Gardone Riviera receives the coveted Bandiera Blu again in 2022
From the hillside villas and hotel of the Eden Reserve, guests look out over Gardone Riviera on the shores of Lake Garda, taking in the many villas and palaces, museums and parks to create one of the most beautiful sights in the region.
Now Gardone has been awarded the Bandiera Blu, the Blue Flag, for the twelfth time in a row. The international environmental award is given by the Foundation for Environmental Education (Fee).
The Blue Flag flies for clean beaches
The requirements for a Bandiera Blue award are high, and the criteria are strict. Alongside evaluating the quality of the water on the beach of Lake Garda, the award also reviews the safety and cleanliness of the beach and the services offered there.
However, clean waters are only the first step towards the blue seal of quality. There are 32 different criteria to be checked; for example, there should be large pedestrian zones, well-maintained local furniture, many green spaces and a sewage disposal system that functions according to modern criteria. The inspectors also assess the quality of waste disposal. At the same time, the administration is expected to show great commitment with regard to environmental education courses for residents – tourists not excluded – and for young people in schools. The prize for all that effort? Gardone Riviera is now once again, with letter and seal, one of the most environmentally friendly communities on Lake Garda! In the whole of Italy, 210 municipalities were awarded the Blue Flag this year. In Lombardy, only Gardone Riviera carries the Bandiera Blu.
Gardone: Noble with charm and environmental awareness
The municipality also has an excellent reputation to defend. Already in the Belle Époque, Gardone was considered a posh holiday resort and had attracted the upscale and wealthy bourgeoisie. The municipality can also boast a very special highlight as it was here that Gabriele d’Annunzio had his legendary retreat Vittoriale degli Italiani, which sees thousands of visitors every year. Nowadays, in summer, the festival Tenere-a-mente sees international artists arrive at the amphitheatre in the park to play for an audience against the backdrop of the stunning lake.
Gardone Riviera had several difficult years of tourism during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the start of the 2022 season was very successful, says Stefano Ambrosini, responsible for innovation and environment in the municipality, as international visitors from outside Europe are noticeably returning. Hotel industry representatives also rate the Bandiera Blu seal of quality very highly. The Blue Flag is an important message, and recommendation for visitors as many of them are focused on environmental issues.
Guests of the Eden Reserve Hotel & Villas have one of the most beautiful Lake Garda communities right on their doorstep – and in terms of the environment, it has been awarded an international seal of approval.
Bandiera Blu – The Blue Flag
The Blue Flag (Bandiera Blu) is an environmental label in the field of sustainable tourism that is awarded every year to sea beaches, beaches of inland waters and marinas. These must-have previously met standards in terms of water quality, environmental education, environmental management and even service quality during the season. The Blue Flag is awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) with the support of the European Commission to beaches and communities in more than 40 countries in Europe, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada and the Caribbean.
