Campione d'Italia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Campione d'Italia
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| Comune di Campione d'Italia | |||
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Campione d'Italia in April 2006
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| Country | Italy | ||
| Region | Lombardy | ||
| Province | Como | ||
| Founded | 77 BC | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 2.68 km2 (1.03 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 273 m (896 ft) | ||
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 1,748 | ||
| • Density | 652.2/km2 (1,689/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Campionesi | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postal code |
IT-22061
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| Patron saint | St. Zeno | ||
| Saint day | 12 April | ||
Campione d'Italia is a special town in Italy. It's like a small piece of Italy completely surrounded by another country, Switzerland. This makes it an enclave. It's located in the Lombardy region, near the city of Como.
Even though it's part of Italy, Campione d'Italia is very close to the Swiss canton of Ticino. To reach the rest of Italy by road, you have to travel through Switzerland. This journey is about 14 kilometers (9 miles) to the nearest Italian town and over 28 kilometers (17 miles) to Como.
Contents
History of Campione d'Italia
Campione d'Italia has a long and interesting history. It started as a Roman military town called Campilonum. The Romans built it to protect their lands from invaders around 77 BC.
Early Ownership and Transfers
In the year 777, a local lord named Toto of Campione gave his land to the archbishop of Milan. This land later came under the control of the Sant’Ambrogio abbey. In 1512, the area around Campione, which is now Ticino, was given to Switzerland. This was a thank you from Pope Julius II for Switzerland's help in a war. However, the abbey kept control of Campione and some land by Lake Lugano.
Choosing to Stay Italian
When Ticino decided to join Switzerland in 1798, the people of Campione chose to stay part of Italy. There were talks about Campione becoming part of Switzerland, but the residents voted against it in 1814. In 1848, during Italy's unification wars, Campione asked Switzerland to take them in. But Switzerland said no because they wanted to stay neutral.
After Italy became a united country in 1861, some land and half of Lake Lugano were given to Switzerland. This helped Swiss trade and travel. In the 1930s, the Italian leader Benito Mussolini added "d'Italia" (meaning "of Italy") to the town's name. He also built a special gate to show that Campione was truly Italian.
Campione During World War II
During World War II, a secret US intelligence group, the OSS, had a base in Campione. They used it for operations in Italy. The Italian government at the time did not control Campione. Switzerland allowed this as long as the Americans kept a low profile. During this time, Campione even issued its own postage stamps, valued in Swiss money.
Population of Campione d'Italia
The number of people living in Campione d'Italia has changed over the years. Here's how the population has grown and shrunk:
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1799 | 200 | — |
| 1805 | 269 | +34.5% |
| 1809 | 156 | −42.0% |
| 1853 | 274 | +75.6% |
| 1861 | 311 | +13.5% |
| 1871 | 342 | +10.0% |
| 1881 | 383 | +12.0% |
| 1901 | 463 | +20.9% |
| 1911 | 552 | +19.2% |
| 1921 | 592 | +7.2% |
| 1931 | 639 | +7.9% |
| 1936 | 855 | +33.8% |
| 1951 | 1,022 | +19.5% |
| 1961 | 1,435 | +40.4% |
| 1971 | 1,979 | +37.9% |
| 1981 | 2,183 | +10.3% |
| 1991 | 2,181 | −0.1% |
| 2001 | 2,267 | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 2,158 | −4.8% |
| 2021 | 1,748 | −19.0% |
Economy and Daily Life
For a long time, Campione d'Italia had a very close relationship with Switzerland for its economy and services. Many public services, like trash collection and phone services, were provided by Swiss companies. The town also had special tax benefits.
Changes in Customs and Taxes
On January 1, 2020, Campione d'Italia officially became part of the European Union Customs Union. This means that Value Added Tax (VAT) now applies. However, the tax rate is still the lower Swiss rate, not the higher Italian one. A border crossing was also set up.
Currency and Services
Even though the euro is the official money in Italy, the Swiss franc was often used in Campione. Salaries were paid in Swiss francs, and euros were also accepted.
People living in Campione can use many Swiss services, like hospitals. This is thanks to special agreements between Italy and Switzerland. Firefighters and ambulances are also provided by Swiss authorities. However, the Italian military police (Carabinieri) and local police handle security.
Mail and Phones
Before 2020, you could send mail to Campione using either a Swiss or an Italian postal code. Now, only the Italian postal code (IT-22061) works. All mail is handled by the Italian postal service. The phone system is still Swiss. This means you need to dial the Swiss international code (+41) to call Campione from outside Switzerland. The town hall is an exception, reachable with the Italian code (+39).
Vehicles and Electricity
Cars in Campione used to have Swiss license plates. Now, they must be registered in Como, Italy. However, electricity has always come from Italy.
Casinò di Campione
The Casinò di Campione is a very important part of the town's economy. It was the biggest employer in Campione. The casino first opened in 1917 and is owned by the Italian government. Its profits helped run the town without needing other taxes. It was once the largest casino in Europe.
The casino closed in 2018, which caused big problems for the town. Many businesses and people depended on it. Locals worried Campione would become a "ghost town." Italy agreed to help pay off debts to Swiss businesses. The good news is that the casino reopened on January 26, 2022.
Education in Campione
Campione d'Italia has schools for different age groups. These include the Scuola Materna G. Garibaldi (preschool), the Scuola Elementare (elementary school), and the Scuola Media (middle school).
See also
In Spanish: Campione d'Italia para niños
