Livigno
Encyclopedia
Livigno is a town and comune
in the province of Sondrio
, in the region of Lombardy
, Italy
, located in the Italian Alps
.
. Livigno's main river
is called Aqua Granda or Spöl. Trepalle
, a frazione
in the municipality of Livigno, is considered Europe's highest inhabited parish
. Livigno was once a traditional and cultural village.
Livigno is one of the few Italian villages which do not belong to the drainage basin
of the Mediterranean Sea
but to the Black Sea
basin.
A part of the old village was completely destroyed in the 1960s by the creation of a reservoir, the Lago di Livigno
.
". The valley has always been at risk from this point of view. The last avalanche hitting the village was in 1951, which caused seven deaths and damage to a dozen houses.
Politically, Livigno has always followed Bormio
's history, although the relationships between the two communes have always been tense, Bormio being dominant and more populous than Livigno.
Until the 1970s Livigno was a farming village. In recent decades, however, things have changed, and nowadays Livigno enjoys a better economic situation and a higher number of inhabitants. Livigno has recently enjoyed one of Italy's highest birth rates (19.4 births per 1000 inhabitants).
Livigno's economy is based on tourism, both in winter and in summer, and on its duty-free status, with goods sold at bargain prices.
Building companies, craft industry and agriculture are somewhat developed, but all these sectors are in various ways linked to the main source of income.
Other buildings of note are the Caravaggio church, with some ex voto paintings and a picture which is traditionally attributed to Caravaggio
, and Saint Rocco church, built at the beginning of the 16th century as a offering for protecting the village against plague.
Other sights are represented by the breathtaking panorama, with high peaked mountains and marvellous valleys.
status as a duty-free area. Italian VAT
(Value Added Tax) is not paid. Although tax advantages for Livigno were recorded as far back as the sixteenth century, the current tax exemption was first introduced by the Austrian Empire
around 1840. It was then confirmed by the Kingdom of Italy
around 1910, then by the Italian Republic and the European Economic Community
in 1960. Although no VAT is paid, income taxes are, thus Livigno cannot be considered as a tax haven
.
The justification for such a status is the difficulty in reaching Livigno during winter, and the centuries-long history of poverty in the region. The various states wanted to ensure people would have an incentive to live in the area (so that they could claim it territorially). At the same time, the tax revenue from Livigno would have been negligible.
Today, only three roads lead to the town, two from Switzerland
, through the Forcola di Livigno
(2,315 m, open in summer only) and the Munt La Schera tunnel
, and one from Italy, through the Foscagno Pass
(2,291 m). Given the increase in wealth in recent decades, the improvement of road
s and the widespread availability of cars
, many outsiders see this exemption as an unjustified privilege
, although it sustains several hundred jobs.
Leaving Livigno into the rest of Italy on the road there is a custom checkpoint manned by Guardia di Finanza
militaries. Entering or leaving from Switzerland there is both Guardia di Finanza
militaries and Swiss Border Guards.
and a little commerce
. Smuggling
was both widespread and not socially deprecated, being often the only way to survive in such a harsh environment. This generated some prejudice in the remaining population of Valtellina, where smuggling was also widespread, with the local proverb gent de cunfin, tücc' lader o asesin, or "border people, all thieves or murderers".
Nowadays Livigno is a rich area, and the main activities are linked to tourism, especially as a ski resort
. Many inhabitants of Valtellina
visit once in a while to buy goods at substantially lower prices, especially tax-free gasoline
, sometimes from as far as Sondrio
. The tax free allowance for tourists applied here is the same as the one applied to travellers coming from any non EU country.
The 2005 Union Cycliste Internationale
mountain biking
world championships were held here, from August 28 to September 4.
The mass-media sector is quite developed as well. In the 80s a local radio, Radio Alteuropa, used to broadcast from Livigno, covering up to a wide part of the neighbouring Valtellina
valley. The local monthly newspaper, Al Restel, was founded in the same period and it is still published today.
Nowadays, most of information is given by a TV channel, TeleMonteNeve, which broadcasts the City Council's meetings, a news report 3 times a week and other information both for residents and for tourists. On-line new media is also growing. An example is Senzaiva, an on-line cultural magazine. Its name means "without VAT
", referring to the special duty-free status of Livigno and of all cultural products.
The local dialect, a variety of Lombard with peculiar traits, similar to the other varieties of Upper Valtellina
, has been categorized in a dictionary, funded by the local administration. This language variety is used locally in street names and in some other signs, as well as on the official maps.
Sport also plays an important role. In Livigno there are nearly 20 sport associations, most of them are supported by an association called Sporting Club. Many young athletes often end up with good results in their discipline (see Notable people below). In 2006 Turin winter Olympics, no less than 8 Italian athletes came from Livigno.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in the province of Sondrio
Province of Sondrio
The Province of Sondrio is in the Lombardy region of Italy. Its capital is the town of Sondrio.It has an area of 3,212 km², and a total population of 176,856...
, in the region of Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, located in the Italian Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
.
Geography
Livigno is located 1,816 metres above sea levelSea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. Livigno's main river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
is called Aqua Granda or Spöl. Trepalle
Trepalle
Trepalle is a village in the Italian Alps, a frazione of Livigno, Lombardy. It is considered to be the village located at the highest altitude in Europe...
, a frazione
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
in the municipality of Livigno, is considered Europe's highest inhabited parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
. Livigno was once a traditional and cultural village.
Livigno is one of the few Italian villages which do not belong to the drainage basin
Mediterranean Basin
In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, which supports characteristic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub vegetation...
of the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
but to the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
basin.
A part of the old village was completely destroyed in the 1960s by the creation of a reservoir, the Lago di Livigno
Lago di Livigno
Lago di Livigno or Lago del Gallo is a reservoir in the Livigno valley. The lake is mostly in Italy whereas the Punt dal Gall arch dam is crossed by the border with Switzerland .The lake's surface area is 4.71 km²....
.
History
Livigno's first settlers were probably shepherds during the Middle Ages. The first documents called this area "vinea et vineola". This Latin name does not refer to the presence of vineyards in the area, but comes from the German language, meaning "avalancheAvalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
". The valley has always been at risk from this point of view. The last avalanche hitting the village was in 1951, which caused seven deaths and damage to a dozen houses.
Politically, Livigno has always followed Bormio
Bormio
Bormio is a town and comune located in the province of Sondrio, Lombardy region of the Alps in northern Italy. It has a population of 4,200...
's history, although the relationships between the two communes have always been tense, Bormio being dominant and more populous than Livigno.
Until the 1970s Livigno was a farming village. In recent decades, however, things have changed, and nowadays Livigno enjoys a better economic situation and a higher number of inhabitants. Livigno has recently enjoyed one of Italy's highest birth rates (19.4 births per 1000 inhabitants).
Livigno's economy is based on tourism, both in winter and in summer, and on its duty-free status, with goods sold at bargain prices.
Building companies, craft industry and agriculture are somewhat developed, but all these sectors are in various ways linked to the main source of income.
Main sights
Saint Mary's parish church was built at the end of the 19th century, on a previous church. The current building incorporated the previous one, which was left standing until the end of works, allowing church services to be carried out as usual.Other buildings of note are the Caravaggio church, with some ex voto paintings and a picture which is traditionally attributed to Caravaggio
Caravaggio
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was an Italian artist active in Rome, Naples, Malta, and Sicily between 1593 and 1610. His paintings, which combine a realistic observation of the human state, both physical and emotional, with a dramatic use of lighting, had a formative influence on the Baroque...
, and Saint Rocco church, built at the beginning of the 16th century as a offering for protecting the village against plague.
Other sights are represented by the breathtaking panorama, with high peaked mountains and marvellous valleys.
Duty-free status
Livigno enjoys a special taxTax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
status as a duty-free area. Italian VAT
European Union Value Added Tax Area
The European Union value added tax area is a territory consisting of all European Union member states and certain other countries which follow the European Union's rules on value added tax . The principle is also valid for some special taxes on products like alcohol and tobacco.Goods are only...
(Value Added Tax) is not paid. Although tax advantages for Livigno were recorded as far back as the sixteenth century, the current tax exemption was first introduced by the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
around 1840. It was then confirmed by the Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
around 1910, then by the Italian Republic and the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
in 1960. Although no VAT is paid, income taxes are, thus Livigno cannot be considered as a tax haven
Tax haven
A tax haven is a state or a country or territory where certain taxes are levied at a low rate or not at all while offering due process, good governance and a low corruption rate....
.
The justification for such a status is the difficulty in reaching Livigno during winter, and the centuries-long history of poverty in the region. The various states wanted to ensure people would have an incentive to live in the area (so that they could claim it territorially). At the same time, the tax revenue from Livigno would have been negligible.
Today, only three roads lead to the town, two from Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, through the Forcola di Livigno
Livigno Pass
Livigno Pass is a high mountain pass in the Alps on the border between the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland and Italy.It connects Motta in Switzerland with Livigno in the province of Sondrio in Italy.-See also:...
(2,315 m, open in summer only) and the Munt La Schera tunnel
Munt la Schera Tunnel
The Munt la Schera Tunnel is a one-way road tunnel located in the Swiss canton of Grisons. It connects the Engadin valley with Lago di Livigno....
, and one from Italy, through the Foscagno Pass
Foscagno Pass
Foscagno Pass is a high mountain pass in the Alps in the province of Sondrio, northern Italy.The road connects Bormio in the east and Livigno in the west....
(2,291 m). Given the increase in wealth in recent decades, the improvement of road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
s and the widespread availability of cars
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
, many outsiders see this exemption as an unjustified privilege
Privilege
A privilege is a special entitlement to immunity granted by the state or another authority to a restricted group, either by birth or on a conditional basis. It can be revoked in certain circumstances. In modern democratic states, a privilege is conditional and granted only after birth...
, although it sustains several hundred jobs.
Leaving Livigno into the rest of Italy on the road there is a custom checkpoint manned by Guardia di Finanza
Guardia di Finanza
The Guardia di Finanza is a Italian law enforcement agency under the authority of the Minister of Economy and Finance. Like the Carabinieri, it is part of the Italian Armed Forces. The Guard is essentially responsible for dealing with financial crime and smuggling; it has also evolved into Italy's...
militaries. Entering or leaving from Switzerland there is both Guardia di Finanza
Guardia di Finanza
The Guardia di Finanza is a Italian law enforcement agency under the authority of the Minister of Economy and Finance. Like the Carabinieri, it is part of the Italian Armed Forces. The Guard is essentially responsible for dealing with financial crime and smuggling; it has also evolved into Italy's...
militaries and Swiss Border Guards.
Economy
Livigno once made a living from agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and a little commerce
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
. Smuggling
Smuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
was both widespread and not socially deprecated, being often the only way to survive in such a harsh environment. This generated some prejudice in the remaining population of Valtellina, where smuggling was also widespread, with the local proverb gent de cunfin, tücc' lader o asesin, or "border people, all thieves or murderers".
Nowadays Livigno is a rich area, and the main activities are linked to tourism, especially as a ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
. Many inhabitants of Valtellina
Valtellina
Valtellina or the Valtelline valley ; is a valley in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, bordering Switzerland. Today it is known for its skiing, its hot spring spas, its cheeses and its wines...
visit once in a while to buy goods at substantially lower prices, especially tax-free gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
, sometimes from as far as Sondrio
Sondrio
Sondrio is an Italian town and comune located in the heart of the Valtellina. Sondrio counts approximately 22,000 inhabitants and it is the administrative centre for the Lombard Province of Sondrio.- History :...
. The tax free allowance for tourists applied here is the same as the one applied to travellers coming from any non EU country.
The 2005 Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
world championships were held here, from August 28 to September 4.
Culture and sport
Despite its small size, there are many cultural organizations in Livigno. Some of these are:- Corpo Musicale, a local street band
- Gruppo folkloristico, a folk group
- Monteneve Chorus
- Carcent theatre group
- A few rock/pop bands, the most well-known being MetalDreit
The mass-media sector is quite developed as well. In the 80s a local radio, Radio Alteuropa, used to broadcast from Livigno, covering up to a wide part of the neighbouring Valtellina
Valtellina
Valtellina or the Valtelline valley ; is a valley in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, bordering Switzerland. Today it is known for its skiing, its hot spring spas, its cheeses and its wines...
valley. The local monthly newspaper, Al Restel, was founded in the same period and it is still published today.
Nowadays, most of information is given by a TV channel, TeleMonteNeve, which broadcasts the City Council's meetings, a news report 3 times a week and other information both for residents and for tourists. On-line new media is also growing. An example is Senzaiva, an on-line cultural magazine. Its name means "without VAT
Vat
Vat or VAT may refer to:* A type of container such as a barrel, storage tank, or tub, often constructed of welded sheet stainless steel, and used for holding, storing, and processing liquids such as milk, wine, and beer...
", referring to the special duty-free status of Livigno and of all cultural products.
Valtellina
Valtellina or the Valtelline valley ; is a valley in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, bordering Switzerland. Today it is known for its skiing, its hot spring spas, its cheeses and its wines...
, has been categorized in a dictionary, funded by the local administration. This language variety is used locally in street names and in some other signs, as well as on the official maps.
Sport also plays an important role. In Livigno there are nearly 20 sport associations, most of them are supported by an association called Sporting Club. Many young athletes often end up with good results in their discipline (see Notable people below). In 2006 Turin winter Olympics, no less than 8 Italian athletes came from Livigno.
Notable people
- Giorgio RoccaGiorgio RoccaGiorgio Rocca is an Italian Alpine skier, a specialist in Slalom skiing. Together with Marc Girardelli and Ingemar Stenmark, he is one of three skiers to have won 5 Alpine Skiing World Cup slaloms in a row, which he achieved in the 2005/2006 season: only Alberto Tomba has won more World Cup...
, Italian skier (winner of slalomSlalom skiingSlalom is an alpine skiing discipline, involving skiing between poles spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, thereby causing quicker and shorter turns.- Origins :...
specialty cup in 2006 Alpine Skiing World Cup2006 Alpine Skiing World CupThe 40th World Cup season began in October 2005 and concluded at the World Cup finals in Åre, Sweden, in March 2006. The schedule included a nearly month-long break in February for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy....
) - Gianluigi Galli (better known as Gigi GalliGigi GalliGianluigi Galli , better known as Gigi Galli, is an Italian rally driver, best known for his spectacular driving style. He comes from, and lives in Livigno, Italy.-Career:...
), rally car driver in World Rally ChampionshipWorld Rally ChampionshipThe World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13... - Daniela ZiniDaniela ZiniDaniela Zini is a former Italian alpine skier.- World Cup victories :-References:...
, Italian team skier (9th place in 1980 Alpine Skiing World Cup1980 Alpine Skiing World CupThe 14th World Cup season began in December 1979 in France and concluded in March 1980 in Austria.Andreas Wenzel of Liechtenstein edged out Ingemar Stenmark of Sweden for the overall title...
) - Katia ZiniKatia ZiniKatia Zini is an Italian short track speed skater who won bronze in the 3000m relay at the 2006 Winter Olympics. She also skated in the 2002 Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics. She is a cousin of speed skater Mara Zini who was on the same medal winning relay.-References:...
and Mara ZiniMara ZiniMara Zini is an Italian short track speed skater who won a bronze medal in the 3000m relay at the 2006 Winter Olympics. She is a cousin of Katia Zini who was on the same medal winning relay team.-References:...
(bronze medal winners in short track speed skatingShort track speed skatingShort track speed skating is a form of competitive ice speed skating. In competitions, multiple skaters skate on an oval ice track with a circumference of 111.12 m...
in 2006 Winter Olympics2006 Winter OlympicsThe 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in TurinTurinTurin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
) - Iwan Bormolini, Italian world cup ski-racer
- Marianna LongaMarianna LongaMarianna Longa is an Italian cross country skier from Livigno. She started the professional career in 1997, and the first appearance in a world cup race was March 17, 2000 in Bormio. Longa is currently part of the Fiamme Gialle, and the Italian cross country national team. Marianna is also a...
, Cross-country skier in Italy's National Team.
External links
- Official website
- Livigno Tourist office
- News on Livigno
- Another portal on Livigno
- Nature and Pictures of Livigno