Twenty-four Blue Flags (Bandiera Blu) have been awarded to Puglia for 2024, confirming the region’s second-highest number of award-winning coastal resorts, after Liguria.
Awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), the Blue Flag is awarded according to criteria that assess cleanliness, water quality, environmental management, services and safety.
What does Blue Flag mean?
The Blue Flag has been an international mark of excellence since 1987, awarding outstanding beach destinations that meet a set of strict quality criteria. From the purity of the beaches to the transparency of the bathing waters, from the services offered to the access to marinas, every aspect is carefully assessed. The waters must guarantee a safe bathing environment, with no sewage discharges, whether urban or industrial, while beach services must strictly adhere to eco-sustainability standards. In addition, the presence of lifeguard personnel and equipment is essential, as well as adequate facilities for immediate rescue and accessibility for the physically disabled. These are just some of the many criteria a location must fulfil to earn the prestigious Blue Flag award.
When is the Blue Flag awarded?
The Blue Flag programme is based on a strict set of criteria, which are constantly updated to encourage local administrations to commit to environmental protection and sustainable land management. It is worth emphasising the importance of this process, as it aims to push administrations to improve over time by addressing land management issues.
New Blue Flags in Apulia
Among this year`s most significant novelties is the addition of three new Apulian municipalities to the prestigious list of Blue Flag resorts: Lecce-San Cataldo, Patù and Manduria. At the same time, Margherita di Savoia has left the list, representing the only exit from the region.
In Apulia, the award-winning municipalities are:
Tremiti Islands, Rodi Garganico, Peschici, Vieste, Zapponeta (Province of Foggia);
Bisceglie (Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani);
Polignano a Mare and Monopoli (Province of Bari);
Fasano, Ostuni and Carovigno (Province of Brindisi);
Lecce, Melendugno, Castro, Patù, Salve, Ugento, Gallipoli, Nardò (Province of Lecce);
Ginosa, Castellaneta, Leporano, Maruggio, Manduria (Province of Taranto).