The Touring Club Italy with its orange flags is a kind of Italian tourism equivalent of Michelin stars.
Since 1999 it has been awarding towns with less than 15,000 inhabitants according to rigorous selection criteria.
Local councils must have important historical, cultural and environmental patrimony, and offer tourists a quality welcome to their towns.
This year, Lombardy has scored a coup with nine of out 60 towns being awarded the orange flag.
They include Bienno and Tignale (Brescia province), Castellaro Lagusello and Sabbioneta (Mantova province), Chiavenna (Sondrio province), Clusone and Gromo (Bergamo province) and Menaggio and Torno from the Como province.
Menaggio you see in the photo.
The Touring Club site has the extended list of Italian councils that have been awarded the orange flag and why the honour has been received.
For example Sabbioneta received the award for its superior tourism service including a dedicated information point, rich with promotional materials from the area.
The historical centre is well kept and of historical interest while cultural interest is sustained through a single ticket which gives you access to various events and attractions.
The hospitaly offered also must be of a high level.
Go to the Touring site if you’re interested in some weekends away in Italy.
Foto – Flickr
Emergency services respond to a significant road traffic incident on A90.
A 40-year-old man suffers life-threatening injuries in a multi-vehicle accident.
Momcozy's 'Stand Up for Mums', a show to discover the beauty of motherhood.
Entrepreneurs Thomas Lindie and David Taylor launch a unique outdoor store in Aberdeen.
Police seek public assistance in locating Danielle Cameron, last seen at Terminal V Festival.
In The Garfield Movie 2024, directed by Mark Dindal, Garfield embarks on a new adventure, reuniting with his estranged father in a story that adds depth and heart to his journey.
Despite ceasing aggressive treatment to prioritize the quality of his remaining time, Whale remains optimistic and continues to host his TalkTV show
Asset manager grapples with client withdrawals and market volatility in China
Exploring the implications of tax bracket creep on middle-income earners
Local businesses express concerns over declining foot traffic due to roadworks.