On the shore of Lake Lugano, Campione d’Italia forms an Italian enclave in Swiss territory. The name therefore provides a more reliable clue than the mere continuity of the landscape. Being surrounded by a country is not enough to be a part of it.
An additional peculiarity has long blurred this situation: customs treatment was not simply superimposed on political affiliation. The Swiss Federal Administration recalls that Campione was integrated into the customs territory of the European Union from 1 January 2020, at the request of Italy and the Union.
This change did not move the village or transform a Swiss commune into an Italian commune. It has changed a customs regime. The anecdote shows why the cards sometimes have to be read in several layers. Sovereignty, customs and everyday practices can cross without being interchangeable, and an old description can become misleading even if the drawn border remains the same.
What we know
2020 customs change explicitly dated; no current unverified claims on currency, item or individual taxation.
To go to the source
References consulted on September 21, 2026. Linked pages may be in another language.
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