SLOW DOWN! NUMBER OF SLOW CITIES INCREASING

Our world has developed into a very busy place. People are connected to their work via mobile phones so that they could be reached wherever they move. We travel long distances by cars and planes, eat in fast foods and as a results we are stressed. The CittaSlow Movement wants to change the trend by promoting slower and traditional life style.

To make life more livable, Italians started the Slow Cities movement (or CittaSlow) back in 1990s. The goal of those involved in the movement is to protect traditions and traditional ways of living. Slow cities aim to produce less noise and traffic, to consume less energy and to use renewable energy sources.
Only a city with less than 50,000 residents may become an official slow city. Those who apply to become members of CittaSlow must meet 55 criteria from the CittaSlow Manifesto. Inspectors regularly check if the cities comply with the set environmental policy requirements. They also asses the infrastructure and provided support to local produce and products. If the applicant complies with all the requirements, they are allowed to use the snail logo of the movement.
Today, there is over 120 slow cities in some 16 countries around the world. Most Slow Cities could be found in Europe. It is for example Enns in Austria, Biskupiec in Poland or Norfolk in the UK. The majority of world’s slow cities is naturally located in Italy e.g. Abbiategrasso or Santa Sofia. Outside Europe slow cities can be found in Australia, South Korea or in Canada.
The number of CittaSlow members is continuously increasing. The recent candidate, Seferihisar, for instance, would be the first CittaSlow in Turkey. Local officials expect the development of Seferihisar as an officially slow city will help them to lure more domestic as well as foreign tourists. In Hungary the first city applying for the slow city status is Hodmezovasarhely, which currently works on improving non-motorised transport, increasing the use of renewable energy, and modernising the city centre.