Welcome to Cittaslow UK

Cittaslow, which is Italian for "slow city" or "slow town" is an international network of towns. A Cittaslow signs up to working towards a set of goals that aim to improve quality of life, and needs to pass an assessment before being admitted as a member of the Cittaslow network.

Cittaslow is a way of thinking. It is about caring for your town and the people who live and work in it or visit it. It is about protecting the environment, about promoting local goods and produce, and about avoiding the ‘sameness’ that afflicts too many towns in the modern world.

The Cittaslow movement has strong links with Slow Food, and began life in October 1999, during the food festival in Orvieto, Italy. While Slow Food is open for individuals to join as members, membership of Cittaslow is open to towns, which must have a population under 50,000. Organisations can also join as Cittaslow Supporters.

There are now Cittaslow National Networks in England, Wales, Germany, Norway, Poland and Portugal, with other countries working towards setting up their own national networks.

Cittaslow UK is 'led' by Ludlow, the first town in the UK to be admitted to the Cittaslow network; Alysham in Norfolk was the second Cittaslow in the UK. Diss, also in Norfolk joined the Cittaslow UK network in March 2006. Mold became the first Cittaslow in Wales towards the end of 2006, and now has a representative on the board of Cittaslow UK, alongside Ludlow and Aylsham. The first town in each region or country of the UK to become Cittaslow automatically becomes part of the Cittaslow UK board.

Other towns in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland are currently considering the benefits of Cittaslow.

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