A tiny piece of Italy landlocked in Switzerland, in the canton of Ticino, on the shores of Ceresio (Lake Lugano).

In 1798, when Ticino joined the Swiss Confederation, the inhabitants of Campione, a tiny territory of 1.6 km2, preferred to remain part of Lombardy, which joined Italy in 1859.

This was a surprising decision, as Campione remained totally enclosed in Switzerland, with no access to Italy, despite a nearby border. As the crow flies, the nearest Italian town, Lanzo d'Itelvi, is only 4 km away... but a 14 km drive!

Campione is therefore very much linked to Switzerland: the legal currency is the Swiss franc, car number plates are Ticinese, the telephone network is managed by Swisscom and mail can be sent using a Swiss or Italian postcode.

Under bilateral agreements, Italians living in Campione benefit from many services and facilities located in Switzerland, including hospital care.

As an added bonus, Campione is exempt from European VAT and takes advantage of its status by operating a famous casino.

Useful links

Italian Region of Lombardy - Wikipedia