Italy names 97 rural towns for its Green Ears sustainability award

Italy has awarded its 2026 “Spighe Verdi,” or Green Ears, designation to 97 rural municipalities, up from 90 a year earlier, with Piedmont again leading the country thanks to 22 recognized towns.

The awards were announced Thursday in Rome at the National Research Council during the program’s 11th edition, with mayors of the winning municipalities in attendance. The initiative is run by Fee Italia, part of the Foundation for Environmental Education, the group known internationally for the Blue Flag label for coastal destinations. In Italy, it works with Confagricoltura to guide rural municipalities toward more sustainable land management and better quality of life for residents.

Among the 97 municipalities are several places closely tied to Italian wine, including Alba, Barolo, Monforte d’Alba, Canelli and Gavi in Piedmont; Matelica in Marche; Montefalco in Umbria; Troia in Puglia; Bibbona and Castagneto Carducci in Tuscany; Paestum in Campania; and Vittoria in Sicily.

Fee Italia said 10 municipalities entered the program this year while three were not reconfirmed. After Piedmont’s 22 awards, Calabria ranked second with 11, followed by Marche and Campania with nine each. The recognition was assigned across 15 Italian regions.

The evaluation process involved institutional bodies including Italy’s Agriculture Ministry, Tourism Ministry, the National Research Council, the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research and Confagricoltura. The program uses indicators that include public participation, education for sustainable development, land use, the presence of typical agricultural production, sustainability and innovation in farming, tourism quality, wastewater treatment systems, waste management and recycling, protection of natural areas and landscapes, urban upkeep and accessibility.

Confagricoltura said agriculture has a central role in the program because that is where “the real cultural revolution” must take place. Claudio Mazza, president of Fee Italia Foundation, said the increase in participating municipalities showed that the program is meant as “a concrete path of growth” rather than a formal badge. He said sustainability has become a strategic factor for tourism development in rural territories.

Massimiliano Giansanti, president of Confagricoltura, said agriculture remains essential to the economic and social stability of inland areas and supports hospitality, food and wine offerings and experiential tourism. That link matters for the drinks sector because many of the recognized municipalities are wine-producing territories where stronger sustainability credentials can help reinforce destination appeal for winery visits, tastings and broader beverage-led tourism.

Piedmont’s 22 recognized municipalities are Acqui Terme, Alba, Barolo, Barone Canavese, Bra, Caluso, Candia Canavese, Canelli, Carignano, Centallo, Cherasco, Chiusa di Pesio, Farigliano, Gamalero, Gavi, Guarene, Monforte d’Alba, Narzole, Poirino, Pralormo, Santo Stefano Belbo and Volpedo. The region recorded one exit and five new entries.

Calabria’s 11 municipalities are Belcastro, Cariati, Crosia, Locri, Miglierina, Montegiordano, Roseto Capo Spulico, Santa Maria del Cedro, Sellia Marina, Trebisacce and Villapiana, including one new entry.

Marche’s nine are Esanatoglia, Grottammare, Matelica, Mondolfo, Montecassiano, Montelupone, Numana, Senigallia and Sirolo. Campania’s nine are Agropoli, Ascea, Capaccio-Paestum, Conca della Campania, Foiano di Val Fortore, Massa Lubrense, Moio della Civitella, Monteforte Cilento and Positano, with two new entries.

Umbria received eight awards for Deruta, Gubbio, Montecastrilli, Montefalco, Norcia, Scheggino, Todi and Trevi. Puglia also had eight: Andria, Bisceglie, Castellaneta, Carovigno, Maruggio, Nardò, Ostuni and Troia.

Lazio had seven recognized municipalities — Canale Monterano, Gaeta, Morro Reatino, Pontinia, Rivodutri, Sabaudia and San Felice Circeo — including two new entries. Tuscany had six — Bibbona, Castiglione della Pescaia, Castagneto Carducci, Gambassi Terme, Grosseto and Orbetello — after two exits.

Liguria had four awards for Andora as well as Borgio Verezzi Lavagna and Sanremo. Sicily had three — Modica Ragusa and Vittoria — while Abruzzo had Gioia dei Marsi San Salvo and Tortoreto. Veneto had two winners: Montagnana and Porto Tolle. Basilicata also had two: Nova Siri and Pisticci. Lombardy’s two were Ome and Sant’Alessio con Vialone. Emilia-Romagna had one recognized municipality: Parma.