Province of Trento

Infobox_ProvinceIT
fullname = Provincia autonoma di Trento
name = Trento
region = Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
capital = Trento
commune = 223
area = 6,207
population_as_of = (2006)
population = 507,030
populationdensity = 82
vehicle = TN
postal_code = 38100
telephone_prefix = 0461, 0462, 0463, 0464, 0465
ISTAT = 022
president = Lorenzo Dellai

The Province of Trento ( _it. Provincia autonoma di Trento), also called Trentino, is an autonomous province of Italy. [cite web
title = Autonomy Statute
work = Official website of the Province
url = http://www.giunta.provincia.tn.it/binary/pat_giunta/statuti/nuovo_statuto_speciale.1123837117.doc
accessdate = 2007-07-06 |format=DOC] 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). [cite web
title = Province Statistics
work = Italian institute of statistics (Istat)
url = http://www.upinet.it/indicatore.asp?id_statistiche=6
accessdate = 2007-07-06 ] . 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.

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 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 [http://www.upinet.it/indicatore.asp?id_statistiche=6] .

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".

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 for its milder climate.

References

ee also

*List of presidents of the province of Trento
*History of Italy

External links

* [http://www.provincia.tn.it Province of Trento]
* [http://www.trentino.to/home/index.html?_lang=en Tourism Board]
* [http://www.historicaleye.com/trentino.html The Trentino Campaign of 1916]