flag Programme participate beaches and marinas in 41 countries of all the world.

Liguria again tops the regional table with 27 blue flags.

It is followed by Tuscany with 19, Campania with 18, the central Marche region with 16, Apulia is in 5th position with 14, Sardinia gains 2 flags and reach 13, Abruzzo and Calabria with 9 flags, Veneto and Lazio with 8, Emilia Romagna reach 7 flags, Sicily has 6 flags, Basilicata 4, Friuli Venezia Giulia 2 and Molise with 1 1. But Blue Flags are also for the lakes and Trentino Alto Adige leads with 5 flags, followed by Piedmont with 2 and then Lombardy with 1 flag.

In  West Liguria these are the 2018 Blue Flags: Bordighera, Arma di Taggia, Santo Stefano al Mare, San Lorenzo al Mare, Ceriale, Borghetto Santo Spirito, Loano, Pietra Ligure, Finale Ligure,  Noli, Spotorno, Bergeggi, Savona, Albissola Marina, Albisola Superiore, Celle Ligure and Varazze.