Tuscany, 4 June 2015: Tuscany has some of the best beaches in Italy, according to this year's Blue Flag awards. The region – best known for world-class culture and wine – is also home to 18 stretches of top-quality sands, taking second place for the number of beaches awarded the coveted eco-label in Italy in 2015.

To Tuscany is offering holidaymakers the best choice of self-catering properties near these award-winning beaches, which were recently commended for water quality, safety, services and sustainability by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). The villa-booking website features more than 40 high-quality villas and apartments set in prime spots along the coast, including new and discounted options for summer.

For example, La Finestre at Bella Vista, overlooks the Blue Flag beach at Castagneto Carducci in Livorno (pictured above left). The one-bedroom apartment, sleeping up to three, has a 15 per cent discount for the week beginning 20 June, down £153 to £866 for seven nights, and again for the week beginning 25 July, down £177 to £1,000.

Meanwhile, newly added Torre Delle Cannelle (pictured above right) is an extraordinary converted look-out tower on a clifftop in Grosseto, home to three Blue Flag beaches – at Principina a Mare, Castiglione della Pescaia and Monte Argentario. The five-bedroom, four-bathroom villa sleeps up to 10, and costs from £3,318 to £4,345 per week, according to season.

For more information, visit to-tuscany.com or to book call 0121 286 7782. Follow developments on Twitter @ToTuscany and facebook.com/ToTuscany. 

To request images or further information, please contact Little Black Book Creative: Simone Kane on 07811 161839 and simone@lbbcreative.co.uk and Kate Simon on 07939 526109 and kate@lbbcreative.co.uk.

Notes to editors:

Prices quoted are the total cost for the apartment or villa hire, not per person, and they do not include international travel. To Tuscany is an easy-to-use, online-booking site, which features more than 650 high-quality holiday properties at affordable prices. The site allows customers to book direct with owners yet benefit from the peace of mind of paying through a secure portal. To Tuscany was set up in 1998 by Sean Caulfield, who lives in the region, and is supported by a small team back in England, who are always ready to help with online and phone enquiries.