Enzo Marinelli and the Colonia Libera Italiana

His spaghetti and freshly made sauces are legendary in Rheinfelden. Whether at the fall market, the club's anniversary, carnival or Christmas sparkle. People from Rheinfelden and those who know the insider tip like to make a detour to the Rumpel to enjoy typical Italian food in a cozy atmosphere with a boccalino at the CLI association.

In Switzerland since 1961

Enzo Marinelli, then aged 18, came to Switzerland in 1961, traveling by bus and train from his home town of Grassano, which is part of the Basilicata region in southern Italy, to his new home. In Zug, he found a job as a confectioner, his original profession. He later trained as a baker and as a chef at the Hotel Restaurant Hirschen in Küssnacht.

In 1975, he followed his brother Donato to Rheinfelden, where he found his love. Enzo's wife was from his original homeland and they moved back to Italy.

Enzo Marinelli worked for Confiserie Berner, later for a laundry and finally in the mechanical sector for the Forming company.

In 1977, he joined the Colonia Libera Italiana (CLI) association. This was founded in 1959.

"The statutes have existed since June 9, 1960," explains Enzo Marinelli.

The association originally planned to celebrate its 65th anniversary in the summer of 2025. The anniversary celebration was postponed due to Enzo's hip operation. "At the upcoming general meeting on 16 May, we will decide when we will make up for the anniversary celebration," he explains.

Concerns about young talent

Enzo's brother Donato headed the club from 1984 to 2010, since when he has been president himself. He remembers well how they were able to acquire the clubhouse in Rheinfelden in 1990. A year later, they worked intensively on the construction work and the opening took place in 1992. "I would like to thank everyone who helped back then and who have supported our association over the years," is still an important concern for the President today.

The association, which has around 100 members and now also includes "non-Italians", means a lot to him and he regrets that fewer and fewer people are interested in it. "I wish more Italians would join in." In general, he has noticed that many people have become less proactive recently. Integration is a very important topic for him and that is exactly what CLI is all about. It is important to work together with the other CLI associations in Switzerland and to get involved - also politically - in common causes.

"There used to be 119 CLI associations in Switzerland, but now there are around 50," regrets Enzo Marinelli. "L'unione fa la forza", he is convinced.

You can only achieve something if you join forces. He hopes that younger board members will also be found at the upcoming general meeting. "A new Board brings new ideas."

"I feel at home in Switzerland"

When asked where his home is now, he says: "I have my colleagues here and I'm integrated. I feel at home in Switzerland." Of course, he still really enjoys spending two weeks each summer in Calabria, where his roots are and where two of his three daughters live.

The CLI Rheinfelden clubhouse (Kirchgasse/Im Rumpel) is open at weekends (Fridays and Saturdays from around 5 p.m. to midnight / Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) as well as on special Rheinfelden events (carnival, federal celebrations, Christmas sparkling ...).

Janine Tschopp is a freelance journalist. She writes regularly for the Neue Fricktaler Zeitung, the cultural magazine "2x Rheinfelden" and the Rheinfelden Christmas magazine, among others.