Stunning Ligurian beaches: Blue Flag and dog-friendly

25 Blue Flags in Liguria, a record result which accredits Liguria as the Italian region with the cleanest sea.

And this year, two beach towns will wave the Blue flag for the first time: Ceriale and Levanto.

The Blue Flag programme for beaches and marinas is run by the international, nongovernmental, non-profit organisation FEE (the Foundation for Environmental Education). It was started in France in 1985 and has been operating in Europe since 1987 and in areas outside of Europe since 2001, when South Africa joined. Today, Blue Flag has become a truly global programme with an ever-increasing number of countries participating in the programme.

The Blue Flag programme promotes sustainable development in freshwater and marine areas. It challenges local authorities and beach operators to achieve high standards in the four categories of: water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety. Over the years, the Blue Flag has become a highly respected and recognised eco-label working to bring together the tourism and environmental sectors at local, regional and national levels.

Here is the list of Ligurian beaches awarded the Blue Flag this year: Bordighera (Capo Sant'Ampelio Termini e Ratta Conigli), Taggia (Arma di Taggia), Santo Stefano al Mare (Baia Azzurra, Il Vascello), e San Lorenzo al Mare (U Nostromu - Prima Punta, Baia delle Vele; Ceriale (shoreline), Borghetto Santo Spirito (shoreline), Loano (Spiaggia Levante Porto, Torrente Nimbalto area, Tombolo Perelli, Sottopasso Via Genova area, Loc. Sottopassaggio), Pietra Ligure (Ponente), Finale Ligure ( Malpasso-Baia dei Saraceni beach, Finalmarina, Finalpia, Spiaggia del Porto, Varigotti, Castelletto San Donato), Noli (Capo Noli-Zona Vittoria-Zona Anita-Chiariventi), Spotorno (Lido), Bergeggi (Il Faro, Villaggio del Sole), Savona (Fornaci), Albissola Marina (Lido), Albisola Superiore (Lido), Celle Ligure (Levante) e Varazze (Arrestra, Ponente Teiro, Levante Teiro, Piani D'Invrea); Santa Margherita Ligure (Scogliera Pagana, Punta Pedale, Paraggi, Milite Ignoto area), Chiavari  (Gli Scogli area), Lavagna (Waterfront) e Moneglia (Centrale/La Secca/Levante); Framura (Fornaci), Levanto (Ghiararo, Est La Pietra beach), Lerici (Venere Azzurra, Lido, San Giorgio, Eco del Mare, Fiascherino, Baia Blu, Colombo)  and Ameglia (Fiumaretta).

But there is more!

Liguria is also a leading region in terms of dog-friendly beaches, in fact Liguria has stretches of coastline accessible to pets in all of its four provinces.

In Imperia province, the 'dog-friendly' beaches are: the Municipal Beach of Porto Maurizio in Imperia (showers for dogs are available), beach in Ospedaletti, dog-friendly beach in Ventimiglia (fountain available), the public beach of San Lorenzo al Mare, the Prino beach in Porto Maurizio, the Ramoino beach in Imperia Oneglia and Terrazza Beach on Calvino waterfront in Sanremo.