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'{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2013}} {{Infobox Italian comune | name = Livigno | official_name = Comune di Livigno | native_name = | image_skyline = Panoramic Livigno.jpg | imagesize = | image_alt = | image_caption = | image_shield = | shield_alt = | image_map = Map of comune of Livigno (province of Sondrio, region Lombardy, Italy).svg | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | coordinates = {{coord|46|32|N|10|08|E|type:city(994)_region:IT|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | region = [[Lombardy]] | province = [[Province of Sondrio|Sondrio]] (SO) | frazioni = [[Trepalle]] | mayor_party = | mayor = Damiano Bormiolini | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 227.3 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 6363 | population_as_of = 30 September 2015 | pop_density_footnotes = | population_demonym = Livignaschi | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 1816 | twin1 = | twin1_country = | saint = [[Holy Mary]] / [[Saint Anna]] (for [[Trepalle]]) | day = 8 September / 21 July (for [[Trepalle]]) | postal_code = 23030 | area_code = 0342 | website = {{official website|http://www.comune.livigno.so.it}} | footnotes = }} '''Livigno''' ({{IPA-it|liˈviɲɲo|lang}}; local {{lang-lmo|Livígn}} {{IPA-lmo|liˈʋiɲ|}}; {{lang-de|Luwin}}) is a town and ''[[comune]]'' in the [[province of Sondrio]], in the region of [[Lombardy]], [[Italy]], located in the Italian [[Alps]], near the [[Switzerland|Swiss]] border. == History == Livigno's first settlers were probably shepherds during the Middle Ages. The first documents called this area {{lang|la|Vinea et Vineola}}. The name possibly comes from an old German word for "[[avalanche]]" which have always been frequent in the valley – the last avalanche to hit the village was in 1951, causing seven deaths and damage to a dozen houses. Politically, Livigno has always followed [[Bormio]]'s history, although the relationships between the two communes have always been tense, Bormio being dominant and more populous than Livigno. Until the 1970s Livigno was a farming village. In recent decades, however, things have changed, and nowadays Livigno enjoys a better economic situation and a higher number of inhabitants. Livigno has recently enjoyed one of Italy's highest birth rates (19.4 births per 1000 inhabitants).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aptlivigno.it/News.jsp?idnews=458|title=Official Livigno tourism portal|publisher=|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20031223194344/http://www.aptlivigno.it/News.jsp?idnews=458|archivedate=23 December 2003|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Livigno's economy is based on tourism, both in winter and in summer, and on its [[duty-free]] status, with goods sold at bargain prices. == Geography == [[File:Livigno 087.jpg|thumb|200 px|left|Typical [[Baita (architecture)|baita]] in Livigno.]] Livigno is {{convert|1816|m|ft}} above [[sea level]]. Livigno's main [[river]] is called [[Aqua Granda]] or [[Spöl]]. [[Trepalle]], a ''[[frazione]]'' in the municipality of Livigno, is considered Europe's highest inhabited parish. Livigno was once a traditional and cultural village. Livigno is one of the few Italian villages which do not belong to the [[Mediterranean Basin|drainage basin]] of the [[Mediterranean Sea]] but to the [[Black Sea]] basin. A part of the old village was completely destroyed in the 1960s by the creation of a reservoir, the [[Lago di Livigno]]. === Climate === Livigno has a very cold, dry climate. Most of winter is spent below freezing and snow is abundant. Summer is the only part of the year in which temperatures above {{convert|10|°C|0|abbr=on}} are common, and frosts are less common (but still occur every year). Temperatures over {{convert|20|°C|0|abbr=on}} are rare. {{Weather box |width = auto |metric first = yes |single line = yes |location = Livigno (2009–2017) |Jan record high C = 2 |Feb record high C = 1 |Mar record high C = 5 |Apr record high C = 12 |May record high C = 18 |Jun record high C = 23 |Jul record high C = 23 |Aug record high C = 23 |Sep record high C = 20 |Oct record high C = 17 |Nov record high C = 9 |Dec record high C = 2 |year record high C = 23 |Jan high C= -5.9 |Feb high C= -5.0 |Mar high C= -1.8 |Apr high C= 1.6 |May high C= 6.6 |Jun high C= 12.0 |Jul high C= 14.8 |Aug high C= 14.8 |Sep high C= 9.8 |Oct high C= 4.4 |Nov high C= -1.0 |Dec high C= -4.9 |year high C= 3.8 | Jan mean C = -10.0 | Feb mean C = -9.6 | Mar mean C = -5.7 | Apr mean C = -1.3 | May mean C = 3.7 | Jun mean C = 8.9 | Jul mean C = 11.3 | Aug mean C = 11.1 | Sep mean C = 6.2 | Oct mean C = 0.8 | Nov mean C = -4.3 | Dec mean C = -8.5 | year mean C = 0.2 |Jan low C= -14.1 |Feb low C= -14.1 |Mar low C= -9.6 |Apr low C= -4.1 |May low C= 0.9 |Jun low C= 5.9 |Jul low C= 7.8 |Aug low C= 7.3 |Sep low C= 2.6 |Oct low C= -2.8 |Nov low C= -7.6 |Dec low C= -12.2 |year low C= -3.3 |Jan record low C = -35 |Feb record low C = -33 |Mar record low C = -29 |Apr record low C = -23 |May record low C = -12 |Jun record low C = -6 |Jul record low C = -5 |Aug record low C = -4 |Sep record low C = -11 |Oct record low C = -24 |Nov record low C = -37 |Dec record low C = -37 |year record low C = -37 |rain colour = green |Jan rain mm = 106.7 |Feb rain mm = 122.7 |Mar rain mm = 133.9 |Apr rain mm = 205.1 |May rain mm = 247.8 |Jun rain mm = 270.6 |Jul rain mm = 274.5 |Aug rain mm = 128.9 |Sep rain mm = 178.4 |Oct rain mm = 125.0 |Nov rain mm = 171.1 |Dec rain mm = 121.0 |year rain mm = 2085.7 |Jan rain days = 4.1 |Feb rain days = 4.1 |Mar rain days = 6.0 |Apr rain days = 10.2 |May rain days = 19.0 |Jun rain days = 24.9 |Jul rain days = 26.8 |Aug rain days = 25.7 |Sep rain days = 17.0 |Oct rain days = 10.7 |Nov rain days = 4.6 |Dec rain days = 3.8 |year rain days = 156.8 |Jan snow cm = 85.8 |Feb snow cm = 99.6 |Mar snow cm = 106.7 |Apr snow cm = 140.6 |May snow cm = 102.0 |Jun snow cm = 47.6 |Jul snow cm = 9.3 |Aug snow cm = 10.7 |Sep snow cm = 49.2 |Oct snow cm = 68.4 |Nov snow cm = 128.0 |Dec snow cm = 95.5 |year snow cm = 943.6 |Jan snow days = 18.4 |Feb snow days = 20.3 |Mar snow days = 22.0 |Apr snow days = 22.4 |May snow days = 17.4 |Jun snow days = 8.1 |Jul snow days = 2.3 |Aug snow days = 2.7 |Sep snow days = 8.0 |Oct snow days = 12.8 |Nov snow days = 16.2 |Dec snow days = 17.1 |year snow days = 167.9 | Jan humidity = 94.8 | Feb humidity = 94.6 | Mar humidity = 97.0 | Apr humidity = 96.0 | May humidity = 90.0 | Jun humidity = 83.8 | Jul humidity = 82.0 | Aug humidity = 82.6 | Sep humidity = 85.1 | Oct humidity = 87.2 | Nov humidity = 91.1 | Dec humidity = 90.7 | year humidity = 89.6 |source 1= World Weather Online<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.worldweatheronline.com/livigno-weather-averages/trentino-alto-adige/it.aspx|title= Livigno, Italy Weather Averages|publisher= World Weather Online|accessdate=April 11, 2017 }}</ref> }} {| class="wikitable" align=center |+ Below freezing days, 2009–2017 |- | || Jan || Feb || Mar || Apr || May || Jun || Jul || Aug || Sep || Oct || Nov || Dec || Year |- | Average high temperature below freezing days || 29.8 || 26.9 || 20.6 || 8.6 || 1.7 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.1 || 5.6 || 17.1 || 28.1 || 138.3 |- | Average low temperature below freezing days || 31.0 || 28.0 || 30.9 || 29.0 || 22.0 || 7.7 || 3.6 || 4.4 || 14.2 || 22.8 || 30.0 || 31.0 || 254.6 |} == Main sights == [[Saint Mary]]'s parish church was erected at the end of the 19th century, on a previous church. The current building incorporated the previous one, which was left standing until the end of works, allowing church services to be carried out as usual. Other buildings of note are the Caravaggio church, with some ''[[ex voto]]'' paintings and a picture which is traditionally attributed to [[Caravaggio]], and [[Saint Rocco]] church, built at the beginning of the 16th century as an offering for protecting the village against plague. Local scenery encompasses high peaked mountains and deep valleys. == Duty-free status == Livigno enjoys a special [[tax]] status as a [[duty-free]] area. [[European Union Value Added Tax Area|Italian VAT]] (Value Added Tax) is not paid. Although tax advantages for Livigno were recorded as far back as the sixteenth century, the current tax exemption was first introduced by the [[Austrian Empire]] around 1840. It was then confirmed by the [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Kingdom of Italy]] around 1910, then by the Italian Republic and the [[European Economic Community]] in 1960. Although no VAT is paid, income taxes are, thus Livigno cannot be considered as a [[tax haven]]. The justification for such a status is the difficulty in reaching Livigno during winter, and the centuries-long history of poverty in the region. The various states wanted to ensure people would have an incentive to live in the area (so that they could claim it territorially). At the same time, the tax revenue from Livigno would have been negligible. Only three roads lead to the town. Two link to [[Switzerland]], one through the [[Livigno Pass|Forcola di Livigno]], elevation {{convert|2315|m|ft}} and open in summer only, and the second through the [[Munt la Schera Tunnel]]. The third road connects to other parts of Italy through the [[Foscagno Pass]], elevation {{convert|2291|m|ft}}. Leaving Livigno for the rest of Italy there is a custom checkpoint on the road manned by officers of the Italian militarized [[Guardia di Finanza]]. Entering or leaving from or to Switzerland there are both Guardia di Finanza officers and Swiss Border Guards.{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}} == Economy == Livigno once made a living from agriculture and a little commerce. [[Smuggling]] was both widespread and not socially deprecated, being often the only way to survive in such a harsh environment. This generated some prejudice in the remaining population of Valtellina, where smuggling was also widespread, with the local proverb ''gent de cunfin, tücc' lader o asesin'', or "border people, all thieves or murderers". Nowadays Livigno is a rich area, and the main activities are linked to tourism, especially as a [[ski resort]]. Many inhabitants of [[Valtellina]] visit once in a while to buy goods at substantially lower prices, especially tax-free gasoline, sometimes from as far as [[Sondrio]]. The tax free allowance for tourists applied here is the same as the one applied to travellers coming from any non EU country. The 2005 [[Union Cycliste Internationale]] [[mountain biking]] world championships were held here, from 28 August to 4 September. == Culture and sport == [[File:Livigno&LagoDelGallo.JPG|thumb| Livigno from the confluence of the Aqua Granda with the Gallo Lake.]] Despite its small size, there are many cultural organizations in Livigno. Some of these are: * Corpo Musicale, a local street band * Gruppo folkloristico, a folk group * Monteneve Chorus * Carcent theatre group <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carcent.it|title=Carcent|website=www.carcent.it}}</ref> * A few rock/pop bands, the most well-known being MetalDreit The mass-media sector is quite developed as well. In the 1980s a local radio, [[Radio Alteuropa]], used to broadcast from Livigno, covering up to a wide part of the neighbouring [[Valtellina]] valley. The local monthly newspaper, Al Restel,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.restel.valtline.it/|title=Al Restel|publisher=|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060430012527/http://www.restel.valtline.it/|archivedate=30 April 2006|df=dmy-all}}</ref> was founded in the same period and it is still published today. Nowadays, most of information is given by a TV channel, TeleMonteNeve,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telemonteneve.com/|title=teleMonteneve – Official Website|website=www.telemonteneve.com}}</ref> which broadcasts the city council's meetings, a news report three times a week and other information both for residents and for tourists. On-line new media is also growing. An example is Senzaiva, an on-line cultural magazine. Its name means "without [[VAT]]", referring to the special [[duty-free]] status of Livigno and of all cultural products.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senzaiva.com|title=Senzaiva|publisher=}}</ref> [[File:Bait dal comun.jpg|thumb|right|The Town Hall sign in the local dialect]] The local dialect has been categorized in a dictionary, funded by the local administration. This language variety is used locally in street names and in some other signs, as well as on the official maps.{{cn|date=February 2019}} Sport also plays an important role. In Livigno there are nearly 20 sport associations, most of them are supported by an association called Sporting Club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingclublivigno.it/|title=Sporting Club Livigno|first=Longa Net|last=Service|website=www.sportingclublivigno.it}}</ref> Many young athletes often end up with good results in their discipline (see Notable people below). At the [[2006 Winter Olympics|2006 Turin Winter Olympics]], no less than eight Italian athletes came from Livigno. It will be is used for snowboarding and freestyle skiing in the [[2026 Winter Olympics]] in [[Milan]] and [[Cortina d'Ampezzo]]. In 2015, Livigno was home to the European Freeride Festival which ran between January 31 and February 4.<ref>http://ski-livigno.com/blog/2015-european-freeride-festival-livigno/</ref> == Chess == Since 2010 the International Livigno Chess Open has taken place, organized by the local chess club. It has attracted people from all over the world. Winner for 2010 was [[Grandmaster (chess)|GM]] [[Igor Naumkin]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livignoscacchi.it/eng/?pag=66|title=Circolo Scacchistico Amos Cusini – Tournament – Open A|website=www.livignoscacchi.it}}</ref> in 2011 [[Grandmaster (chess)|GM]] [[Sergey Volkov (chess player)|Sergey Volkov]] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livignoscacchi.it/eng/?pag=126|title=Circolo Scacchistico Amos Cusini – Tournament – Open A|website=www.livignoscacchi.it}}</ref> (both from Russia) and in 2012 the Italian GM [[Alberto David]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livignoscacchi.it/eng/?pag=180|title=Circolo Scacchistico Amos Cusini – Tournament – Open A|website=www.livignoscacchi.it}}</ref> These tournaments also proved successful, so that even the [[FIDE]] (World Chess Federation) has mentioned them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/4-tournaments/6470-gm-alberto-david-wins-the-livigno-chess-open.html|title=GM Alberto David wins the Livigno Chess Open|first=Anton|last=Mihailov|website=www.fide.com}}</ref> == People == * [[Giorgio Rocca]], skier (winner of [[Slalom skiing|slalom]] specialty cup in [[2006 Alpine Skiing World Cup]]) * Gianluigi Galli (better known as [[Gigi Galli]]), rally car driver in [[World Rally Championship]] * [[Daniela Zini]], team skier (9th place in [[1980 Alpine Skiing World Cup]]) * [[Katia Zini]] and [[Mara Zini]] (bronze medal winners in [[short track speed skating]] in [[2006 Winter Olympics]] in [[Turin]]) * [[Iwan Bormolini]], world cup ski-racer * [[Marianna Longa]], Cross-country skier in Italy's National Team. == References == {{Reflist|30em}} == External links == * {{Official website|http://www.comune.livigno.so.it}} *[http://www.livigno.eu/ Livigno Tourist office] *[http://www.livigno.cx/ News on Livigno] {{It icon}} *[http://www.livigno.com/ Another portal on Livigno] *{{HDS|7078|Livigno|author=Martin Bundi|date=11 February 2005}} *[http://www.sullaneve.it/localita-italiane/lombardia/livigno.htm Livigno: winter sports] {{It icon}} {{Province of Sondrio}} [[Category:Cities and towns in Lombardy]] [[Category:Duty-free zones of Europe]] [[Category:Special territories of the European Union]] [[Category:Ski areas and resorts in Italy]]'