Our wonderful Apulia has once again been confirmed as one of the regions with the highest number of Blue Flags 2023, thanks to its splendid seaside resorts, which make the world envious. In this article we will discover which beaches in Salento have been awarded Blue Flags, but first let’s take a step back.
What does Blue Flag mean?
The Blue Flag is a prestigious international award that since 1987 has rewarded the best seaside resorts that meet certain quality criteria: from the cleanliness of the beaches to the cleanliness of the bathing waters, from the services offered to the tourist landings. In particular, the waters must guarantee safe bathing; there must be no discharge of waste water (urban or industrial); beaches should be managed faithfully in compliance with eco-sustainability standards. Not only that, the beach must have an adequate number of personnel and/or lifesaving equipment, first aid equipment; it must guarantee access and services for the physically disabled. These are just some of the evaluation criteria to obtain Blue Flag recognition.
How much does it cost to obtain a Blue Flag?
There is no cost for obtaining a Blue Flag. Municipalities can, in fact, participate in the programme free of charge, both for assessment and certification and for monitoring visits, which are paid for entirely by the FEE – Foundation for Environmental Education.
When is the Blue Flag awarded?
The Blue Flag is given to beaches that are considered suitable for bathing by having at least one sampling point for water analysis. The beach must also meet criteria on services and safety, environmental management, environmental education and information. See the Blue Flag website for the complete list of evaluation criteria.
The beach will then be subject to an unannounced inspection by the FEE.
Who awards the Blue Flag?
As mentioned above, the Blue Flag title is awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), an international, non-governmental, non-profit environmental education organisation based in Denmark, but present in 77 countries on 5 continents.
Apulia Blue Flags 2023 [to be updated]
This year, Apulia ranked second, along with Campania and Tuscany, for the highest number of beach resorts with Blue Flags 2022. The beaches awarded in Apulia are, in fact, 18, with +3 blue flags compared to last year, 2021.
The province of Lecce, in particular, has been awarded 5 Blue Flags: Nardò, Ugento, Melendugno, Castro and Salve.
Among the award-winning destinations, which one will you spend your unforgettable Salento holiday in?
Melendugno Blue Flags 2023
San Foca: is a small hamlet of Melendugno, known for its crystal-clear sea and sandy coast, alternating with some low cliffs. The beach the village overlooks is the “Fontanelle”beach, next to the promenade. But on the coast there are coves, bays and other marvellous beaches, some equipped, others wilder and more unspoilt, such as those in Torre Specchia. San Foca is also home to the famous Grotta degli Amanti (Lovers’ Cave), whose legend tells the story of two young men who took refuge there and died at high tide. A suggestive story that makes this place even more magical.
Torre Sant’Andrea: a place that has no beach resorts and still enjoys unspoilt beauty. Its crystal-clear, turquoise waters offer Caribbean scenery of unparalleled beauty. Here stand the famous Faraglioni di Sant’Andrea, imposing rocks rising out of the sea about which romantic legends hover. All around, the vegetation is a riot of scents and colours, those typical of the Mediterranean scrub.
Torre dell’Orso: the beach, also known as “Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle” (Beach of the Two Sisters), is much loved for its crystal-clear waters that are always clean, kissing the fine, light-coloured sandy shore embraced by the pine forest. It deserves the Blue Flag for this unique corner of the Adriatic Sea, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Salento.
Roca: between San Foca and Torre dell’Orso, there is Roca, a wilder location ideal for cliff lovers. Here you will find several bays surrounded by rocks and the famous Grotta della Poesia, one of the most important sights in Salento.
Salve Blue Flags 2022
The beaches belonging to the municipality of Salve that are covered by Blue Flags 2022 are: Marina di Pescoluse, Posto Vecchio and Torre Pali, some of the most beautiful beaches in Salento, also known as the Maldives of Salento. Making up the picture are long stretches of golden sand, very shallow waters and crystal-clear water, in a setting entirely surrounded by lush Mediterranean scrub, giving it a wilder aspect.
Torre Pali, in the municipality of Salve: imagine a ruined 16th-century tower just a few metres from the shore and surrounded by crystal-clear sea; this is the setting of the beach named after the tower.
Since 2009, the marina has been punctually awarded the Blue Flag. The sea in Torre Pali is so clean that the seabed is full of fish, molluscs and urchins. It is no coincidence that there are many restaurants serving fresh fish, open even in winter.
Paths branch off from the last houses in the village, cutting through the Mediterranean scrub and leading in a few steps to wild coves, such as the Isola della Fanciulla (Island of the Maiden), also linked to an ancient legend.
Nardò Blue Flags 2022
Among the new 2022 Blue Flag resorts are the wonderful beaches of Nardò.
Porto Selvaggio: in the heart of the Regional Park of Porto Selvaggio and Palude del Capitano, it is a beautiful and evocative wild inlet with crystal-clear and refreshing waters due to the presence of springs. A small pebble beach is surrounded by a pine forest that plunges steeply into the sea. It is a popular spot for snorkelling and an ideal destination for trekking.
Sant’Isidoro: a small inlet set in the low cliffs, sheltered from the winds, with crystal-clear water and fine, light-coloured sand. The bay is dominated by the Tower, a historic 16th-century lookout, and is a popular destination for well-known personalities, past and present, from the world of entertainment such as Albano, Giuliano Sangiorgi and Lucio Battisti.
Santa Caterina: it has a small sandy beach and the rest is characterised by jagged cliffs plunging into the blue Ionian Sea. Here there is also a small marina for pleasure boats, a good base, moreover, for kayak excursions along the Salento coast.
Santa Maria al Bagno: a small beach at the bottom of the village surrounded by low cliffs kissed by crystal-clear blue waters. It is a pretty seaside village where some of the most beautiful late 19th – early 20th century summer residences stand. While the shallow waters are perfect for holidays in Salento with children.
Torre Squillace: this is a small seaside resort, just a few metres from the road, with fine sand and crystal-clear water, surrounded by nature and shallow rocks, and dominated by the lookout tower from which it takes its name.
Ugento Blue Flags 2022
Here are Ugento’s Blue Flags 2022:
Torre San Giovanni and Torre Mozza: splendid and increasingly well-known, it is a popular area for those who choose to spend their holidays in Salento. It is, in fact, one of the longest beaches in Salento and not particularly crowded, like the rest of the area. This stretch of sand, over seven kilometres long, is dotted with dunes of Mediterranean scrub characterised by emerald waters and fine, clear sand.
Lido Marini: together with Torre Mozza and Torre san Giovanni, we find the beautiful beach of Lido Marini, about two kilometres of golden sandy beach with lush vegetation and crystal-clear waters, much appreciated by diving and underwater fishing enthusiasts.
Castro Blue Flags 2022
Castro is also among the new Blue Flags 2022:
- Zinzulusa: from the cobalt blue sea emerges the famous Grotta della Zinzulusa, a spectacular karst complex accessible from the sea via a path on the rocky ridge. This is the ideal destination for diving enthusiasts!
- La Sorgente: at the bottom of the village of Castro lies the marvellous Castro Marina, a jewel of rare beauty set in the high rock from which you have dream views. The colours here are truly heavenly and range from emerald green to deep blue. An area dominated by cliffs that leave no room for the sandy beach, but still offers all the comforts to appreciate and enjoy it to the full, even with children.
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