The ‘slow-food’ movement was born at our doorstep, on the other side of the Col de Tende, in the Piedmont region. The goal of this gastronomic movement was to counteract the junk food of ‘fast-food’ by promoting traditional cuisine that takes the time to enjoy local products.
Building on its success, this movement led to a quality label where human values are at the core of the charter that participating cities commit to in all areas, including energy, the environment, the economy, and social aspects. It is ‘a call to reflection, to the time to live: to exchange, to observe, to do things well and not to live in a time and stress that are imposed.’
To be a member of ‘Citta slow’, a city must have less than 50,000 inhabitants and meet more than 60 criteria: such as the creation of public spaces, the establishment of local shops, local exchange systems, non-polluting transportation, and intergenerational associations. In France, nine cities are recognized, most of them in the Southwest.
Proposing to ‘Adopt the ‘cittaslow’ label: is to choose well-being in our municipalities, both in our rural communities, by enhancing their quality of life, and in the urban coastal communities where the ‘silver economy’ and services are at the heart of economic activity, notably in Menton. It is up to us to develop the azure well-being, a ‘Dolce Vita of the French Riviera’ for both citizens and businesses.’
Laurent Lanquiar-Castiel, EE-LV
