Blue Flag Beaches 2012

 

Forte dei Marmi is a beautiful town in the Versilia. It has a long beach of fine sand and clear water. The city is a mix of old and modern constructions and is considered one of the most elegant and sophisticated in the region. Forte dei Marmi was built the sixteenth century around a pier that was used to ship the marble from the Apuan Alps and has been protected, since 1788, by a fort built by Leopold I, located in the center of Piazza Garibaldi; it is still visible today.


Picture: Giuseppe Moscato

Pietrasanta is a sandy beach in the heart of the Versilia with a wide selection of beaches. The city is beautiful and charming, and it is famous as its arts center. Sea, beaches, pine forests and mountains are the elements that, in few kilometers, offer a wonderful and varied environment.

Picture: Luca Traversa
 

Camaiore is a place with a lot of beaches of fine golden sand and good facilities. The incomparable view of the Apuan Alps, in contrast to the sea and the blue sky, make up a unique atmosphere. The recently built pier - offers beautiful views, and the promenade is perfect for pleasant walks in the late afternoon and during the evening.

Picture: Elena Torre
 

 

Viareggio is a charming and elegant city with many art nouveau buildings. Very popular in the summer, Viareggio is one of the main centers of the Versilia Riviera. The beaches are wide and sandy and there are many bathing establishments. The pier is one of the most beautiful places to enjoy the sunset. Viareggio is also a great destination for those who love the nightlife, with many entertainment options at night , including several bars.

Picture: David Gemignani
 

 

At just 11km from Pisa, you'll find Marina di Pisa. Itcan be reached following the Arno river. Marina di Pisa is shaped by roads that run parallel to the sea; it also has a lot of Art Nouveau buildings and squares near the seaside. Behind Marina there is a vast pinewood; to the south there is Tirrenia; and to the north, beyond the Arno towards Marina di Vecchiano, you'll find the Migliarino San Rossore Park.

The coast is formed by small beaches that are protected by breakwaters and boast many tourist facilities. There is a good range of accommodations in the area, with the opportunity to visit the port of Marina di Pisa or catch ferries to the Cinque Terre, Capraia Island and Elba Island.

Picture: DnaX88
 

Tirrenia is a village of Marina di Pisa immersed in a seaside pinewood. The beaches are both free and equipped and you can practice an array of water sports like sailing, windsurfing, fishing, and diving. The beaches are long, white sandy beaches. There are also many options for evening entertainment, among them discos and pubs.

Picture: Claudia Gabriela Marques Vieira
 

Along the Tyrrhenian coast, between Tirrenia and Livorno, stands Calambrone, whose area in medieval times was identified with the Porto Pisano, the great seaport of the Republic of Pisa. Behind Calambrone there is the pinewood of Tombolo, which is inside thePark of San Rossore. Calambrone has long and wide beaches with fine sand and dunes. The exposure to wind and the higher than average waves make it a perfect place for lovers of sailing and windsurfing.

Picture: Alex Valli
 

Antignano is a district of Livorno and its coast is one of the most beautiful of the province. The village is situated on the top of the steep cliff of Leghorn, tot he South. The coast is formed by rocks and there are various access points that allow you to reach the sea from street level. The beach isfree, but there are also bathing establishments.

Picture: Fabrizio Angius
 

 

Few kilometers from Livorno is Quercianella, a place immersed in pinewoods and Mediterranean scrub, along the crystalline seashore. The bathing establishments are equipped with modern equipment for sports activities. The area and seabed is rich in fauna and flora, and for this reason, it is appreciated by diving lovers. Here you will also find the “Romito,” a cliff with pink stone of rare beauty. By taking the stairs carved into the rock, you can go down to the seaside.

Picture: Fabrizio Angius

Castiglioncello is a village in the municipality of Rosignano Marittimo, in the province of Livorno. It is considered one of the most beautiful seaside areas in Italy because of its lush pine forests and its impressive cliffs overlooking the sea that dominate the landscape. Castiglioncello began to be famous in the 1960s, when Italian actors started to chose it as their preferred holiday destination.

Picture: rishon-lezion
 

Vada is part of the municipality of Rosignano Marittimo and is known for its wide beaches of fine white sand and for its crystal and clear waters. On the coast, you can find shady and thick pinewoods, bathing establishments with facilities and long free beaches.

Picture: Francesco Cavallari
 

 

Along the Etruscan Coast, you'll find Marina di Cecina, a place that is very much appreciated by tourists from all over the world for its historical and environmental resources. Cecina is a lively town of ancient origin (it dates back to the Neolithic period). Marina di Cecina has stone and sandy beaches and is perfect if you like sport: there are many facilities such as a fully equipped area to play bowls, a water park, and an important equestrian center. The "Tomboli", which are long dunes covered with vegetation, are typical of this area . "Tomboli" are a characteristic ecosystem created to defend the cultivated areas inland from the winds coming from the sea.

Picture: Ian McKellar
 

Le Gorette is on the coast of Cecina. To reach the beach, you can pass throw the pinewood. There is also a big parking lot. The beach is made ofdark gravel and is protected by banks of stone that counteract the erosive action of the waves just off the coast, allowing beach-goers to bathe even in the windiest days. There are beach resorts along the coast, as well as free beaches.

Picture: Y?YNTL
 

Marina di Bibbona is a long, wide sandy beach, near an enchanting medieval village. In Marina di Bibbona, you have the opportunity to tour the area on foot, horseback or by bike.

Picture: Giuseppe Moscato
 

It the heart of the Etruscan Coast, close to Bolgheri, is a beautiful medieval town called Castagneto Carducci. There is a beautiful beach and it's also perfect to discover the hills and countrysideon horseback, on foot or by bike.

Picture: Around Tuscany
 

San Vincenzo has a beach of fine golden sand and clear blue seas. It is located along the Etruscan Coast and has excellent tourist facilities and slews of restaurants. San Vincenzo also has a modern port that can host hundreds of boats.

Picture: Smeerch
 

The coast corresponding to the park has a sickle form, is relatively deep and slightly sloping towards the sea; the beach has white, fine sand bordered by a narrow dune. Its profile is characterized by several towers, built for historical reasons.

Picture: Valeria Viglienghi
 

Follonica is located in the center of a bay and is a perfect spot to contemplate the beautiful islands of the Tuscan Archipelago. The beaches have fine and light brown sand.

Picture: Dario Bigongiari
 

Castiglione della Pescaia is one of the most important beaches of the Maremma. The beautiful medieval village of Castiglione Castello makes the atmosphere of the sandy beaches even more fascinating. It was a old fishing village and today has become an attractive place for young tourists. The nearby beaches are full of cliffs and there are also bathing establishments.

Picture: Erik van Roekel
 

Marina di Grosseto has long beaches that are ideal for sports like sailing and surfing. Horse enthusiasts will have the opportunity for pleasant horseback ridings. This is a good destination for families with children, there are many shops open during the summer and the beaches have facilities.

Picture: Around Tuscany
 

Principina a Mare is a municipality of Grosseto. The center consists mainly of houses for holidays, high-class hotels and a camp site. It is known for its wide beaches overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, for its hills covered with Mediterranean scrub and because of its beautiful “Tombolo” pinewood between Punta Ala and the Park of Maremma. There are both bathing establishments and free beaches. It is a great place to enjoy sports, such as sailing, kite surfing, surfing, cycling or horse riding.

Picture: Giampiero Ridella
 

By travelling onpaths, trails and dirt roads, you can access bays known for their nearby Roman ruins, beautiful cliffs and solitary beaches. The area also has beach resorts, for those looking for every comfort.
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Picture: Ovi Gherman