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“Passion”, “energy” and “dialogue” inspire the social and political activity of Mendrisio. A city that pays a lot of
attention to the needs of its citizens and which wants to pursue a path of shared resources and sustainable
development. Indeed, Mendrisio was the first Swiss commune to obtain “Cittaslow” certification and the first in Ticino
to become an “Energy City”.
Mendrisio – sitting on a plain ringed by Monte
Generoso and Monte San Giorgio – is a city
of 11 thousand inhabitants, which in 2004
merged with the commune of Salorino, and then in 2009
with Arzo, Capolago, Genestrerio, Rancate and Tremona,
thereby becoming a city of districts. A political centre
since the Middle Ages, Mendrisio is the district capital
and known as the “magnificent borough” for the beauty
of its historic centre. Mendrisio owes its development
essentially to the building of the railways in the 1800s
and the arrival of the motorway in the 1960s. These links
have connected the town to the wider network that joins
northern and southern Europe, and given it a strategic
position between Lugano, the cities of Como and Varese,
and the metropolis of Milan. Today, the face of the area
has changed as it is transformed into an important
socio-economic phenomenon, the base of regional services,
the Academy of Architecture and of an emerging
commercial and industrial centre. A process of urbanisation
spreading in all directions under the impetus of
demographic and economic growth has created a rather
diffuse city, joining the original borough to its surrounding
communes and resulting in communal mergers.
Mendrisio is the first city in Switzerland to obtain
“Cittaslow” certification. This recognition is conferred by
the international Cittaslow association to cities with fewer than 50
thousand inhabitants who are committed to improving the services
and enjoyability of their town under the banner of a slow economy
and a good quality of life. Embracing the philosophy of Cittaslow
means offering a new model of city life, based on a slower and more
sustainable pace. It seeks to offer a way of life that is less frenetic, more
humanised and environmentally friendly, more sympathetic and
respectful of local characteristics.
Returning to first principles, let us start with energy: Mendrisio is the
first commune in Ticino to obtain the quality label awarded by the
Energy City Association to communes who pursue a sustainable
policy in the areas of energy, mobility and the environment. Mayor
Carlo Croci, how do you translate these concepts of “passion” and
“dialogue” into practice? “Passion is manifested through culture, traditions
and leisure pursuits. The new commune helps all those associations
that operate in the areas described, through logistical or financial
contributions, but not only that, for the commune also promotes and
sponsors events, historical processions, the “Sagra dell’Uva” grape festival,
Swiss Label Ticino 2010
Mendrisio
Passion, energy and dialogue for a “slow” city
© DR
the mule races, and the Easter concert. At a cultural level, we help
by promoting and supporting the presence of our university and all
the schools that interact with it and one another. Passion is manifested
through activities that generate emotion and establish their presence
on the ground. This is all part of the debate about energy, and about
power. The power of financial resources for investment but also the
power of territorial management that is carried out in a spirit of environmental
sustainability and with services, from the technical department
to businesses, that are spread throughout the region and not all
concentrated in one place.”
Città di Mendrisio
Segreteria comunale - via Municipio 13 - CH-6850 Mendrisio
Tel.: +41 (0)91 640 31 10 - Fax: +41 (0)91 640 31 19
E-mail: segreteria@mendrisio.ch - Website: www.mendrisio.ch
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