Some more famous places are still excluded from the list, places with well-known celebrity names such as Taormina, Capri, Tropea and Ischia. The verdict is still out on Portofino following the reduction in the area protected under national park status. No blue flags as yet grace the Aeolian islands, where local authorities have not conducted necessary tests for water quality. As far as the Mediterranean is concerned, the number of blue flags over Italian beaches and facilities has it placed second behind Spain's 89 flags, but still out ahead of Greece (77), France (74) and Turkey (42).
A second ranking, which evaluates private craft harbors frequented by tourists, has granted Italy an additional 40 flags. Molise and Basilicata are the regions with the greatest percentage of non-polluted beaches. A black flag should be handed out to Campania and Lazio, on the other hand...
Of the 10 most beautiful beaches registered with the Touring Club and Legambiente's Guida Blu, Otranto is the undisputed queen. Its waters are clear and inviting, its landscape uncontaminated. The bathing resort on Salento's Adriatic coast received honors for its "resistance" to uncontrolled and speculative building, for its protective stance on the Punta Palacia lighthouse and the realization of bike trails.
The little island of Ustica in Palermo province achieved the second highest rating with 95.5 points. Next in line are a string of southern communities such as the Sicilian island of Pantelleria (Tp), Tropea (Vv), pride of the Calabrian coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Arbus (Ca), the Tremiti islands (Fg) and Pollica (Sa). Five banners have gone to the Cinque Terre, in the La Spezia province, Castiglione della Pescaia (Gr) and Stirolo (An).

The beaches along the Teramo coast aren't sweating their Bandiera Blu d'Europa status this summer, having snagged seven flags for seven beaches: Martinsicuro, Alba Adriatica, Tortoreto, Giulianova, Roseto, Pineto and Silvi. It's the first time this has happened here and the province is actually the only one in Italy to have done it.
In Abruzzo, in addition to the seven "Teramo Sisters" San Salvo also sports the Bandiera Blu. With this total of eight awards in all, the region has climbed to fourth place after Tuscany, Liguria and the Marches.
Despite being the home of the Italian Riviera, Liguria has held on to only 13 of the 17 flags it flew last year. Red cards go to Andora, Finale Ligure, Deiva, Laigueglia, which were removed from this year's list. Further on the downside, the private ports showed a slight decrease this year, down from 44 flags to 41.
There is an encouraging number of fine new entries on the other hand, including Lerici, Chiavari, Follonica, Castiglione della Pescaia, Marina di Camerota, Portonovo (Ancona), Numana, Porto San Giorgio, Alba Adriatica, Martinsicuro, Termoli, Castro, Castellaneta, San Vito Lo Capo, Marsala, Quartu S. Elena, Crucoli, Nova Siri and Sirmione on the shores of Lake Garda.
The various islands have turned in a poor show, and only two were granted blue flags: Ustica and Maddalena.
Sicily doubled its numbers from 2 to 4 flags and the waters of Abruzzo now have 5 flags, up from (4 last year). Tuscany is up one as well with its present 6. Molise returns with and Sirmione twins its debut with Lombardy.

So, there you have it. All signs point to a fabulous shore side summer season in the Belpaese. Hats off to the Italian beaches, and a salute to the crew of lifeguards that contribute to their safety!

beaches 2002: first part