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Together In Switzerland

All Things Swiss

Campione d’Italia: An Italian Village Surrounded By Switzerland

Zoe| Ticino

Campione d’Italia is an Italian exclave, located entirely within the territory of Switzerland. It is a small town on the eastern shore of Lake Lugano, surrounded on all sides by Swiss territory. Despite being part of Italy, it is not part of the European Union, and has a unique legal status.

Where Is Campione d’Italia?

Campione d’Italia is literally located right inside the Ticino canton of Switzerland. This is an enclave – a closely related term describing a portion of a territory separated from its main part by another territory.

It’s quite easy to get there with your own car or with a local public bus via the village of Bissone Switzerland. The bus via Lugano for locals and visitors is easy to connect the locations together. If visiting from Como, it’s just under 40 minutes of driving.

History

Campione d’Italia was originally a Roman settlement, building the garrison town of Campilonum in the first century BC.

Pope Julius II granted Switzerland ownership of the Ticino region in 1512 in exchange for Switzerland’s assistance in the Holy League War. This was done as a sign of gratitude.

When Ticino chose to become part of the Swiss Confederation in 1798, the people of Campione chose to remain part of Lombardy.

All of the territory west of Lake Lugano and half of the lake were granted to Switzerland after Italy’s unification in 1861 so that Swiss trade and transportation wouldn’t have to go via Italy. Italian dictator Benito Mussolini changed the name of Campione to include “d’Italia” in the 1930s. He also constructed an opulent gate for the settlement.

In the early 20th century, the Italian government acquired the territory from Switzerland in exchange for ceding some land in the Italian Alps to the Swiss. The town then became a popular tourist destination.

The name “Campione” is derived from the Latin word “campus”, which means “field” or “battlefield”. This refers to the area’s historical significance as a site of military conflict.

Campione d'Italia
Campione d’Italia village visible on the left.

Facts about Campione d’Italia

Some facts about Campione d’Italia include:

  • All local mail is delivered by Poste Italiane, not Swisspost
  • The telephone system remains Swiss
  • Firefighters and ambulances are provided by the Swiss authorities
  • Euros is accepted, but local salaries are paid in Swiss francs
  • Electricity is supplied from Italy
  • Motor vehicles have to be registered in Como

Fun Extra: Campione d’Italia has its own police force, as well as its own legal system! These are based on Italian law. However, it is not part of the Italian customs or tax system, and is subject to Swiss customs and tax regulations as per the rest of the Ticino canton. This unique legal status has led to some tensions between the town and the surrounding Swiss authorities, as well as some debate within Italy over the town’s future.

Campione d'Italia

Present Life In Campione d’Italia

Today, Campione d’Italia is known primarily for its casino, which opened in 1917. It is one of the largest and most prestigious in Europe. When on the local trains between Bissone, Melide and Lugano you can easily spot the casino from the windows. The casino employs a large percentage of the town’s population, and attracts visitors from all over the world.

The casino was closed down due to bankruptcy on 27 July 2018, where all locals lost their jobs here, but has since reopened in 2022 with tourism picking up again in the area.

These days you can also see the historical landmarks, including the Church of San Zenone, the Villa Emden, and the Museum of Campione d’Italia.

Plus even though you will no longer be inside the Campione d’Italia border, there is a scenic spot up the mountain called the Balcony of Italy, which has stunning views of the area and Alps in the distance.

Many locals also enjoy warm Mediterranean climate, which is the same as Ticino as the canton of Switzerland with the most sunshine per year.

Campione d'Italia
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Ciao, I’m Zoe!

Zoe Together In Switzerland

I’m a native Brit-turned-Dutch expat living in Ticino, Switzerland with my boyfriend and kitty cat since 2022.

Our site highlights our most fun adventures and experiences while exploring local life in Switzerland.

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Spring view from Paradiso 💜 . . . . . . #lugano Spring view from Paradiso 💜
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#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganolake🇨🇭 #switzerlandtravel #swisstravel #travelcouplelife #luganoregion #luganomycity  #lugano2023 #switzerlandwonderland #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino #swisstourism #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #luganocity #lugano🇨🇭 #lakelugano #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin #montebre #montebrelugano #luganoparadiso
Cloudy today, but don't let that stop you explorin Cloudy today, but don't let that stop you exploring > Here's a photo from Gandria from the boat! 🇨🇭
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Happy Thursday 🌹 We are counting down to the we Happy Thursday 🌹 We are counting down to the weekend for some hiking! 
On 1st April, many places are reopening, such as Monte Tamaro, Monte Lema and already Monte Generoso! ⛰️
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.#tessin #ticinomoments #ticinoturismo #ticinoswitzerland #tessintourismus #ticinonline #srfmeteo #lugano  #mountainslovers❤️ #switzerlandtravel #togetherinswitzerland #switzerlandpictures #swissphoto #swissphotographer #flowerphotographylove
I love how we see helicopters every week flying ar I love how we see helicopters every week flying around Lugano 🚁😍 
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#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganolake🇨🇭 #switzerlandtravel #swisstravel  #luganoregion #luganomycity  #lugano2023 #switzerlandwonderland #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino #swisstourism #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #lugano🇨🇭 #lakelugano #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin #swisshelicopter #swisshelicopters #swisshelicoptersphotography
♡ / Celebrating 8 wonderful months in Switzerlan ♡ / Celebrating 8 wonderful months in Switzerland 🇨🇭
Wow time flies when your having fun! 
We've explored already so much of our home canton of Ticino as well as visited the cantons of Vaud, Valais, Zurich, Luzern, Basel, Bern and Zug. ☀️
We've been in the snowy mountains to the summery waterfalls, with lots of beautiful memories made. 🌴🏔️
Bring on the next few exciting months until our 1 year swiss expat anniversary! 🎉
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#swisslife #swisslifestyle #swissexpat #expatsexploreswitzerland #togetherinswitzerland #swisslocal #ticinomoments #ticinoturismo #tessin #zermat #mygornergratmoment #gornergrat #asconalocarno #ascona #asconaswitzerland #ascona_locarno #luganoswitzerland #luganoregion #brienzswitzerland #brienz #switzerlandtravel #switzerlandphotos #switzerlandtourism #luganophotographer #cantonticino
Buon martedì a tutti 🌿 . . . . . . . .. . . .# Buon martedì a tutti 🌿
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Did you know there are more than 200 species of ca Did you know there are more than 200 species of camellias? 🌺 We've already spotted a few blooming in Lugano, and look forward to seeing a lot more! 
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#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganolake🇨🇭 #switzerlandtravel #swisstravel #travelcouplelife #luganoregion #luganomycity  #lugano2023 #switzerlandwonderland #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino #swisstourism #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #luganocity #lugano🇨🇭 #lakelugano #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin #camellias  #camelliaflower
One boat ticket to Paradise please 🇨🇭 The @ One boat ticket to Paradise please 🇨🇭
The @lakelugano journey on Lake Lugano is a lovely activity for all ages. Whether you want to take just one stop to Gandria, Melide or Morcote, or for a round trip in the sunshine. 
I was last on the boat from Morcote back to Lugano Paradiso. The staff were so welcoming and friendly! 
I had met a little old German lady sat by herself with an Aperol spritz. So I got one too and joined her. She didn't speak a word of English but we communicated by raising our glasses with a "cheers" while relaxing in the sunshine 🥂☀️
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#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganolake🇨🇭 #switzerlandtravel #swisstravel #travelcouplelife #luganoregion #luganomycity  #lugano2023 #switzerlandwonderland #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino #swisstourism #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #luganocity #lugano🇨🇭 #lakelugano #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin
Flower power at Gambarogno Botanical Park 🌸 If Flower power at Gambarogno Botanical Park 🌸
If you are looking for somewhere in Ticino to visit with lots of flowers in bloom, the Gambarogno Botanical Park is already worth it! 
We visited today, in the 18°c sunshine. There must have been only 4 other people there so it seemed like we had the whole gardens to ourselves ☀️
Afterwards, you can also buy some plants from their shop on site! So if your local, check it out! 💐
📍 Gambarogno, Ticino Switzerland 
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#parcobotanicodelgambarogno #parcobotanico #gambarogno #gambarognoturismo  #switzerlandtravel #swisstravel #travelcouplelife #luganoregion #luganomycity  #lugano2023 #switzerlandwonderland #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino #swisstourism #luganophotographer #luganoturismo  #lugano🇨🇭 #lakelugano #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin #camellias  #camelliaflower
Sunshine above the clouds ♡ in Lugano 🇨🇭 Sunshine above the clouds ♡ in Lugano 🇨🇭
Taken this morning 25.02.2023, the clouds are floating below Monte Bré ⛅ 
The best way to see the sunshine and low clouds is on one of the many Ticino peaks, such as;
- Monte Bré
- Monte San Salvatore (in images opposite)
- Monte Tamaro
- Cimetta 
- Monte Generoso 
📍 Lugano, Switzerland 
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#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganolake🇨🇭 #switzerlandtravel #swisstravel #travelcouplelife #luganoregion #luganomycity  #lugano2023 #switzerlandwonderland #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino #swisstourism #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #luganocity #lugano🇨🇭 #lakelugano #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin #srfmeteo
Buongiorno Lugano 🦢 My Italian language skill Buongiorno Lugano 🦢 
My Italian language skills is slowly, and I do mean slowly, improving. For today, a swan is cigno 😅
It's a cloudy day ahead so we'll be likely staying in, working first, then relaxing and a possible new blogpost on the site! 
Link is always in my bio! 💻
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#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganolake🇨🇭 #switzerlandtravel #swisstravel #travelcouplelife #luganoregion #luganomycity  #lugano2023 #switzerlandwonderland #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino #swisstourism #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #luganocity #lugano🇨🇭 #lakelugano #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin #cignobianco #cigno
Fun throwback: I took this selfie in November 2021 Fun throwback: I took this selfie in November 2021 when we were visiting Ticino as tourists. I fell in love instantly as it was my first time! ❤️
Little did we know at that time, that we'd actually be moving to Switzerland only 8 months later!!
📍 Bré, Switzerland
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#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganolake🇨🇭 #switzerlandtravel #swisstravel #travelcouplelife #luganoregion #luganomycity  #lugano2023 #switzerlandwonderland #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino #swisstourism #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #luganocity #lugano🇨🇭 #lakelugano #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin
They are magnolias, right?! 🏔️🌸 . . . . . They are magnolias, right?! 🏔️🌸
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.#tessin #ticinomoments #ticinoturismo #ticinoswitzerland #tessintourismus #ticinonline #srfmeteo #asconalocarno #asconaswitzerland #ascona #lugano #magnolia #magnoliaflower #magnoliaflowers #sweetmagnolias #snowmountains #mountainslovers❤️ #cimetta #cima #switzerlandtravel #togetherinswitzerland #switzerlandpictures #swissphoto #swissphotographer
Venus & Jupiter floating above Lugano last night 🪐
As of Match 3rd last night, Venus is moving away from Jupiter, as the altitude of the gas giant begins to decrease in the evening sky. 📷
Jupiter will sink into the Sun’s glare before reaching solar conjunction (on the opposite side of the Sun to the Earth) on 11 April 2023. ⭐
I personally don't do much night photography, but I'm glad to have captured both planets! ❤️
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#luganoswitzerland #luganolake #luganolake🇨🇭 #switzerlandtravel #swisstravel #travelcouplelife #luganoregion #luganomycity  #lugano2023 #switzerlandwonderland #luganoregion #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #ticino #swisstourism #luganophotographer #luganoturismo #luganocity #lugano🇨🇭 #lakelugano #ticinoswitzerland #cantonticino #visitswitzerland #ticinoturismo #ticinomoments #togetherinswitzerland #tessin #jupiterandvenus #srfmeteo #nighttimelapse #venusandjupiter #conjunction

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