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International network of cities, dedicated to improving the quality of life of their communities

In 1998 the Slow Food organization met with the mayors of the cities of Bra (Cuneo), Greve in Chianti (Florence), Orvieto (Terni) and Positano (Salerno), to offer them the creation of an international network of cities united in the Slow Cities. Slow Cities movement has grown to the participation of dozens of cities scattered throughout Italy and abroad. Participation in this organization means the need to respect the qualification requirements when it comes to promoting traditional local cuisine, hospitality and the role of cities in the urban tissue. These communities have decided to do everything they can to let residents and visitors enjoy their cities and just - to improve the quality of life.

How to become a Slow City:

To achieve the status of the "Slow City", the city must agree to accept the guidelines for Slow Food, and work to improve the friendly atmosphere and to protect the local environment. When a city becomes a Slow City, towns, some of the objectives of Slow City can no longer be part of its heritage. Although other changes can always be made and applied - often drawing inspiration from the programs implemented in other cities. Some of the programs already implemented in the Slow Cities movement are recycling projects, after-school program and tourist information to help them truly try the "local" experiences.

Characteristics of Slow City:

Slow Cities movement promotes the use of technologies oriented on environment quality and the urban fabric improvement and also securing the production of exceptional food and wine affecting the character of the region. In addition, Slow Cities movement aims to promote dialogue and communication between local producers and consumers. By the bridge ideas of environmental protection, promoting sustainable development and improving urban life, the Slow Cities movement provides incentives for the food industry that uses natural and environmentally friendly techniques. The "Slow City" mark will become a quality brand for smaller communities (only those with fewer than 50 000 inhabitants can apply for them.). The Slow Cities are not the capitals of states or offices of regional government, but strong local communities who have chosen to improve the quality of life for their residents.

City Slow movement requirements:

Legislation on the environment
Slow Cities movement program requires the existence and implementation of the following plans:

1. The control system of air quality and public consultation of air quality conditions
2. Information management system with guidelines for water distribution and control;
3. Application of plans of promotion and dissemination of new plans and composting techniques, and the promotion of home composting.
4. Systems to control light pollution and the associated intervention plan
5. Motivation and rewards for the development of alternative energy sources
6. Smog pollution control and contingency plan
7. Reduction of unwanted graffiti and posters hanging
8. Application of governing regulations EMAS or ISO 9001, ISO 14000 and SA 8000
9. Participation in the "Agenda 21" project

Infrastructure Policy
Slow Cities movement program requires the following features of the political infrastructure of cities:

1. The creation of public green space with benches and places to play
2. The presence of open walkways free of architectural barriers
3. Accessibility and availability of public spaces for the disabled
4. Existing infrastructure prefering alternative mobility
5. Generally available public toilets
6. The presence of seats not only in the historical centers, but throughout the city
7. The opening hours of various municipal offices should be similar
8. The existence of the Public Relations office in the city office
9. The presence of "Call Center"  for residents wishing to express comments on the "quality of life"
10. There should be a timetable for opening and closing hours of shops, institutions, harmonizing with the needs of residents and serving the commercial benefits of the city.

The quality of urban
Slow Cities movement program suggests the following objectives for improving the quality of transport:

1. Plans for the restoration of the original conditions of the historical centers and / or works of cultural or historical value
2. Application of the plan to eliminate loud alarm systems, and adequate programs to protect against the intellectual property theft
3. Encouragement to the use of public bins for waste recycling
4. Setting the trash cans and their removal in accordance with the agreed schedule
5. Promotion and dissemination of programs, greening public and private spaces with plants which smell nicely or which improve the environment
6. The existence and use in each city the development plans of the Internet network for residents
7. The development of implementation plans for increased consumption of environmentally friendly building materials
8. The existence of programs to increase the status and availability of historical centers

Local Products
Slow Cities movement program suggests the following objectives for improving the quality of transport:

1. The conduction of annual inventory of typical products
2. Programs that add value and protect local cultural events
3. Development plans of local markets and natural products located in the interesting and valuable places
4. School flavor education programs
5. Programs to improve quality through control of the city's restaurants and school cafeteria
6. Educational programs about organic production
7. Definition of products the Presidia program
8. The development of organic farming and certification of quality of products
9. Programs adding the value allocated to the nutrition and culinary traditions
10. Initiatives to encourage the protection of products and crafts of the region

Hospitality
Slow Cities movement program suggests the following objectives for improving the hospitality of the city:

1. The existence of a governing body which ensures that local companies are honest in their labeling and that there is no unfair advertising
2. International marking
3. Training plans of tourist guides for information centers
4. The existence of well-marked hiking trails with information and a description
5. The existence of the city guide in the movement of "Slow"
6. Implementation of pricing rules of tourist menu
7. The presence of guarded areas near the city center
8. Policy that makes the city hospitable and inviting guests to participate in events and celebrations
9. The existence of plans for the development of initiatives that develop a range of a Slow City

Knowledge
Slow Cities movement program suggests the following objectives for improving the awareness of residents about the status of a "Slow" city:
 

1. Publicly available document that lists the services of a Slow City
2. The presence of the logo of a Slow City on the official towns documents (letters heading, etc.).
3. The existence of the program that disseminates information about the movement activities
4. A website dedicated to the Slow City movement programs implemented in a city
5. Promotion of programs to facilitate family life, such as recreational activities, services provided at home for the elderly and chronically ill
6. The existence of economic programs that promote the development of the Slow City requirements and plans for improvement
7. The presence of articles about Slow City initiatives on the municipal bulletin board and dissemination of information in the national media
8. Programs of development of initiatives including the local leaders and of development of local enterprises on the application of requirements for the Slow City movement

Living slowly: other side of modernity
The manifest of SLOW cities for the new humanism of being and living

Life in a SLOW City and governing it is a way of being, characteristic of the conduct of everyday life in a way different from the hitherto dominant, slowed mode, sure, less violent, not so swift and not directed at performance, but undoubtedly more humane and ecologically appropriate, more loyal to the present and future generations, respecting what is local, in a world of increasingly global and internally communicated. Life in one of the SLOW cities means providing all the inhabitants of large cities, with the great baggage of experience, values, knowledge, art and science present in small centers, on the former marginal areas in the provinces and the periphery, which now become the center. This means the introduction to the districts of large cities of the social and economic management relations and practices fit for cultivation of mountains and small islands typical for villages.
 It is a life by present time in the best possible way, with eyes still facing the future, the use of great technological and cultural opportunities of our time, never forgetting the legacy of experience, which the history leaves to us and material culture of peoples. As Slow Food has taught the protection of local production of agro-food and emphasizing traditional ways of cooking, local flavors, here the main goal is to discover in the "slow" towns a whole range of excellence in various fields, yet today successfully tried and possible. This is the model that one have to know and use. For not only food, culture and social issues, but also for urban planning, environment, energy, transport, tourism, agricultural issues, youth education and community affairs.
 It is also turning the modern concept of the "good life" and wholesome home to the priority of universal commitment to the residents wellness, it means the settlement of the apparently false conflict between openness to the world and pride of own sense of belonging and local specificity. This is due to the presence of aware and informed fellow residents of the city, ready to accept the modern traveler in accordance with the canons of the most reliable hospitality.

Living in a SLOW city and governing it also means to recognize all local tangible and intangible resources, environment, natural and urban landscapes, wealth of historical, artistic and cultural activity as well as gastronomic activity, to strengthen or rebuild the city's identity, sometimes affected by changes in recent decades. Life in one of the SLOW cities, as well as its management, means making slowness the main value, assigning the meaning and specificity of the temporal revolution made by those who for historical, cultural or environmental reasons have resisted and are resisting the accelerations, which brought the twentieth century, it is also harmonization the historic times with modern times, harmonization of the needs of nature with the culture and economy – it is simply to give yourself time to create quality in all areas of urban life, to slow rhythms of life and reduce tensions, to realize now and forever the value of flavors, colors, smells of the city and the world.

To date, over one hundred mayors of European cities have joined the initiative and the cities were placed on the list of candidate cities for the qualification process for giving them a place among the network of Slow Cities.

The Slow Cities are those in which:

Environmental policy is implemented with a view to maintaining and developing the characteristics of the territory and the urban tissue, primarily using the techniques for recycling;

Infrastructure policy is implemented, which aims to raise the value of the territory, and not its occupation.

The use of technology to improve the quality of the environment and urban fabric is promoted.

The production and use of food products is assisted, obtained through the techniques of natural and friendly to the environment, with the exception of genetically modified products, by taking steps if necessary towards the establishment of units engaged in the protection and development of threatened standard production.
 
Local productions are protected having their roots in cultural traditions that contribute to the promotion of the region, keeping places and modes of production, promoting opportunities and priority places due to direct contact between consumers and producers;

The culture of hospitality is supported as a moment of real communication with the community and its specific features, removing physical and cultural obstacles that could prevent the full and widespread use of city resources.

The awareness of living in one of the SLOW Cities is promoted among the residents with particular emphasis on youth and schools, through the systematic introduction of "taste education"

Commitments

Cities within the Slow City network undertake to:

disseminate information on Slow City initiatives in order to achieve the objectives of the movement;

apply in accordance with local characteristics, joint decisions of the Slow City, and facilitate inspection by the person from the movement using the parameters set in order to assess the results of initiatives

to contribute according to their abilities, to the initiatives established by the Assembly, by paying a membership fee.
 
Benefits
 

• Cities within the Slow City network have the opportunity to:
• Attach to own image the logo of Slow City;
• Share the logo for public and private activities and initiatives which contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the movement;
• Participate in projects carried out under the movement, in the given manner using its models and structures.

TInternational Network of Cittaslow Cities :

• International Cittaslow List - January 2012