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Provinces of Italy#Overview

{{Short description|Second-level administrative divisions of the Italian Republic}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

{{Infobox subdivision type

| name = Provinces of Italy
{{native name|it|Province d'Italia}}

| map =

| category = Regionalised unitary state

| territory = Italian Republic

| start_date =

| current_number = 107

| number_date =

| population_range = 81,415 (province of Isernia) – 4,231,451 (Metropolitan City of Rome Capital)

| area_range = {{Convert|212.50|sqkm|abbr=on}} (province of Trieste) –
{{Convert|7,691.75|sqkm|abbr=on}} (province of Sassari)

| government = Provincial Government (President of Province),
Regional Government, National Government

| subdivision = {{lang|it|Comuni}}

}}

File:Italian regions provinces.svg

The provinces ({{langx|it|province}} {{IPA|it|proˈvintʃe|}}; sing. {{lang|it|provincia}} {{IPA|it|proˈvintʃa||LL-Q652 (ita)-LangPao-provincia.wav}}) are the second-level administrative divisions of the Italian Republic, on an intermediate level between a municipality ({{lang|it|comune}}) and a region ({{lang|it|regione}}). Since 2015, provinces have been classified as "institutional bodies of second level".{{cite web |url=http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/notizie/2014-04-03/addio-vecchie-provice-e-legge-ddl-delrio-144336.shtml?uuid=ABRoQ37 |title=Addio alle vecchie province, è legge il Ddl Delrio |publisher=Il Sole 24 Ore|date=3 April 2014|access-date=15 August 2014}}

There are currently 107 institutional bodies of second level in Italy, including 80 ordinary provinces, 2 autonomous provinces, 4 regional decentralization entities, 6 free municipal consortia, and 15 metropolitan cities, as well as the Aosta Valley region (which also exercises the powers of a province).

Italian provinces (with the exception of the current Sardinian provinces) correspond to the NUTS 3 regions.{{cite web|url=https://agriregionieuropa.univpm.it/it/views/glossario_pac/nomenclatura%20delle%20unit%C3%A0%20%20territoriali%20statistiche%20%28Nuts%29|title=Glossario PAC|access-date=28 April 2022|language=it}}

Overview

A province of the Italian Republic is composed of many municipalities ({{lang|it|comune}}). Usually several provinces together form a region; the region of Aosta Valley is the sole exception—it is not subdivided into provinces, and provincial functions are exercised by the region.

The three main functions devolved to provinces are:

  • Local planning and zoning
  • Provision of local police and fire services
  • Transportation regulation (car registration, maintenance of local roads, etc.)

The number of provinces in Italy has been steadily growing in recent years, as many new ones are carved out of older ones. Usually, the province's name is the same as that of its capital city.

According to the 2014 reform, each province is headed by a President (or Commissioner) assisted by a legislative body, the Provincial Council, and an executive body, the Provincial Executive. President (Commissioner) and members of Council are elected together by mayors and city councilors of each municipality of the province. The Executive is chaired by the President (Commissioner) who appoint others members, called {{lang|it|assessori}}. Since 2015, the President (Commissioner) and other members of the council will not receive a salary.{{cite web |url=http://elezioni.interno.it/l56_2014.html |title=Le elezioni |website=Dipartimento per gli affari interni e territoriali |access-date=15 August 2014 |archive-date=22 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022032613/http://elezioni.interno.it/l56_2014.html |url-status=dead }}

In each province, there is also a Prefect ({{lang|it|prefetto}}), a representative of the central government who heads an agency called {{lang|it|prefettura-ufficio territoriale del governo}}. The Questor ({{lang|it|questore}}) is the head of State Police ({{lang|it|Polizia di Stato}}) in the province and his office is called {{lang|it|questura}}. There is also a provincial police force depending from local government, called provincial police ({{lang|it|polizia provinciale}}).

The Aosta Valley region is not divided into provinces due to its size, but straight to the {{lang|it|comune}} level.

South Tyrol and Trentino are autonomous provinces, unlike all other provinces they have the same legislative powers as regions and are not subordinated to Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, the region they are part of.

Type

Based on the most recent legislation, contained in the law of 7 April 2014 n. 56,{{cite web|url=https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:legge:2014-04-07;56!vig|title=Legge 7 aprile 2014, n. 56|access-date=26 November 2022|language=it}} the council and the presidents of the provinces of the regions with ordinary statute are elected by restricted suffrage by the mayors and councilors of the province's municipalities, while in the metropolitan cities, the equivalent of the president of the province is the (elective) mayor of the capital, called "metropolitan mayor".

There are other types of entities similar to the provinces in the regions with special statutes: the free municipal consortia in Sicily and the Sardinian provinces are governed by extraordinary commissioners appointed by the respective regional administrations, the autonomous provinces of Trentino-Alto Adige each elect its own president, and finally, in Aosta Valley, the functions of the province are carried out by the regional administration (whose president is elected by the regional council).

{{Clear}}

List of provinces

=List=

Note: the data is updated as of 1 January 2021.

class="wikitable sortable mw-datatable"
Type

! Province

! Capital

! Code

! Region

! Macroregion

! {{longitem|Population (2021){{cite web|url=https://www.tuttitalia.it/province/superficie/|title=Province/Città Metropolitane per superficie|access-date=29 April 2022|language=it}}}}

! {{longitem|Area
}}

! {{longitem|Pop. density
(p/km²)}}

! {{lang|it|Comuni}}

! Established

align=center | {{Abbr|F|Free municipal consortium}}

| Agrigento

| align=center| Agrigento

| align=center|AG

| align=center|Sicily

| align=center|Insular

| align=right|416,181

| align=right|{{convert|3,052.82|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|136

| align=right|43

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Alessandria

| align=center| Alessandria

| align=center|AL

| align=center|Piedmont

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|409,392

| align=right|{{convert|3,558.78|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|115

| align=right|187

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Ancona

| align=center| Ancona

| align=center|AN

| align=center|Marche

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|464,419

| align=right|{{convert|1,963.21|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|237

| align=right|47

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|D|Disestablished province}}

| Aosta

| align=center| Aosta

| align=center|AO

| align=center|Aosta Valley

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|124,089

| align=right|{{convert|3,260.85|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|38

| align=right|74

| align=center|1927

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Arezzo

| align=center| Arezzo

| align=center|AR

| align=center|Tuscany

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|336,501

| align=right|{{convert|3,232.99|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|104

| align=right|36

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Ascoli Piceno

| align=center| Ascoli Piceno

| align=center|AP

| align=center|Marche

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|203,425

| align=right|{{convert|1,228.19|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|166

| align=right|33

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Asti

| align=center| Asti

| align=center|AT

| align=center|Piedmont

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|209,390

| align=right|{{convert|1,510.17|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|139

| align=right|118

| align=center|1935

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Avellino

| align=center| Avellino

| align=center|AV

| align=center|Campania

| align=center|South

| align=right|402,929

| align=right|{{convert|2,805.96|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|144

| align=right|118

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|M|Metropolitan city}}

| Bari

| align=center| Bari

| align=center|BA

| align=center|Apulia

| align=center|South

| align=right|1,230,158

| align=right|{{convert|3,862.73|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|318

| align=right|41

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Barletta-Andria-Trani

| align=center| Barletta, Andria, Trani

| align=center|BT

| align=center|Apulia

| align=center|South

| align=right|381,091

| align=right|{{convert|1,542.93|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|247

| align=right|10

| align=center|2004

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Belluno

| align=center| Belluno

| align=center|BL

| align=center|Veneto

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|199,704

| align=right|{{convert|3,609.98|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|55

| align=right|61

| align=center|1866

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Benevento

| align=center| Benevento

| align=center|BN

| align=center|Campania

| align=center|South

| align=right|266,716

| align=right|{{convert|2,080.37|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|128

| align=right|78

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Bergamo

| align=center| Bergamo

| align=center|BG

| align=center|Lombardy

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|1,103,556

| align=right|{{convert|2,754.86|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|401

| align=right|243

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Biella

| align=center| Biella

| align=center|BI

| align=center|Piedmont

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|170,724

| align=right|{{convert|913.27|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|187

| align=right|74

| align=center|1992

align=center | {{Abbr|M|Metropolitan city}}

| Bologna

| align=center| Bologna

| align=center|BO

| align=center|Emilia-Romagna

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|1,015,608

| align=right|{{convert|3,702.25|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|274

| align=right|55

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Brescia

| align=center| Brescia

| align=center|BS

| align=center|Lombardy

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|1,255,709

| align=right|{{convert|4,785.48|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|262

| align=right|205

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Brindisi

| align=center| Brindisi

| align=center|BR

| align=center|Apulia

| align=center|South

| align=right|381,946

| align=right|{{convert|1,861.33|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|205

| align=right|20

| align=center|1927

align=center | {{Abbr|M|Metropolitan city}}

| Cagliari

| align=center| Cagliari

| align=center|CA

| align=center|Sardinia

| align=center|Insular

| align=right|421,488

| align=right|{{convert|1,248.66|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|338

| align=right|17

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|F|Free municipal consortium}}

| Caltanissetta

| align=center| Caltanissetta

| align=center|CL

| align=center|Sicily

| align=center|Insular

| align=right|253,688

| align=right|{{convert|2,138.47|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|119

| align=right|22

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Campobasso

| align=center| Campobasso

| align=center|CB

| align=center|Molise

| align=center|South

| align=right|212,879

| align=right|{{convert|2,925.28|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|73

| align=right|84

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Caserta

| align=center| Caserta

| align=center|CE

| align=center|Campania

| align=center|South

| align=right|901,903

| align=right|{{convert|2,651.28|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|340

| align=right|104

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|M|Metropolitan city}}

| Catania

| align=center| Catania

| align=center|CT

| align=center|Sicily

| align=center|Insular

| align=right|1,074,089

| align=right|{{convert|3,573.51|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|301

| align=right|58

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Catanzaro

| align=center| Catanzaro

| align=center|CZ

| align=center|Calabria

| align=center|South

| align=right|344,439

| align=right|{{convert|2,415.41|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|143

| align=right|80

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Chieti

| align=center| Chieti

| align=center|CH

| align=center|Abruzzo

| align=center|South

| align=right|375,215

| align=right|{{convert|2,599.53|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|144

| align=right|104

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Como

| align=center| Como

| align=center|CO

| align=center|Lombardy

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|596,456

| align=right|{{convert|1,279.02|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|466

| align=right|148

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Cosenza

| align=center| Cosenza

| align=center|CS

| align=center|Calabria

| align=center|South

| align=right|676,119

| align=right|{{convert|6,709.62|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|101

| align=right|150

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Cremona

| align=center| Cremona

| align=center|CR

| align=center|Lombardy

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|352,242

| align=right|{{convert|1,770.41|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|199

| align=right|113

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Crotone

| align=center| Crotone

| align=center|KR

| align=center|Calabria

| align=center|South

| align=right|164,059

| align=right|{{convert|1,735.65|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|95

| align=right|27

| align=center|1992

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Cuneo

| align=center| Cuneo

| align=center|CN

| align=center|Piedmont

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|581,798

| align=right|{{convert|6,894.83|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|84

| align=right|247

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|F|Free municipal consortium}}

| Enna

| align=center| Enna

| align=center|EN

| align=center|Sicily

| align=center|Insular

| align=right|157,690

| align=right|{{convert|2,574.67|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|61

| align=right|20

| align=center|1927

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Fermo

| align=center| Fermo

| align=center|FM

| align=center|Marche

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|169,710

| align=right|{{convert|862.75|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|197

| align=right|40

| align=center|2004

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Ferrara

| align=center| Ferrara

| align=center|FE

| align=center|Emilia-Romagna

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|342,061

| align=right|{{convert|2,627.38|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|130

| align=right|21

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|M|Metropolitan city}}

| Florence

| align=center| Florence

| align=center|FI

| align=center|Tuscany

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|998,431

| align=right|{{convert|3,513.65|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|284

| align=right|41

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Foggia

| align=center| Foggia

| align=center|FG

| align=center|Apulia

| align=center|South

| align=right|602,394

| align=right|{{convert|7,007.33|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|86

| align=right|61

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Forlì-Cesena

| align=center| Forlì

| align=center|FC

| align=center|Emilia-Romagna

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|392,642

| align=right|{{convert|2,378.32|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|165

| align=right|30

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Frosinone

| align=center| Frosinone

| align=center|FR

| align=center|Lazio

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|472,559

| align=right|{{convert|3,246.96|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|146

| align=right|91

| align=center|1927

align=center | {{Abbr|M|Metropolitan city}}

| Genoa

| align=center| Genoa

| align=center|GE

| align=center|Liguria

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|823,612

| align=right|{{convert|1,833.75|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|449

| align=right|67

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|R|Regional decentralization entity}}

| Gorizia

| align=center| Gorizia

| align=center|GO

| align=center|Friuli-Venezia Giulia

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|139,070

| align=right|{{convert|475.40|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|293

| align=right|25

| align=center|1923

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Grosseto

| align=center| Grosseto

| align=center|GR

| align=center|Tuscany

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|217,846

| align=right|{{convert|4,503.17|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|48

| align=right|28

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Imperia

| align=center| Imperia

| align=center|IM

| align=center|Liguria

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|209,244

| align=right|{{convert|1,154.76|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|181

| align=right|66

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Isernia

| align=center| Isernia

| align=center|IS

| align=center|Molise

| align=center|South

| align=right|81,415

| align=right|{{convert|1,535.16|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|53

| align=right|52

| align=center|1970

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| L'Aquila

| align=center| L'Aquila

| align=center|AQ

| align=center|Abruzzo

| align=center|South

| align=right|290,811

| align=right|{{convert|5,047.34|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|58

| align=right|108

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| La Spezia

| align=center| La Spezia

| align=center|SP

| align=center|Liguria

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|215,887

| align=right|{{convert|881.38|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|245

| align=right|32

| align=center|1924

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Latina

| align=center| Latina

| align=center|LT

| align=center|Lazio

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|566,224

| align=right|{{convert|2,256.14|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|251

| align=right|33

| align=center|1934

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Lecce

| align=center| Lecce

| align=center|LE

| align=center|Apulia

| align=center|South

| align=right|776,230

| align=right|{{convert|2,798.88|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|277

| align=right|96

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Lecco

| align=center| Lecco

| align=center|LC

| align=center|Lombardy

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|333,569

| align=right|{{convert|805.60|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|414

| align=right|84

| align=center|1992

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Livorno

| align=center| Livorno

| align=center|LI

| align=center|Tuscany

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|328,996

| align=right|{{convert|1,213.52|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|271

| align=right|19

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Lodi

| align=center| Lodi

| align=center|LO

| align=center|Lombardy

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|227,343

| align=right|{{convert|782.97|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|290

| align=right|60

| align=center|1992

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Lucca

| align=center| Lucca

| align=center|LU

| align=center|Tuscany

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|383,957

| align=right|{{convert|1,774.04|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|216

| align=right|33

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Macerata

| align=center| Macerata

| align=center|MC

| align=center|Marche

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|307,410

| align=right|{{convert|2,779.31|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|111

| align=right|55

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Mantua

| align=center| Mantua

| align=center|MN

| align=center|Lombardy

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|406,061

| align=right|{{convert|2,341.35|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|173

| align=right|64

| align=center|1866

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Massa-Carrara

| align=center| Massa

| align=center|MS

| align=center|Tuscany

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|189,836

| align=right|{{convert|1,154.60|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|164

| align=right|17

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Matera

| align=center| Matera

| align=center|MT

| align=center|Basilicata

| align=center|South

| align=right|192,640

| align=right|{{convert|3,478.84|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|55

| align=right|31

| align=center|1927

align=center | {{Abbr|M|Metropolitan city}}

| Messina

| align=center| Messina

| align=center|ME

| align=center|Sicily

| align=center|Insular

| align=right|603,980

| align=right|{{convert|3,266.07|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|185

| align=right|108

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|M|Metropolitan city}}

| Milan

| align=center| Milan

| align=center|MI

| align=center|Lombardy

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|3,241,813

| align=right|{{convert|1,575.49|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|2,058

| align=right|133

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Modena

| align=center| Modena

| align=center|MO

| align=center|Emilia-Romagna

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|703,696

| align=right|{{convert|2,687.88|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|262

| align=right|47

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Monza and Brianza

| align=center| Monza

| align=center|MB

| align=center|Lombardy

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|870,113

| align=right|{{convert|405.41|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|2,146

| align=right|55

| align=center|2004

align=center | {{Abbr|M|Metropolitan city}}

| Naples

| align=center| Naples

| align=center|NA

| align=center|Campania

| align=center|South

| align=right|2,986,745

| align=right|{{convert|1,178.94|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|2,533

| align=right|92

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Novara

| align=center| Novara

| align=center|NO

| align=center|Piedmont

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|362,925

| align=right|{{convert|1,340.25|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|271

| align=right|87

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Nuoro

| align=center| Nuoro

| align=center|NU

| align=center|Sardinia

| align=center|Insular

| align=right|201,517

| align=right|{{convert|5,637.97|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|36

| align=right|74

| align=center|1927

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Oristano

| align=center| Oristano

| align=center|OR

| align=center|Sardinia

| align=center|Insular

| align=right|152,418

| align=right|{{convert|2,990.41|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|51

| align=right|87

| align=center|1974

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Padua

| align=center| Padua

| align=center|PD

| align=center|Veneto

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|932,629

| align=right|{{convert|2,144.12|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|435

| align=right|102

| align=center|1866

align=center | {{Abbr|M|Metropolitan city}}

| Palermo

| align=center| Palermo

| align=center|PA

| align=center|Sicily

| align=center|Insular

| align=right|1,208,819

| align=right|{{convert|5,009.21|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|241

| align=right|82

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Parma

| align=center| Parma

| align=center|PR

| align=center|Emilia-Romagna

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|449,628

| align=right|{{convert|3,447.40|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|130

| align=right|44

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Pavia

| align=center| Pavia

| align=center|PV

| align=center|Lombardy

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|535,801

| align=right|{{convert|2,968.59|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|180

| align=right|186

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Perugia

| align=center| Perugia

| align=center|PG

| align=center|Umbria

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|645,506

| align=right|{{convert|6,336.99|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|102

| align=right|59

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Pesaro and Urbino

| align=center| Pesaro

| align=center|PU

| align=center|Marche

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|353,272

| align=right|{{convert|2,567.71|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|138

| align=right|50

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Pescara

| align=center| Pescara

| align=center|PE

| align=center|Abruzzo

| align=center|South

| align=right|313,882

| align=right|{{convert|1,230.29|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|255

| align=right|46

| align=center|1927

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Piacenza

| align=center| Piacenza

| align=center|PC

| align=center|Emilia-Romagna

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|283,742

| align=right|{{convert|2,585.76|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|110

| align=right|46

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Pisa

| align=center| Pisa

| align=center|PI

| align=center|Tuscany

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|417,983

| align=right|{{convert|2,444.82|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|171

| align=right|37

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Pistoia

| align=center| Pistoia

| align=center|PT

| align=center|Tuscany

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|290,245

| align=right|{{convert|964.16|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|301

| align=right|20

| align=center|1927

align=center | {{Abbr|R|Regional decentralization entity}}

| Pordenone

| align=center| Pordenone

| align=center|PN

| align=center|Friuli-Venezia Giulia

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|310,634

| align=right|{{convert|2,275.35|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|137

| align=right|50

| align=center|1968

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Potenza

| align=center| Potenza

| align=center|PZ

| align=center|Basilicata

| align=center|South

| align=right|352,490

| align=right|{{convert|6,594.28|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|53

| align=right|100

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Prato

| align=center| Prato

| align=center|PO

| align=center|Tuscany

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|265,269

| align=right|{{convert|365.66|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|725

| align=right|7

| align=center|1992

align=center | {{Abbr|F|Free municipal consortium}}

| Ragusa

| align=center| Ragusa

| align=center|RG

| align=center|Sicily

| align=center|Insular

| align=right|314,910

| align=right|{{convert|1,623.91|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|194

| align=right|12

| align=center|1927

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Ravenna

| align=center| Ravenna

| align=center|RA

| align=center|Emilia-Romagna

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|386,643

| align=right|{{convert|1,859.39|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|208

| align=right|18

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|M|Metropolitan city}}

| Reggio Calabria

| align=center| Reggio Calabria

| align=center|RC

| align=center|Calabria

| align=center|South

| align=right|523,791

| align=right|{{convert|3,210.31|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|163

| align=right|97

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Reggio Emilia

| align=center| Reggio Emilia

| align=center|RE

| align=center|Emilia-Romagna

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|527,140

| align=right|{{convert|2,291.15|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|230

| align=right|42

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Rieti

| align=center| Rieti

| align=center|RI

| align=center|Lazio

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|151,335

| align=right|{{convert|2,750.24|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|55

| align=right|73

| align=center|1927

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Rimini

| align=center| Rimini

| align=center|RN

| align=center|Emilia-Romagna

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|337,777

| align=right|{{convert|865.01|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|390

| align=right|27

| align=center|1992

align=center | {{Abbr|M|Metropolitan city}}

| Rome

| align=center| Rome

| align=center|RM

| align=center|Lazio

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|4,231,451

| align=right|{{convert|5,363.22|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|789

| align=right|121

| align=center|1870

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Rovigo

| align=center| Rovigo

| align=center|RO

| align=center|Veneto

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|230,763

| align=right|{{convert|1,819.86|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|127

| align=right|50

| align=center|1866

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Salerno

| align=center| Salerno

| align=center|SA

| align=center|Campania

| align=center|South

| align=right|1,065,967

| align=right|{{convert|4,954.05|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|215

| align=right|158

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Sassari

| align=center| Sassari

| align=center|SS

| align=center|Sardinia

| align=center|Insular

| align=right|476,357

| align=right|{{convert|7,691.75|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|62

| align=right|92

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Savona

| align=center| Savona

| align=center|SV

| align=center|Liguria

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|269,752

| align=right|{{convert|1,546.27|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|174

| align=right|69

| align=center|1927

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Siena

| align=center| Siena

| align=center|SI

| align=center|Tuscany

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|263,801

| align=right|{{convert|3,820.81|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|69

| align=right|35

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Sondrio

| align=center| Sondrio

| align=center|SO

| align=center|Lombardy

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|178,798

| align=right|{{convert|3,195.68|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|56

| align=right|77

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| South Sardinia

| align=center| Carbonia

| align=center|SU

| align=center|Sardinia

| align=center|Insular

| align=right|338,264

| align=right|{{convert|6,530.67|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|52

| align=right|107

| align=center|2016

align=center | {{Abbr|A|Autonomous province}}

| South Tyrol

| align=center| Bolzano

| align=center|BZ

| align=center|Trentino-South Tyrol

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|534,912

| align=right|{{convert|7,397.86|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|72

| align=right|116

| align=center|1927

align=center | {{Abbr|F|Free municipal consortium}}

| Syracuse

| align=center| Syracuse

| align=center|SR

| align=center|Sicily

| align=center|Insular

| align=right|386,071

| align=right|{{convert|2,124.19|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|182

| align=right|21

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Taranto

| align=center| Taranto

| align=center|TA

| align=center|Apulia

| align=center|South

| align=right|561,958

| align=right|{{convert|2,467.33|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|228

| align=right|29

| align=center|1924

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Teramo

| align=center| Teramo

| align=center|TE

| align=center|Abruzzo

| align=center|South

| align=right|301,104

| align=right|{{convert|1,954.34|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|154

| align=right|47

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Terni

| align=center| Terni

| align=center|TR

| align=center|Umbria

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|219,946

| align=right|{{convert|2,127.23|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|103

| align=right|33

| align=center|1927

align=center | {{Abbr|F|Free municipal consortium}}

| Trapani

| align=center| Trapani

| align=center|TP

| align=center|Sicily

| align=center|Insular

| align=right|418,277

| align=right|{{convert|2,469.70|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|169

| align=right|25

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|A|Autonomous province}}

| Trento

| align=center| Trento

| align=center|TN

| align=center|Trentino-South Tyrol

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|542,166

| align=right|{{convert|6,206.87|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|87

| align=right|166

| align=center|1923

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Treviso

| align=center| Treviso

| align=center|TV

| align=center|Veneto

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|880,417

| align=right|{{convert|2,479.80|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|355

| align=right|94

| align=center|1866

align=center | {{Abbr|R|Regional decentralization entity}}

| Trieste

| align=center| Trieste

| align=center|TS

| align=center|Friuli-Venezia Giulia

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|230,689

| align=right|{{convert|212.50|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|1,086

| align=right|6

| align=center|1923

align=center | {{Abbr|M|Metropolitan city}}

| Turin

| align=center| Turin

| align=center|TO

| align=center|Piedmont

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|2,219,206

| align=right|{{convert|6,826.91|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|325

| align=right|312

| align=center|1861

align=center | {{Abbr|R|Regional decentralization entity}}

| Udine

| align=center| Udine

| align=center|UD

| align=center|Friuli-Venezia Giulia

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|521,117

| align=right|{{convert|4,969.23|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|105

| align=right|134

| align=center|1866

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Varese

| align=center| Varese

| align=center|VA

| align=center|Lombardy

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|880,093

| align=right|{{convert|1,198.24|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|734

| align=right|138

| align=center|1927

align=center | {{Abbr|M|Metropolitan city}}

| Venice

| align=center| Venice

| align=center|VE

| align=center|Veneto

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|843,545

| align=right|{{convert|2,472.88|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|341

| align=right|44

| align=center|1866

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Verbano-Cusio-Ossola

| align=center| Verbania

| align=center|VB

| align=center|Piedmont

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|154,926

| align=right|{{convert|2,260.89|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|69

| align=right|74

| align=center|1992

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Vercelli

| align=center| Vercelli

| align=center|VC

| align=center|Piedmont

| align=center|North-West

| align=right|166,584

| align=right|{{convert|2,081.60|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|80

| align=right|82

| align=center|1927

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Verona

| align=center| Verona

| align=center|VR

| align=center|Veneto

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|927,810

| align=right|{{convert|3,096.28|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|300

| align=right|98

| align=center|1866

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Vibo Valentia

| align=center| Vibo Valentia

| align=center|VV

| align=center|Calabria

| align=center|South

| align=right|152,193

| align=right|{{convert|1,150.62|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|146

| align=right|50

| align=center|1992

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Vicenza

| align=center| Vicenza

| align=center|VI

| align=center|Veneto

| align=center|North-East

| align=right|854,962

| align=right|{{convert|2,722.45|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|314

| align=right|114

| align=center|1866

align=center | {{Abbr|O|Ordinary province}}

| Viterbo

| align=center| Viterbo

| align=center|VT

| align=center|Lazio

| align=center|Centre

| align=right|308,830

| align=right|{{convert|3,615.16|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

| align=right|85

| align=right|60

| align=center|1927

class="sortbottom"

! Total

! Italy

! —

! —

! —

! —

! align=right|59,236,213{{cite web|url=https://www.tuttitalia.it/italia/|title=Italia|access-date=1 May 2022|language=it}}

! align=right|{{convert|302,068.26|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|disp=br()}}

! align=right|196

! align=center|7,904

! —

=Data=

{{multiple image

| align = right

| direction = vertical

| total_width = 300

| image_style = border:none;

| image1 = Italian provinces by population (2011).png

| caption1 = Italian provinces by population

| image2 = Italian provinces by population density, 2011.png

| caption2 = Italian provinces by population density

}}

  • Sardinia — following the outcome of the regional referendums of 2012 it was decreed that such institutions should be reformed or abolished by March 2013 (thus remaining in office until 28 February 2013).{{cite web |url=http://www.unionesarda.it/Articoli/Articolo/274564 |title=Province, inizia il conto alla rovescia Gli enti scompariranno a febbraio 2013 - Cronache dalla Sardegna - L'Unione Sarda |publisher=Unionesarda.it |date=17 August 2001 |access-date=4 February 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205083747/http://www.unionesarda.it/Articoli/Articolo/274564 |archive-date=5 December 2012 |url-status=dead }} In January 2014 the Sardinian Regional Administrative Court declared "unconstitutional" the abolition of the Sardinian provinces, which occurred in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.giurdanella.it/2014/01/10/riordino-province-incostituzionale-secondo-il-tar-sardegna/ |title=Riordino province, incostituzionale secondo il TAR Sardegna |publisher=Giurdanella.it |date=10 January 2014 |access-date=15 August 2014}} In 2016, Sardinian provinces were reformed by Sardinia regional executive: Cagliari became a metropolitan city; the provinces Olbia-Tempio, Ogliastra, Medio Campidano, and Carbonia-Iglesias were abolished.{{cite web|url=http://www.regione.sardegna.it/j/v/25?s=306981&v=2&c=348&t=1|title=Enti locali: approvato nuovo assetto territoriale e nominati amministratori straordinari |publisher=Autonomous Region of Sardinia|date=20 April 2016}} In 2017, Regional council of Sardinia approved the institution of a new province, South Sardinia. It was formed by the municipalities of province of Cagliari that did not join to metropolitan city of Cagliari, and those which formed the provinces of Medio Campidano and Carbonia Iglesias.{{cite web|url=http://www.lanuovasardegna.it/regione/2016/06/01/news/carbonia-diventa-capoluogo-della-provincia-del-sud-sardegna-1.13581422|title=Carbonia diventa capoluogo della provincia del Sud Sardegna|publisher=La Nuova Sardegna|date=1 June 2016}}
  • Sicily — provinces were replaced by six free municipal consortia in 2013 and three metropolitan cities in 2015.[http://www.gurs.regione.sicilia.it/Gazzette/g14-13o/g14-13o.pdf Legge 24 marzo 2014, n. 8.] Gazzetta Ufficiale della Regione Siciliana (in Italian). Published 28 March 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  • Friuli-Venezia Giulia — in 2016, the regional council of Friuli-Venezia Giulia approved a law which abolished the four provinces that formed the region, and replaced them by 18 territorial unions of municipalities.{{cite web|url=http://www.consiglio.regione.fvg.it/cms/hp/informazioni/0072.html|title=Soppressione delle province del Friuli-Venezia Giulia|publisher=Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia|date=14 December 2016|access-date=23 January 2018|archive-date=12 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112062623/http://www.consiglio.regione.fvg.it/cms/hp/informazioni/0072.html|url-status=dead}} In 2019, the regional council of Friuli-Venezia Giulia rebranded the four provinces as the four regional decentralization entities, with their own competences, powers, and capital.[http://lexview-int.regione.fvg.it/FontiNormative/xml/xmlLex.aspx?anno=2019&legge=21&ID=art30&lista=0&fx=leg Legge regionale 29 novembre 2019, n. 21.] Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Leggi e regolamenti (in Italian). Published 29 November 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  • Metropolitan cities — in 2015, 14 metropolitan cities replaced the provinces of Bari, Bologna, Cagliari, Catania, Florence, Genoa, Messina, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Reggio Calabria, Rome, Turin, and Venice.

=Maps=

File:Map of region of Abruzzo, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Abruzzo

File:Map of region of Aosta Valley, Italy-it.svg|Aosta Valley

File:Map of region of Apulia, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Apulia

File:Map of region of Basilicata, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Basilicata

File:Map of region of Calabria, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Calabria

File:Map of region of Campania, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Campania

File:Map of region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Emilia-Romagna

File:Map of region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Friuli-Venezia Giulia

File:Map of region of Lazio, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Lazio

File:Map of region of Liguria, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Liguria

File:Map of region of Lombardy, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Lombardy

File:Map of region of Marche, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Marche

File:Map of region of Molise, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Molise

File:Map of region of Piedmont, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Piedmont

File:Map of region of Sardinia, Italy, with provinces-it (2016-2025).svg|Sardinia

File:Map of region of Sicily, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Sicily

File:Map of region of Tuscany, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Tuscany

File:Map of region of Trentino-South Tyrol, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol

File:Map of region of Umbria, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Umbria

File:Map of region of Veneto, Italy, with provinces-it.svg|Veneto

History

=National unification=

File:Council room of the Province of Chieti.jpg built in the first half of the 20th century in Neoclassical style]]

In 1861, at the birth of the Kingdom of Italy, there were 59 provinces. However, at that time the national territory was smaller than the current one: regions of Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, and Lazio were not included in the kingdom.

In 1866, following the Third Independence War, territories of Veneto, Friuli and Mantua were annexed. There were therefore nine more provinces: Belluno, Mantua, Padua, Rovigo, Treviso, Venice, Verona, Vicenza, and Udine, all previously part of the Austrian Empire. Eventually, in 1870, following the union of Rome and its province from the Papal States, the provinces rose in number to 69.

After the World War I, new territories were annexed to Italy. The province of Trento was created in 1923. Provinces of La Spezia and Trieste in 1923, while Ionio in 1924.

In 1924 the new provinces of Fiume, Pola, and Zara were created, increasing the total number of provinces in Italy to 76.

=Interwar period=

File:Kingdom of Italy 1942 with provinces.svg

In 1927, after a royal charter,Regio Decreto Legislativo n. 1/1927, 3 January 1927, "Riordinamento delle circoscrizioni provinciali". a general province rearrangement took place. 17 new provinces were created: Aosta, Vercelli, Varese, Savona, Bolzano, Gorizia, Pistoia, Pescara, Rieti, Terni, Viterbo, Frosinone, Brindisi, Matera, Ragusa, Castrogiovanni, Nuoro. In the same year, the province of Caserta was dissolved, Girgenti was renamed Agrigento, and the institution of {{lang|it|circondari}}, sub-provincial wards created before the unification, was abolished.

In 1930 Spezia became La Spezia, while in 1931 Bari delle Puglie became Bari. Province of Littoria (Latina) was created in 1934, and the province of Asti in 1935. In 1939 the province of Aquila degli Abruzzi became the province of L'Aquila, and in 1940 the province of Friuli was renamed the province of Udine.

Following the annexation of a part of Yugoslavia in 1941, during the World War II, the province of Zara was enlarged and joined the Governorate of Dalmatia (comprising the province of Zara, and the new provinces of Spalato, and Cattaro), while in the occupied central part of the present-day Slovenia the new province of Ljubljana was created. This lasted only until 1945, when Yugoslavia regained the lost territories after the end of the World War II.

=After World War II=

In 1945, after the end of the World War II, the province of Aosta changed its name to Aosta Valley and Littoria to Latina; the new province of Caserta was recreated.

With the Paris Peace Treaties, signed on 10 February 1947, Italy lost the provinces of Fiume, Pola, and Zara, and part of the provinces of Trieste and Gorizia.

Moreover, the province of Trieste was occupied by United States and British forces. The Italian Republic therefore had 91 provinces at its birth. The province of Ionio was renamed as Taranto in 1951, and in 1954 the province of Trieste was returned to Italy.

=Recent history=

The province of Pordenone was created in 1968, the province of Isernia in 1970, and the province of Oristano in 1974. In a reorganization in 1992 eight provinces were created: Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Biella, Lecco, Lodi, Rimini, Prato, Crotone, and Vibo Valentia, while Forlì was renamed as Forlì-Cesena.

Four new provinces were created in Sardinia in 2001, with effect from 2005: Olbia-Tempio, Ogliastra, Medio Campidano, and Carbonia-Iglesias. In 2004 three further provinces were created: Monza and Brianza, Fermo, and Barletta-Andria-Trani, making a total of 110 provinces.

class="wikitable collapsible floatright" style="min-width:200px;text-align:center"

|+ Number of provinces

width=50% | Year

! width=50% | Provinces

1861

| 59

1866

| 68

1870

| 69

1923

| 75

1924

| 76

1927

| 92

1934

| 93

1935

| 94

1941

| 95

1944

| 94

1945

| 93

1947

| 91

1954

| 92

1968

| 93

1970

| 94

1974

| 95

1992

| 103

2001

| 107

2004

| 110

2016

| 107

In May 2012, a referendum abolished the eight provinces of Sardinia, and this suppression was to take effect on 1 March 2013. On 6 July 2012, new plans were published to reduce the number of provinces by around half.{{cite web|author=Redazione Online |url=http://www.corriere.it/economia/12_luglio_06/spending-review-province-difesa-scuole-online_9244d148-c782-11e1-96dc-1183a294894f.shtml |title=Spending review, province ridotte del 50% Patroni Griffi:«L'accorpamento è una svolta |publisher=Corriere.it |access-date=4 February 2013}} In January 2014 the Sardinian Regional Administrative Court declared "unconstitutional" the abolition of the Sardinian provinces.{{cite web|url=https://www.cortecostituzionale.it/documenti/download/doc/recent_judgments/39-2014_en.pdf|title=JUDGMENT NO. 39 YEAR 2014|access-date=10 October 2024|language=it}}

In 2014 the Delrio Law{{cite journal|url=https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2014/4/7/14G00069/sg|title=Legge 7 aprile 2014, n. 56|date=April 7, 2014|language=it|access-date=April 20, 2021|journal=Gazzetta Ufficiale}} transformed the provinces of Italy in a reduced number of broader administrative entities.Called "enti territoriali di area vasta". See {{cite web|url=https://www.provinceditalia.it/lattuazione-della-legge-56-in-ambito-regionale/|title=L'attuazione della legge 56 in ambito regionale|date=5 February 2016|trans-title=The implementation of Law n. 56 in the Italian regions|language=it|access-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210126051351/https://www.provinceditalia.it/lattuazione-della-legge-56-in-ambito-regionale/|archive-date=January 26, 2021|url-status=live}}

In 2014 the Friuli-Venezia Giulia of Debora Serracchiani was the first Italian region to pass a law for abolishing its provinces, while implementing the national reform in the local administrative level. The Friuli region has multiplied four provinces in 18 unions of the Italian administrative unit called {{lang|it|comune}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2019/05/05/province-dalla-riforma-rattazzi-a-quella-di-renzi-storia-dellente-simbolo-della-casta-che-nessuno-riesce-ad-abolire/5149071/8/|title=Dal Friuli alla Sicilia: il caos nelle regioni |date=May 5, 2019|access-date=April 20, 2021|language=it|website=Il Fatto Quotidiano}} After rejection of the 2016 Italian constitutional referendum, the provinces of Italy were still kept alive under provisions of the Delrio Constitutional Law to be merged in a smaller number of union of provinces.{{cite web|url=https://www.camera.it/temiap/documentazione/temi/pdf/1104880.pdf|page=2|language=it|title=Città metropolitane e province

|date=April 19, 2021|website=Italian Chamber of Deputies|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819104236/https://www.camera.it/temiap/documentazione/temi/pdf/1104880.pdf|archive-date=19 August 2019|url-status=live}}

Former provinces

=Historical abolished provinces=

  • Province of Aosta (Italian: {{lang|it|provincia di Aosta}}) (1927–1945). Became the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley in 1948.
  • Province of Terra di Lavoro (Italian: {{lang|it|provincia di Terra di Lavoro}}) (1861–1927). It was divided into the current provinces of Frosinone, Latina, and Caserta.

=Provinces of Istria, Kvarner, and Dalmatia=

=Provinces established during World War II=

{{Further|Invasion of Yugoslavia}}

=Colonial provinces=

{{Further|Italian Empire}}

File:Provinces of Italy trend.png

  • Province of Rhodes (Italian: {{lang|it|provincia di Rodi}}) (1923–1947) or Italian Aegean Islands (Italian: {{lang|it|Isole italiane dell'Egeo}}). It remained nominally a part of the Italian Social Republic after the Italian capitulation.
  • Italian Libya was divided into four provinces and one territory (Southern Military Territory or Territory of Saharan Libya). From 1939 onward the provinces were a part of metropolitan Italy.
  • Province of Tripoli (Italian: {{lang|it|provincia di Tripoli}}) (1937–1943).
  • Province of Misurata (Italian: {{lang|it|provincia di Misurata}}) (1937–1943).
  • Province of Benghazi (Italian: {{lang|it|provincia di Bengasi}}) (1937–1943).
  • Province of Derna (Italian: {{lang|it|provincia di Derna}}) (1937–1943).

=Theoretical provinces=

{{Further|Italian occupation of France during World War II|Invasion of Yugoslavia|Greco-Italian War|German invasion of Greece}}

  • Province of the Western Alps (Italian: {{lang|it|provincia delle Alpi Occidentali}}). Planned World War II province to be created of the Italian-annexed French territories of the Alpes Maritimes (including the Principality of Monaco) and parts of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, and Savoie.{{cite book|title=Fascism's European empire: Italian occupation during the Second World War|author=Davide Rodogno|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=0-521-84515-7|year=2006|pages=89–92}} The town of Briançon (Italian: {{lang|it|Brianzone}}) was to act as the provincial capital.
  • Province of Corsica (Italian: {{lang|it|provincia della Corsica}}). Planned to be created after World War II Axis powers victory, with Petru Giovacchini as possible "governor".
  • Province of Ragusa in Dalmatia (Italian: {{lang|it|provincia di Ragusa di Dalmazia}}). Planned World War II province to be created of the Italian-annexed Dalmatian territories that were areas of the ancient Republic of Ragusa.
  • Provinces in islands of Greece: {{lang|it|provincia delle Ionie}}; {{lang|it|provincia delle Cicladi}}; {{lang|it|provincia di Samo}}. Planned World War II provinces to be created of the Italian-annexed islands of Greece (Ionian Islands, Cyclades, and Samos).

Controversies

File:ITALIAN PROVINCES.png in 2012]]

Provinces are often deemed useless by their critics, and many proposals were made in the 2010s to eliminate them.{{cite news|title=Lombardo contro le Province "È giunto il momento di abolirle"|url=http://palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/2011/07/26/news/lombardo_contro_le_province_giunto_il_momento_di_abolirle-19645694/index.html?ref=search|access-date=21 November 2011|newspaper=la Repubblica|date=26 July 2011}}{{cite news|title=Pareggio di bilancio in Costituzione dal 2014 Addio Province (escluse Trento e Bolzano)|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2011/09/08/news/abolizione_province-21374995/index.html?ref=search|access-date=21 November 2011|newspaper=la Repubblica|date=8 September 2011}}{{cite news|title=Più di un milione di persone a libro paga della Politica Spa|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2011/07/18/news/pi_di_un_milione_di_persone_a_libro_paga_della_politica_spa-19258883/index.html?ref=search|access-date=21 November 2011|newspaper=la Repubblica|date=18 July 2011}} The difficulty of changing the Constitution of Italy and the opposition of groups of politicians and citizens halted any proposal of reform.{{cite news|title=Il presidente della Provincia di Varese "Via le Regioni come Molise e Umbria"|url=http://milano.repubblica.it/cronaca/2011/07/16/news/il_presidente_della_provincia_di_varese_via_le_regioni_come_molise_e_umbria-19212648/index.html?ref=search|access-date=21 November 2011|newspaper=la Repubblica|date=16 July 2011}}{{cite web|last=Fabrizzi|first=Federica|title=LA PROVINCIA: STORIA ISTITUZIONALE DELL'ENTE LOCALE PIÙ DISCUSSO.|url=http://federalismi.it/ApplOpenFilePDF.cfm?artid=9658&dpath=document&dfile=02042008153138.pdf&content=La+Provincia:+storia+istituzionale+dell%E2%80%99ente+locale+pi%C3%B9+discusso.+-+autonomie+locali+-+dottrina+-+|publisher=federalismi.it|access-date=21 November 2011}}

In 2013, during his speech to the Chamber of Deputies, Enrico Letta, the newly appointed Prime Minister of Italy, announced that a revision of the second part of the constitution was needed, in order to change the bicameral parliamentary system and to abolish the provinces. The proposal, presented during the Renzi government, was rejected in the 2016 Italian constitutional referendum held on 4 December.

See also

{{Commons category-inline}}

{{Portal|Italy|Politics}}

Notes

{{Reflist|group=Note}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Italy topics}}

{{Articles on second-level administrative divisions of European countries}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Provinces Of Italy}}

Category:Subdivisions of Italy

Provinces

Italy 2

Provinces, Italy

Category:NUTS 2 statistical regions of the European Union