[2][3][4][5][6][7] Cittaslow was founded in Italy in October 1999, following a meeting organised by the mayor of Greve in Chianti, Tuscany.

[8] A 54-point charter was developed, encouraging high quality local food and drink, general conviviality and the opposition to cultural standardisation.

[10] The movement expanded broadly beyond Italy and, by 2006, national Cittaslow networks existed in Germany, Norway and the United Kingdom.

In July 2009, the small seaside village of Cowichan Bay in Canada became the North American continent's first Cittaslow town.

[citation needed] The first town in England to become a Cittaslow city (and the first in the English-speaking world) was Ludlow[10] in November 2003;[15] the first in Wales was Mold.