Over a hundred Italian seaside towns can hoist the coveted Blue Flag this summer. The Blue Flag , assigned by the FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education) is an internationally recognized guarantee of clean beaches, unpolluted sea and general attention to environmental problems on the part of local government, which is awarded each year after careful monitoring by a jury. Some 40 countries in the world apply each year for Blue Flag accreditation.

This year, Tuscany and Marche came out tops, with the greatest number of Blue Flag beaches, closely followed by Abruzzo and Ligury. Despite the much-publicised problems of litter disposal in the Naples area, the Campania region was able to boast eleven resorts, including the world-famous Amalfi coast towns and the coast of Salerno, with the lesser-known beaches of Centola-Palinuro, Castellabate, Pollica, Sapri , Agropoli. Pisciotta, Montecorice, Ascea and Vibonati.

The assignation of 104 Blue Flags is a demonstration of a continuing effort on the part of the Italian authorities to improve their beaches. Last year, Italy totalled 96 Blue Flags.