Why Is There A Tiny Bit Of Italy Inside Switzerland?

Summary

This video explores the intriguing enclave of Campione d'Italia, a small Italian village entirely surrounded by Switzerland. Located on the shores of Lake Lugano, it's an exclave and enclave with a unique history dating back to Roman times. The village, once a garrison, became an enclave when Pope Julius II gifted land around it to Switzerland as a token of gratitude. Despite opportunities to join Switzerland, the residents chose to remain part of Italy. Today, Campione d'Italia is known for its casino, which once funded the enclave but faced bankruptcy during the financial crisis. The video offers a quirky travel suggestion for those interested in geographical anomalies and historical curiosities.

Takeaways

• 🗺️ The script describes an unusual geographical feature: a small Italian village, Campione d’Italia, and a segment of Lake Lugano, located entirely within Switzerland.
• 🏞️ Campione d’Italia is both an enclave and an exclave, being surrounded by Switzerland and separated from the rest of Italy by less than a kilometer.
• 🛤️ Access to Campione d’Italia is primarily through a single road, featuring an ornamental arch built in the 1930s by Benito Mussolini to emphasize its Italian identity.
• 💷 The village has a unique economic aspect, with prices displayed in Swiss francs but charged in Euros when paying by card, and services like ambulances and fire engines provided by Switzerland, while the police are Italian.
• 🎰 Campione is home to a historic casino, established in 1917 for espionage during WWI and rebuilt in 2007 into a large, controversial structure that is now one of Europe's largest casinos.
• 🏛️ Despite its economic peculiarities, Campione retains the charm of an Italian lakeside village with waterfront establishments, old churches, and scenic houses.
• 🏰 The history of Campione as an enclave dates back to Roman times, originating as a garrison village and later becoming a point of contention between the Archbishop of Milan and the Bishop of Como.
• 🤝 The enclave's existence is tied to Pope Julius II's decision to reward Switzerland for their assistance against the French by granting them land, except for Campione, which legally remained under the Archbishop of Milan.
• 🗳️ Residents of Campione have been given the opportunity to join Switzerland on two occasions but initially voted against it. Later, they requested annexation by Switzerland, which was declined due to Switzerland's political neutrality.
• 🌐 The script suggests that while Campione d’Italia remains an enclave and exclave, its unique geographical and historical features make it an intriguing destination for those interested in geographical anomalies.
• 🚤 For those wishing to visit, Campione d’Italia is accessible by boat and bus from Lugano, which is connected to major cities like Milan and Zürich via the Gotthard railway line and the A2 Autobahn.

Q & A

Where is the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland located?

The Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, known as Ticino, is located in the southern part of the country, near the border with Italy.

What is the significance of Lake Lugano in the context of the video?

Lake Lugano is significant because it is where the unusual border situation occurs, with a small Italian village and a segment of the lake being within Swiss territory.

What is Campione d’Italia?

Campione d’Italia is a tiny Italian territory that is completely detached and surrounded by Switzerland, making it both an enclave and an exclave.

How does Campione d’Italia's unique geographical situation affect its economy?

Campione d’Italia's economy was historically supported by its casino, which generated enough revenue to fund the entire enclave. However, it faced bankruptcy and economic collapse after the 2007 financial crisis.

Why was the casino in Campione d’Italia originally established?

The casino was originally established in 1917 to extract secrets from foreign diplomats during World War 1.

What is the architectural style of the current casino building in Campione d’Italia?

The current casino building is a 9-story faceless tower of beige-brown concrete, which has been criticized for being out of scale and not fitting in with the landscape.

How did Campione d’Italia become an enclave within Switzerland?

Campione d’Italia became an enclave when Pope Julius II, as a token of gratitude for Switzerland's help in defeating the French, gave them a few northern parishes from the territory of the Bishop of Como, but Campione itself remained under the ownership of the Archbishop of Milan.

What is the historical background of Campione d’Italia's creation as an enclave?

The enclave was created due to a land dispute dating back to the year 777, when Totone da Campione left his land to the Archbishop of Milan instead of the local Bishop of Como.

How has the local government of Campione d’Italia used the casino's revenue?

The revenue generated by the casino was used to fund the entire enclave, allowing residents to live more or less tax-free.

What are the unique administrative features of Campione d’Italia?

Campione d’Italia has a mix of Italian and Swiss administrative features, such as Swiss francs being displayed for prices but transactions being processed in Euros, Swiss emergency services, and Italian police.

Why was Campione d’Italia offered to join Switzerland in the past?

Campione d’Italia was offered to join Switzerland twice, in 1798 and 1814, but the residents voted against it. Later, during the wars of Italian unification in 1848, they asked Switzerland to annex them, but Switzerland declined due to their political neutrality.