Province of Trento

Province of Trento

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Province of Trento

The Province of 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.

Geography and administration
Economy
Transportation
Linguistic minorities
History
References
See also
External links

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 province has an area of 6,214 km², and a total population of 507,030 (2006). There are 223 comuni (singular: comune), in the provincehttp://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".

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

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.

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.

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.