Campione d’Italia any info?

[marioIT]

For my next trip: Where is that beach?
I could not find a nice free public beach there.
There was one behind the first church (coming from CH on the left) and another belonging to a restaurant where you had to pay to get in.

it's all you get... better than nothing I guess...

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some may find it ok.
i wouldn't spend a minute in that "beach", but it's just me.
snowy mountains > hills , sea > lakes,
so I would never live nor plant a flag there...

 

[peter taradash]

Mr Taradash , as a campione veteran, any truth to the W.G. Hill book the campione report ….. a classic read but I’m sure a lot has changed .

My Campione report, which is now over 30 years old, is out of date (as to the big advantages) mainly because of 2 events: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 Campi just 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. I 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 which used to be free for Campionese. There was no choice. Swiss authorities canceled the old privs and 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 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 public Beach anymore. Same deal as in all of Italy: Italian Beaches are 99% privatized. Concessionaires are sold the rights to rent sunbenches, and parasols, sell food, etc. It's a mixed benefit because they keep the Italian beaches clean. The Lido is now well-equipped with rafts 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 in Latvia, Romania, Ukraine, Poland, etc. They seem to be full all the time (at least in summer!)
There are still a (very) few tax advantages for residents -- outlined in earlier 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!

Mr Taradash , as a campione veteran, any truth to the W.G. Hill book the campione report is out of date?….. It was a classic read but I’m sure a lot has changed .

Peter Taradash's Reply:

YES! 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 Campi just 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. I 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 was to change his/her official address by renting (or buying) a place in Switzerland ... Doing that would be a paperwork bad dream.



PS: The Lido Beach is not a public Beach anymore. Same deal as in all of Italy: Italian Beaches are 99% privatized. Concessionaires are sold the rights to rent sun-benches, and parasols, sell food, etc. It's a mixed benefit because they keep the Italian beaches clean. The Lido is now well-equipped with rafts 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 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 in Latvia, Romania, Ukraine, Poland, etc. They seem to be full all the time (at least in summer!)

There are still a (very) few tax advantages for residents -- outlined in earlier 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!