Cittaslow (literally, Slow City) is a direct descendant of Slow Food, a movement that began in Italy in 1989. At that time, many Italians were concerned with what they felt was a fast food invasion. They believed the fast food lifestyle threatened their very existence. Under the leadership of Carlo Petrini, “Slow Food” was created to protect and preserve heritage foodways (see “Take It Slow,” Jan. 2009).
In 1999, Paolo Saturnini, the mayor of a small town in Tuscany, Greve in Chianti, looked at the tenets of Slow Food and suggested they could be expanded and applied to all aspects of life, not just food. He proposed the idea of creating a network of small towns where life was enjoyed at a “human pace,” where residents worked together to preserve local identity and enhance quality of life for all. The idea caught fire and spread rapidly throughout Italy. It was embraced by the mayors of Bra, Orvieto and Positano, as well as by Petrini, himself, and Cittaslow was born. Today, more than 145 towns in almost 25 countries have received the honor of being designated Cittaslow.
Not all communities, however, can become Cittaslow. Cittaslows typically have populations of 50,000 or less. They must apply for the designation and pass a rigorous evaluation across six criteria areas to be certified by the international headquarters in Italy. Communities are evaluated on their environmental policies, infrastructure, protection and promotion of local products and heritage, quality of technology and public facilities, responsible tourism and citizen awareness of the importance of these ideals.
A Cittaslow is a place where local foods are grown in a way that protects the health of both the environment and the community, where open space and public gathering spots are common, and where residents work together on projects for the common good. A Cittaslow supports public transportation, alternative energy and the use of new technologies that help residents live more fully and sustainably. They’re rich with cafés, theaters and art centers, and encourage their visitors to explore the qualities and distinct traditions that give them a unique identity.
The United States is a relative newcomer to the Cittaslow movement; its development, the direct result of the vision and persistence of Cittaslow USA Founder Virginia Hubbell. During a trip to Italy, Hubbell visited Greve in Chianti and was introduced to the Cittaslow concept. She knew right away that the United States was ripe for such a movement and felt strongly that her hometown community of Sonoma Valley should be the first Cittaslow in the states. Upon her return home, Hubbell quickly pulled together a team of like-minded citizens and set to work on the application. Their hard work was rewarded in November 2009, when Sonoma Valley became the first Cittaslow in the United States. (Sonoma Valley runs from the town of Sonoma, through Glen Ellen and up into Kenwood—basically from the northern edge of San Pablo Bay up to Santa Rosa.) Less than a year later, Sonoma was followed by both Fairfax and Sebastopol, which received their designations in June 2010.
Once a community becomes Cittaslow, it’s part of an international network with a shared set of human values. The organization fosters creativity and collaboration, and, while it sets guidelines, it gives each community the autonomy to create what it wants. This spirit of cooperation and support lets member towns exchange ideas, successes and challenges as they seek to address the complex issues of retaining a sense of place while enhancing quality of life.
What’s unique about Cittaslow here in the United States is that it’s more of a public/private partnership than in other parts of the world. In Europe, for example, the municipal government takes a much larger, lead role in the execution of Cittaslow projects. Here, while the municipality must initiate the application process, the day-to-day workings of the organization are handled differently. City officials and staff can be involved or may opt to have a “citizen support network” do the majority of the heavy lifting on Cittaslow projects. The use of a support network lets small communities leverage their resources and create benefits that would otherwise be impossible. The municipality, however, always retains final authority and responsibility for the designation.
Today, Cittaslow is making great strides in the United States. As communities across the country become acquainted with the philosophy and benefits of the organization, more are taking first steps toward receiving the designation. Hubbell, working with a small board of directors, is now responsible for growing and supporting the U.S. Cittaslow network. She’s hopeful the organization will triple its U.S. presence by the end of 2012 and is harnessing her substantial energies to accomplish just that.
