Located on the Tuscan Hills near Florence, Italy, with schools, factories, workshops, a farm, Loppiano today numbers 800 inhabitants coming from 70 nations: from West and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North and South America, Asia and Australia.

Students and teachers, professionals and workers, artisans and farmers, young people and entire families, priests and men and women religious, members of various Christian denominations and other religions: a prototype of a new kind of society based on the evangelical law of love.

The idea Building a little town, a "mini city", which may reflect an ideology, a way of life, has often been the dream of men and women who gave rise to new philosophies, ideologies or spiritualities. Chiara Lubich had the same great desire.

In the fifties, when the Focolare Movement had just started spreading, people of different ages and social conditions gathered during the Summer in the valley of Primiero, in the Dolomite Mountains in northern Italy, to deepen together the style of life they discovered through the Movement.
Thus they gave birth to a temporary "little town" called Mariapolis (City of Mary). Chiara Lubich had an intuition: that original Summer experience would become permanent.

A " lab" for a civilisation of unity

Every year over 40,000 visitors come to Loppiano. They come from everywhere to become temporary citizens of the "Permanent Mariapolis" and experience the atmosphere of unity which is its main characteristic.     The commitment of all those living there to practice day in and day out the new commandment of reciprocal love, make of Loppiano a meeting point of different peoples and cultures, like an open "lab" offering the possibility to anyone to experience unity among people and to find out that it is possible.

    Schools of formation for members of the different vocations belonging to the Movement are also located in Loppiano.
    At present such schools of formation are 9: for the "focolarini" (men and women)
who consecrate their lives to God within the Movement, for the families, for diocesan priests, for religious priests and brothers, for sisters, for the young people of the Movement (called Gen or New Generation), for men and women "volunteers" (lay people committed to living the Gospel in the various fields of society).


Working and artistic activities

The economy of Loppiano is based on work. Throughout the years several working activities have developed. Everyone living in Loppiano tries to share everything: professionalism and talents. In this way a full communion of spiritual as well as material goods is practiced. Several artists find in Loppiano the best environment to express their art.

    The Loppiano Prima Co-operative started in 1973. Its main activity is producing wine and olive oil. At present the members of the cooperative number 4,000. It is appreciated for the way it is managed and for being part of the project of the "Economy of Communion" wherein the capital and work are placed at the service of the community.

    The Fantasy workshops have specialised in materials, objects and furniture for babies and small children.

    The Azur company comprises several activities such as revision of electric meters, assembling of electricity stabilisers, production of furniture and accessories for children, wooden religious articles and different handicraft objects.

    The Gigli del Campo is a fashion workshop and boutique mainly for lady's wear. Even fashion can express a style of life by reflecting through harmony and the originality of a dress design the beauty of creation.

    In the artistic field there are two significant art studios: the Centro Ave and La Bottega di Ciro. The former includes sculpture, painting, design and architecture. The latter produces most original, rich and charming pieces of art, using a unique combination of discarded materials (wood, iron, stone, cloth, etc.).

    At Loppiano reside Gen Rosso and Gen Verde: two international musical and performing arts groups. Their aim is to use music and song to spread the ideal of a united world.

If you wish to find out more about Loppiano http://www.loppiano.it