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What is a Cittaslow? -

Cittaslow is a classification given to any town around the world that dedicates itself to slowing development and instead prioritizes improving and maintaining the quality of life of its citizens and actively engages in sustainability projects to protect its natural resources and surroundings. According to their website, Cittaslow is an "international network of cities where living is good."

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How did Cittaslow start? -

The Cittaslow organization was created in 1999 by Paolo Saturnini, the former mayor of Greve in Chianti, Italy. Saturnini was inspired by Carlo Petrini (pictured) and his Slow Food movement, started in the 1980s to protest the first McDonald's chain in Rome. Since then, the Cittaslow movement has grown across four continents, with 262 participating towns as of 2020. Now, let's take a look at some of those towns.

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Bra, Italy -

The beautiful Italian town of Bra, home of Carlo Petrini, was one of the first towns to be designated a slow city. Located in the northwestern Piedmont region of Italy, it is home to a thriving culinary scene helmed by Petrini himself, who throws an annual cheese festival that attracts visitors from around the world.

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Clonakilty, Ireland -

The small town of Clonakilty in Ireland is on the southern tip of the Green Isle, in County Cork. The charming town, with a population of just 5,000 as of 2016, rests on the edge of Clonakilty Bay. Apparently, the slow city lifestyle truly suits the town, as it was named the Best Town in Europe by the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland in 2017.

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Djúpivogur, Iceland -

Near the east coast of Iceland lies the quiet town of Djúpivogur, the country's only official slow city. Djúpivogur rests very close to sea level, in the lowlands beneath the beautiful and distinctive pyramid-shaped mountain Bulandstindur and its surrounding ranges.

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Nanzhuang, Taiwan -

The cozy, rural town of Nanzhuang is located just south of Taipei, on the north end of the island. A quiet but vibrant village whose economy rests mainly on light agriculture such as mushrooms and bamboo, it is also home to a diverse population of Han Chinese descendants and members of the indigenous Saisiyat and Atayal peoples.

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Gołdap, Poland -

Located just a short distance from Poland's border with the Russian province of Kaliningrad, Gołdap is a colorful, traditional Polish town surrounded by the rich and dense Kumiecie Forest. The town boasts numerous establishments serving Polish delicacies conforming to age-old traditions, and the wilderness just outside the town is filled with mountains for hiking, lakes for swimming, and trees for hugging.

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Lagos, Portugal -

Lagos, one of the most popular towns in the idyllic Algarve region of southern Portugal, has been an official slow city since 2013. Lagos is renowned for its many nearby beaches, thought by some to be the most beautiful in Europe, its traditional colorful Portuguese tiling, and the famous Portuguese cuisine.

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Tatlisu, Cyprus -

Tatlisu, a beautiful small town on the northern, Turkish-controlled half of the island, is one of five Cittaslow cities on the Mediterranean island. The village, which relies heavily on tourism and greenhouse architecture, is nestled comfortably between the Mediterranean coast and the Beşparmak Mountains.

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Kristinestad, Finland -

The quaint port city of Kristinestad was founded in 1649 and retains much of its old Nordic charm. The majority of the town still consists of wooden structures, include the beautiful Kristinestad Ulrika Eleonora Lutheran Church.

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Goolwa, Australia -

Goolwa, the first town designated as a slow city in Australia, lies near the mouth of the Murray River in South Australia. Fishing is incredibly popular in Goolwa, and the town holds the Goolwa Smoke Off food festival and competition each summer.

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San Miniato, Italy -

The old Tuscan fortress town of San Miniato dates all the way back to the 8th century. The restaurants of San Miniato are dedicated to the Slow Food code of ethics, and have preserved traditional recipes and cooking methods using only sustainable and local products, including the numerous species of truffles that grow in the region.

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Svendborg, Denmark -

The Danish town of Svendborg lies on the island Funen, in southern Denmark, and is one of only two officially designated slow cities in the Scandinavian nation. The settlement dates back to the Middle Ages, and is home to a number of natural and cultural history museums.

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Hadong County, South Korea -

This serene agricultural region near the southern tip of South Korea has become one of 17 areas in the country that adheres to the Cittaslow code of ethics. The area is famous for the green tea that grows nearby, and is also home to one of South Korea's most beautiful nature reserves, Jirisan National Park.

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Ryn, Poland -

Nestled between Lake Rynskie to the southwest and Lake Ołów to the northeast, Ryn is a happy Polish village with centuries of history and heritage. It's easy to be taken back in time by simply stepping into any one of the numerous old churches or castles scattered about the town.

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Viana do Castelo, Portugal -

Archaeologists have found evidence of human settlement in and around the small Portuguese city of Viana do Castelo dating back to the Mesolithic era, and has stood as a Portuguese settlement since the 13th century. Apart from boasting a beautiful coastline and old, Romanesque churches, this town in the north of Portugal is also suspected to be the ancestral home of Portuguese Fado music.

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Sonoma, California -

One of only three officially designated slow cities in the United States, Sonoma is famous worldwide for producing some of the best wine in North America. This charming, old-style town is also home to the annual Sonoma International Film Festival.

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Mold, Wales -

Don't let the name fool you! The Welsh township of Mold is packed with all of the charm you would expect from a small town in the United Kingdom. The Gothic-style St. Mary's Church is truly a sight to behold, and residents have Loggerheads County Park nearby to wander through in their free time in this calm, quiet town.

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Leketio, Basque Country -

This beautiful seaside town in the Spanish Autonomous Community of Basque Country keeps the vibrant Basque culture and language, known as Euskara, alive. The week-long festival in early September held in honor of the town's patron saint, Saint Antolin, is an excellent exhibition of traditions and cuisines that date back to at least the 6th century.

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Mendrisio, Switzerland -

The Swiss town of Mendrisio is truly a mountainside paradise. The town is part of the Ticino canton, the only area of Switzerland where Italian is the official language. Being named a slow city has helped Mendrisio keep its unique heritage alive.

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Mulazzo, Italy -

In addition to being one of Italy's many slow cities, the tiny commune of Mulazzo is also famous for its historical community of ardent booksellers that would travel all across the region selling books off their backs and opening up bookshops in the villages that needed them.

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Rubielos de Mora, Spain -

In Eastern Spain, in what once was the old Kingdom of Aragon, lies the cozy little village of Rubielos de Mora. Famous for its Renaissance market and fortress gates dating back to medieval times, Rubielos de Mora is described on the Cittaslow website as a "geographical, cultural and economic crossroads."

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Hartberg, Austria -

Hartberg was once a thriving, bustling meeting point for all sorts of aristocrats and nobles of the Holy Roman Empire. Now, the town has managed to quiet down and relax a bit, without losing any of its vibrant culture.

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Blieskastel, Germany -

The German city of Blieskastel lies very close to the French border, and is one of 23 officially designated slow cities in Germany. Blieskastel is home to a number of important landmarks and works of art, including the famous Baroque-style Napoleon Fountain.

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Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary -

An old market-town in the southeast of Hungarys Great Plain region, Hódmezővásárhely has long been famous for its agricultural products, its pottery, and its old medieval-style windmills.

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Llangollen, Wales -

One of five slow cities in the United Kingdom, Llangollen is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful and romantic towns in Wales. Running next to and through the town is the Llangollen Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Matakana, New Zealand -

One of New Zealand's most picturesque villages, Matakana is also the island nation's only slow city. Matakana has become famous for its highly-rated local wines and simple yet exquisite culinary scene.

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Loix, France -

The tiny village of Loix rests happily on a peninsula that juts off of the almost equally small French island of Île de Ré. A truly slow city, cars are few and far between in Loix, and everyone is acquainted with everyone else. The daily market in the center of town provides most of the citizens' entertainment.

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Wolfville, Canada -

With a population of barely 4,000 people as of 2012, Wolfville is a small town on the Canadian peninsula of Nova Scotia that fits the Cittaslow mindset perfectly. The Wolfville official website describes it as a town with "a thriving cultural centre, warm sense of caring community, progressive sense of sustainability, and strong municipal backbone."

Sources: (Pretty Slow) (Cittaslow)

See also: The best small cities in the world

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