Province of Trento
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| Nation |  Italy |
| Region | Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol |
| Capital(s) | Trento |
| Area | 6,212 km2 |
| Population (2009) | 521,779 |
| Density | 82.5 inhab./km2 |
| Comuni | 223 |
| Vehicle Registration | TN |
| Postal Code | 38100 |
| Telephone Prefix | 0461, 0462, 0463, 0464, 0465 |
| ISTAT | 022 |
| President | Lorenzo Dellai (UpT) |
| Executive | PD–UpT–UDC |
| Last elections | 2008 |
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| Map highlighting the location of the province of Trento in Italy | |
The Province of Trento (Italian: Provincia autonoma di Trento),1 often referred simply as Trentino, is an autonomous province of Italy).2 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).3 Its capital is the town 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 are part of the Alps.
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Etymology
The name Trentino derives from the capital city of the province, Trento. Originally, the term was used by the local population only to refer to the city itself and its immediate surroundings, while the common name for the whole region under Austrian rule was Welschtirol.4 In this wider sense, Trentino was first coined around 1848 in an article by a cleric member of the Frankfurt National Assembly, and henceforward became popular among leftist intellectual circles.4
Geography
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 province has an area of 6,214 km², and a total population of 507,030 (2006). There are 223 comuni (singular: comune), in the province[1].
Politics
Administratively, the province enjoys a large degree of autonomy in the following sectors: health, education, welfare and transport infrastructure. The provincial council comprises 35 members, one of whom must by law be drawn from 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. In the last elections in 2008, the strongest party became the Democratic Party (Partito Democratico del Trentino) with 8 deputies, Union for Trentino (7), Lega Nord Trentino (6), The People of Freedom (5), Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party (3), Divina Civic List (2), Greens and Democrats of Trentino (1), Ladin Autonomist Union (1), Italy of Values (1) and Administer Trentino (1).
Administration
Due the division of the territory into the 223 comuni, often of small or even tiny size, in the late 1970s larger units called comprensori ("communities") were introduced. The council of each comprensorio is elected by the comuni forming it. However, this tier of government has provoked criticism, and a reform is underway, aiming at the creation of 16 more homogenous "Valley Communities".
The current comprensori have the following (population data as of December 31, 2004):
| Comprensorio | Capital | Area | Population | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 Val di Fiemme | Cavalese | 415 km² | 19.131 | Eastern Trentino, Avisio Valley |
| C2 Primiero | Fiera di Primiero | 413 km² | 10,032 | Eastern Trentino, Cismon and Vanoi Valleys |
| C3 Bassa Valsugana e Tesino | Borgo Valsugana | 578 km² | 26,822 | Eastern Trentino, Brenta Valley and Tesino |
| C4 Alta Valsugana | Pergine Valsugana | 394 km² | 52,243 | Eastern Trentino, Brenta and Fersina valleys |
| C5 Valle dell'Adige | Trento | 656 km² | 167,880 | Central Trentino |
| C6 Val di Non | Cles | 596 km² | 38,185 | Western Trentino, Noce Valley |
| C7 Val di Sole | Malè | 609 km² | 15,327 | Western Trentino, Noce Valley |
| C8 Valli Giudicarie | Tione | 1,176 km² | 36,377 | Western Trentino, Sarca and Chiese Valleys |
| C9 Alto Garda e Ledro | Riva del Garda | 353 km² | 44,836 | Southern Trentino |
| C10 Vallagarina | Rovereto | 694 km² | 85,700 | Southern Trentino meridionale, Adige Valley |
| C11 Ladino di Fassa | Vigo di Fassa | 318 km² | 9,335 | Eastern Trentino, Avisio valley |
As of 2009, the only comuni with a population over 20,000 were Trento , Rovereto and Pergine Valsugana.
Economy
Despite the overwhelmingly mountainous nature of the territory, agriculture remains important. Farms often join together to form larger cooperatives. The most important produce comprises: 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.
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.
Transport links
The Region of Trentino is crossed by the main road and rail connections between Italy and Germany. These include the Brenner A22 motorway and road which passes through the Etsch/Adige Valley. A regional project of switching much of the road traffic to railways is currently under consideration, including the construction of a tunnel under the Brenner Pass.
The province has two more railways: the Valsugana Line, connecting Trento to Venice and the Trento-Malè-Marilleva.
Linguistic minorities
Along with the majority Italian language, the province of Trento is also home to three other linguistic minorities, protected by the regional and provincial statutes. There are indigenous German-speakers found in parts of the Trento. In addition, the Ladin minority is found in the Fassa Valley (comuni of Campitello di Fassa, Canazei, Mazzin, Moena, Pozza di Fassa, Soraga, Vigo di Fassa). In particular, the German Mócheno language is still spoken in the comuni of Frassilongo, Fierozzo and Palù del Fersina, while the Cimbrian language is spoken in Luserna.2
History
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 to its milder climate.
Research in agriculture
The Province of Trento, since January 2008, has established the Edmund Mach Foundation to promote research, training and services in the agricultural, agri-food and environmental fields.
References
- ^ Official Journals of the Provincia autonoma di Trento/Autonome Provinz Trient: No. 1 (2002), No. 17 (2003), No. 23 (2003), No. 39 (2003), No. 45 (2006) No. 20 (2007) and No. 25 (2007)
- ^ a b "Special Statute for Trentino-Alto Adige" (DOC). Province of Trento. http://www.giunta.provincia.tn.it/binary/pat_giunta/statuti/stat_ing.1123837756.pdf. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
- ^ "Province Statistics". Italian institute of statistics (Istat). http://www.upinet.it/indicatore.asp?id_statistiche=6. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
- ^ a b Ettore Tolomei - Der Totengräber Süd-Tirols
See also
External links
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