The quality of sea water in 11 municipalities in the greater Rome area has been declared "excellent" according to recent test results by Lazio's regional environmental protection agency Arplazio. The “excellent” classification was awarded to Anzio, Ladispoli, Ostia, Terracina, Gaeta, Minto, Sperlonga, Ventotene, Palmarola, Itri and the island of S. Stefano. The results are particularly good news for Ladispoli, whose pollution levels in 2011 were a cause for alarm, while the bathing waters at Fregene, Pomezia and Terracina were declared “good”, an improvement on last year. Waters in S. Felice Circeo were deemed “good”, the island of Ponza “sufficient” and the Nettuno area “poor”. The tests followed an EU directive adopted by Italy last year to determine water quality and levels of pollution. The system for classifying beaches in Lazio is divided into four categories: excellent, good, sufficient and poor. To see which beaches are safe for swimming, check www.arpalazio.it. Select Aqua, then under the section Aque di balneazione (bathing waters) choose Mare. Here you will find a colour-coded map of the good and bad coastal swimming areas in the provinces of Viterbo, Roma and Latina.