Blue Flag 2025: What It Means for Torino di Sangro

In May 2025, the beaches of Le Morge and Costa Verde in Torino di Sangro were awarded the Blue Flag by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a Danish international organization that has been certifying coastal destinations capable of ensuring water quality, environmental management, and services for swimmers according to rigorous standards since 1987.

This is a recognition that Torino di Sangro had been missing for years and that restores the town’s coastline to a new level of prominence among the Adriatic beaches. But what exactly is this flag, why does it matter, and what did the municipality and volunteers have to do to earn it?

Thirty-two criteria to meet

The Blue Flag is not a tourism slogan: it is an environmental certification that requires meeting 32 criteria grouped into four areas—bathing water quality, environmental education and information, land management, safety, and services.

Water samples must be rated “excellent” according to the classification of the Regional Agency for Environmental Protection (ARTA Abruzzo) for four consecutive seasons. Beaches must be accessible to people with disabilities, have visible recycling bins, lifeguards on duty, clear signage, and multilingual signs.

In Torino di Sangro, the effort has spanned several years. The Pro Loco and volunteers have helped with regular beach cleanups, especially after winter storms; the municipality has invested in wooden walkways, showers, and the restoration of sand dunes eroded by the sea.

“The Blue Flag is not a destination. It is an annual commitment: every spring we have to do our homework all over again.”

Le Morge and Costa Verde: two distinct characters

The two award-winning beaches have different characters. Le Morge is the more developed: fine sand, a gentle slope, amenities, and convenient parking. It is the typical choice for families with children and those seeking summer comfort. It is easily accessible from the SS16 Adriatica.

Costa Verde, on the other hand, is wild: a stretch of pebbles and sand nestled between the cliffs, accessible via the Via Verde dei Trabocchi bike path, the former Adriatic railway line converted into a bike and pedestrian path. No beach clubs, no music: just the sound of the waves and a few small trabocchi visible in the distance.

Fun fact: the leading region

For years, Abruzzo has been one of the Italian regions with the highest number of Blue Flags relative to its coastline length. In 2025, 15 Abruzzo locations were awarded—a number that places the region among Italy’s most exemplary coastal areas for bathing quality.

The inclusion of Torino di Sangro on the list (with two beaches) is significant because it confirms the role of the lower Sangro in the tourism revival of the Costa dei Trabocchi: a revival based not on mass tourism, but on environmental quality and sustainable access.

What to do for visitors

• Recommended season: May through September, with a peak in July and August. May and September are the best months for those seeking tranquility.
• Accessibility: wooden walkways and beach chairs are available at Le Morge at the facility managed by the Pro Loco.
• Bike path: The Via Verde dei Trabocchi runs along both beaches and is ideal for those arriving by bike from Ortona or Vasto.
• Parking: Free, but during peak season, lots fill up before 10:00 a.m.