Dreamy beaches and clear sea: discover the Blue Flags

The Marina di Carrara coast, with its comfortable hotels, campgrounds and services, is the perfect destination for a vacation of wellness and fun. The beach of fine, soft sand is served by public transportation and offers a dense pine forest for shelter from the sun on hot days.

Expanses of golden sand, the rugged Apuan Alps behind, a unique territory the one that frames Marina di Massa. In summer, the many resorts (some of them historic), clubs, discos and all the services make it one of the most attractive destinations in Tuscany.

Versilia is the perfect destination for anyone who loves art and fun as well as the clear blue sea. The Blue Flag flutters over the coast of Forte dei Marmi, which is loved also by celebrities.

A few kilometers from the historic center of Pietrasanta, the capital of artistic marble working, the beaches of Tonfano/Focette and La Versiliana, in Marina di Pietrasanta, offer large expanses of soft sand equipped with every comfort and interspersed with parks and pine forests.

Beloved by the great personalities of the past, such as Gabriele D'Annunzio, Eleonora Duse and Victor Emmanuel III, the beach at Lido di Camaiore is a pleasant and elegant seaside resort overlooking the wide beach of Versilia.

Viareggio, the city of Carnival but also the pearl of Versilia, has been awarded the Blue Flag for its beach Ponente/Levante and that of Torre del Lago Puccini. The latter resort, in addition to having a stunning view of the Tyrrhenian Sea, is home to the Puccini Festival, which stages a remarkable opera season every summer at the Giacomo Puccini Open-Air Grand Theater.

The Pisa coast is for those who enjoy relaxation and more private beaches, far from the hustle and bustle. Clear sea and vast Mediterranean pine forests can be found in Marina di Pisa, Tirrenia and Calambrone.

On the Livorno coast, the level of environmental quality and tourist service is high at Parco Marina del Boccale, Rogiolo, Bagni Roma Rex, and Cala Quercianella.

Summer events in Livorno include Il Cacciucco Pride - three days dedicated to Livorno's famous fish soup - and Effetto Venezia, which enlivens the city's ancient heart, in "La Venezia" neighborhood.

In the municipality of Rosignano Marittimo, the beaches of Castiglioncello, La Mazzanta and Vada have been awarded the Blue Flag. The first, built on an ancient Etruscan village, is known worldwide thanks to the film "Il Sorpasso" by Dino Risi. On the coast of Vada, shaded by thick pine forests, characteristic establishments alternate with wide stretches of free beach. Le Secche, for example, is a stretch of sea characterized by shallow waters that attracts fishing enthusiasts in every season.

The beaches of Le Gorette and Marina di Cecina are close to all kinds of services and are also ideal for relaxing family vacations. Water sports can also be enjoyed here; there are swimming and sailing schools, stables and a field for target shooting.

Thanks to its mild climate, tranquility and beautiful landscape, Marina di Bibbona is one of the most popular resorts on the Etruscan Coast. Surrounded by nature, the center/southern part of the beach is perfect for the whole family and also for those who love water sports.

Marina di Castagneto Carducci boasts a clean and clear sea. The coast is welcoming and inviting, full of bathing establishments and "Punti Azzurri", or large stretches of free beach where services and assistance are guaranteed. There is also a convenient bike path to reach the beach.

San Vincenzo's beaches, including Principessa and Conchiglia Fosso delle Rozze, are very popular, even by foreign tourists, and are suitable for those who enjoy relaxation, archaeology (nearby Populonia is worth visiting) and even water sports. Special attention deserves to be paid to the Rimigliano Natural Park, a floral-faunal oasis located directly on the sea. Also the beach north/south of Rimigliano is awarded with the blue flag.

The Sterpaia Nature Park in the Piombino area is also known for its rich environmental ecosystem, consisting of dunes, agricultural areas and an interesting wet forest.

Also worth a trip is the beach at Follonica, a town located in the center of a beautiful gulf to which it gives its name, between the promontory of Piombino and Punta Ala, and in front of which lies the Island of Elba.

Another place not to be missed is Castiglione della Pescaia, with its historic village: a real jewel overlooking the sea. Beach resorts to visit are Levante/Tombolo, Spiaggia Pian D’alma/Casetta Civinini-Piastrone/Punta Ala, Rocchette/Roccamare-Casa Mora/Riva del Sole/Capezzolo.

The Maremma offers extraordinary locations for an unforgettable summer. The coast of Marina di Grosseto and Principina a Mare, not far from the Maremma Regional Park, the wild, green heart of the Grosseto area, are considered among the best beaches for families with children.

We continue our journey southward to Orbetello, the unique town gathered on the tongue of land that juts out toward Mount Argentario. Not to be missed are the beaches of Fertilia, Puntata, Osa – Albegna, Giannella, Feniglia and Tagliata, all with blue flags.