Province of Trento

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Provincia autonoma di Trento
Nation Italy
Region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
Capital Trento
Area 6,207 km²
Population (2006) 507,030
Density 82
Comuni 223
Vehicle Registration TN
Postal Code 38100
Telephone Prefix 0461, 0462, 0463, 0464, 0465
ISTAT 022
President Lorenzo Dellai
Map highlighting the location of the province of Trento in Italy

The Province of Trento (Italian: Provincia autonoma di Trento), also called Trentino, is an autonomous province of Italy.[1] In the local languages, typically the word Trentin is used.

The Province of Trento is one of the two provinces which make up Italy's region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, which itself is an autonomous region. The province is divided into 223 comuni (municipalities).[2]. Its capital is the city of Trento. The province has an area of 6,207 km² and a total population of 507,030 (2006). The region is renowned for its mountains, such as the Dolomites, which compose a significant section of the Alps.

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[edit] Geography and administration

The Province of Trento is an almost entirely mountainous province with a main valley crossing it in its center. This valley is called Valle dell'Adige (Adige Valley), named after the Adige river flowing within it. The principal towns of Trentino lay on the Adige Valley as it is the largest one and has been a historical passage connecting Italy with Northern Europe. Among other important valleys are Val di Non, known for its apple production, Val di Sole, Val Giudicarie, which has been historically contended by Trento and Brescia, Val di Fiemme and many others.

The Marmolada (Ladin Marmoleda) glacier.
The Marmolada (Ladin Marmoleda) glacier.

The province has an area of 6,214 km², and a total population of 477,017 (2001). There are 223 comuni (singular: comune), in the province[1].

Administratively, the province enjoys a large autonomy in the following sectors: health, school, welfare, infrastructures. The provincial council is formed by 35 members, one of which belonging by statute to the Ladin minority. The president of the provincial council alternates with the President of the province of Bolzano-Bozen as president of the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region.

Due the high fractionization of the territory, comprising 223 comuni, often of small or even tiny size, in the late 1970s a subdivision called comprensori ("communities") was introduced. The council of each comprensorio is elected by the comuni forming it. However, this subdivision has raised criticism, and a reform is underway, aiming to the creation of 16 more omogenous "Valley Communities".

Cathedral Square in Trento.
Cathedral Square in Trento.

The current comprensori are the following (population data as of December 31, 2004):

Comprensorio Capital Area Population Location
C1 Val di Fiemme Cavalese 415 km² 18.990 Eastern Trentino, Avisio Valley
C2 Primiero Fiera di Primiero 413 km² 9,959 Eastern Trentino, Cismon and Vanoi Valleys
C3 Bassa Valsugana e Tesino Borgo Valsugana 578 km² 26,167 Eastern Trentino, Brenta Valley and Tesino
C4 Alta Valsugana Pergine Valsugana 394 km² 48,342 Eastern Trentino, Brenta and Fersina valleys
C5 Valle dell'Adige Trento 656 km² 166,394 Central Trentino
C6 Val di Non Cles 596 km² 37,832 Western Trentino, Noce Valley
C7 Val di Sole Malè 609 km² 15,235 Western Trentino, Noce Valley
C8 Valli Giudicarie Tione 1,176 km² 36,282 Western Trentino, Sarca and Chiese Valleys
C9 Alto Garda e Ledro Riva del Garda 353 km² 44,288 Southern Trentino
C10 Vallagarina Rovereto 694 km² 84,781 Southern Trentino meridionale, Adige Valley
C11 Ladino di Fassa Vigo di Fassa 318 km² 9,276 Eastern Trentino, Avisio valley

As of May 31, 2005, the main comuni by population are:

Comune Population
Trento 112,142
Rovereto 35,858
Pergine Valsugana 19,200
Arco 16,023
Riva del Garda 15,246
Mori 8,918
Lavis 8,307
Ala 8,429
Levico Terme 6,973
Cles 6,834
Borgo Valsugana 6,627
Mezzolombardo 6,498

[edit] Economy

Despite the prevalent mountainous nature of the territory, the agricultural sector is relevant. The farms are often united in a wide net of cooperatives. The main productions include: apples (50% of national production, together with South Tyrol) and other fruit, vegetables (mainly in the Val di Gresta) and grape: important especially for its quality, the latter is used for the production of renowned wines and sparkling wines.

Roadmap of Trentino.
Roadmap of Trentino.
A view of the Garda Lake from Riva del Garda.
A view of the Garda Lake from Riva del Garda.

The main industries, often small- and medium-sized, are concentrated in Valsugana, Vallagarina and the Adige Valleys. Sectors include textiles, mechanics, wood and paper productions. Also important is the production of hydro-electric energy.

Tourism is the mainstay of the provincial economy. The main resorts include: Madonna di Campiglio, San Martino di Castrozza, Fiera di Primiero, Canazei, Moena, Cavalese, Folgaria, Folgarida-Marilleva, Riva del Garda and Levico Terme, Comano Terme and Roncegno, these last three being renowned thermal stations.

[edit] Transportation

The Trentino is crossed by the main transportation connections between Italy and Germany. These include the Brennero A22 highway and roadline, passing through the Adige Valley. A regional project of switching much of the road traffic to railways is current under study, including the construction of a tunnel under the Brenner Pass.

The province has two more railways: the Valsugana Railroad, connecting Trento to Venice and the Trento-Malè-Marilleva.

[edit] Linguistic minorities

The province of Trento is home to three linguistic minorities, protected by the regional and provincial statutes. The most numerous is the Ladin minority in the Fassa Valley (comuni of Campitello di Fassa, Canazei, Mazzin, Moena, Pozza di Fassa, Soraga, Vigo di Fassa).

The German Mócheno language is spoken in the comuni of Frassilongo, Fierozzo and Palù del Fersina, while the Cimbrian language is spoken in Luserna.

[edit] History

Main article: History of Trentino

The History of Trentino begins in the mid-Stone Age the valleys of what is now Trentino were already inhabited by man, the main settlements being in the valley of the Adige River, thanks for its milder climate.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Autonomy Statute. Official website of the Province. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
  2. ^ Province Statistics. Italian institute of statistics (Istat). Retrieved on 2007-07-06.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links