My Campione report, which is now over 30 years old, is out of date (as to the big advantages) mainly because of 2 events:
1) Bankruptcy & closure of the Casino. The Casino supported big pensions for every resident & a myriad of free services for the town. When the casino closed, the local economy was shattered. The only Michelin-starred restaurant was shut down.
2) Italy took full control making Campi︀ just another EU member Italian town --with (almost) no special deals with Switzerland. In that︁ sense, it is now like the German enclave of Bussingen in the North of Switzerland.︂ I truly wish that news was fake news because I had to pay nearly Euro1000︃ to re=register my Campi Swiss licensed car in Italy, another big fee to transfer my︄ Swiss driving license to Italy, and still another big fee to get Swiss medical insurance︅ which used to be free for Campionese. There was no choice. Swiss authorities canceled the︆ old privs and notified locals by registered mail they would be fined and maybe jailed︇ if they didn't comply. I don't know who told you this was fake news. But︈ sorry, it was real. The only way for a Campionese to keep the Swiss stuff︉ was to change his/her official address by renting (or buying) a place in Switzerland ...︊ Doing that is a paperwork bad dream.
PS: The Lido Beach is not a public︋ Beach anymore. Same deal as in all of Italy: Italian Beaches are 99% privatized. Concessionaires︌ are sold the rights to rent sunbenches, and parasols, sell food, etc. It's a mixed︍ benefit because they keep the Italian beaches clean. The Lido is now well-equipped with rafts︎ a boardwalk and other amenities. You can be served conveniences like decent Pizza and Margaritas...️ Residents get a season pass for very cheap.
PS: Tourist have to pay a few Euros. But here's a secret: It's Free after 5 PM.
You can't miss the Campione Lido because the only road through Campi passes right by it. There is a huge sign saying "Lido." That means "Beach" in Italian.
Did I mention there is (only) one 1st class 4 star very modern & classy hotel "The Grand Hotel Campione" owned by a Middle Eastern, gentleman. It is near the Lido. Their restaurant is expensive but good. Their parking lot is now full of Ferraris, Rolls, Porches, Lambos & such ---licensed in︀ Latvia, Romania, Ukraine, Poland, etc. They seem to be full all the time (at least︁ in summer!)
There are still a (very) few tax advantages for residents -- outlined in︂ earlier postings.
Important: The Casino has re-opened but for now, it is running only at︃ about 10% of its old capacity. Still, they are now contributing to the City treasury︄ . At least the weeds are being trimmed & street lights are on again! Bottom︅ Line: Campione is a nice, quiet, safe place to get Italian residence at a nominal︆ charge and to then live within Switzerland!
Peter Taradash's Reply:
YES! My Campione report, which is now over 30 years old, is out︉ of date (as to the big advantages) mainly because of 2 events:
1) Bankruptcy &︊ closure of the Casino. The Casino supported big pensions for every resident & a myriad︋ of free services for the town. When the casino closed, the local economy was shattered.︌ The only Michelin-starred restaurant was shut down.
2) Italy took full control making Campi just︍ another EU member Italian town --with (almost) no special deals with Switzerland. In that sense,︎ it is now like the German enclave of Bussingen in the North of Switzerland. I️ truly wish that news was fake news because I had to pay nearly Euro1000 to re=register my Campi Swiss licensed car in Italy, another big fee to transfer my Swiss driving license to Italy, and still another big fee to get Swiss medical insurance. This used to be free for Campionese. There was no choice. Swiss authorities canceled the old privs. They notified locals by registered mail they would be fined and maybe jailed if they didn't comply. I don't know who told you this was fake news. But sorry, it was real. The only way for a Campionese to keep the Swiss stuff was︀ to change his/her official address by renting (or buying) a place in Switzerland ... Doing︁ that would be a paperwork bad dream.
PS: The Lido Beach is not a public︂ Beach anymore. Same deal as in all of Italy: Italian Beaches are 99% privatized. Concessionaires︃ are sold the rights to rent sun-benches, and parasols, sell food, etc. It's a mixed︄ benefit because they keep the Italian beaches clean. The Lido is now well-equipped with rafts︅ a boardwalk and other amenities. You can be served a decent panino, Pizza or Margarita...︆ Residents get a season pass for very cheap. Tourists have to pay a few Euros.︇ But here's a secret: It's Free after 5 PM.
You can't miss the Campione Lido︈ because the only road through Campi passes right by it. There is a huge sign︉ saying "Lido." That means "Beach" in Italian.
Did I mention there is (only) one 1st︊ class 4 star very modern & classy hotel "The Grand Hotel Campione" owned by a︋ Middle Eastern, gentleman. It is near the Lido. Their restaurant is expensive but good. Their︌ parking lot is now full of Ferraris, Rolls, Porches, Lambos & such ---licensed in Latvia,︍ Romania, Ukraine, Poland, etc. They seem to be full all the time (at least in︎ summer!)
There are still a (very) few tax advantages for residents -- outlined in earlier️ postings.
Important: The Casino has re-opened but for now, it is running only at about 10% of its old capacity. Still, they are now contributing to the City treasury. At least the weeds are being trimmed & street lights are on again! Bottom Line: Campione is a nice, quiet, safe place to get Italian residence at a nominal charge and to then live within Switzerland!
