Italian Region LINK
The regions of Italy (Italian: regioni d'Italia) are the first-level administrative divisions of the Italian Republic, constituting its second NUTS administrative level.[1] There are twenty regions, five of which have higher autonomy than the rest. Under the Constitution of Italy, each region is an autonomous entity with defined powers. With the exception of the Aosta Valley (since 1945) and Friuli Venezia Giulia (since 2018), each region is divided into a number of provinces.
italian region
During the Kingdom of Italy, regions were mere statistical districts of the central state. Under the Republic, they were granted a measure of political autonomy by the 1948 Italian Constitution. The original draft list comprised the Salento region (which was eventually included in Apulia); Friuli and Venezia Giulia were separate regions, and Basilicata was named Lucania. Abruzzo and Molise were identified as separate regions in the first draft, but were later merged into Abruzzi e Molise in the final constitution of 1948, before being separated in 1963.
Implementation of regional autonomy was postponed until the first Regional elections of 1970. The ruling Christian Democracy party did not want the opposition Italian Communist Party to gain power in the regions where it was historically rooted (the red belt of Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria and the Marches).
Regions acquired a significant level of autonomy following a constitutional reform in 2001 (brought about by a centre-left government and confirmed by popular referendum), which granted them residual policy competence. A further federalist reform was proposed by the regionalist party Lega Nord and in 2005, the centre-right government led by Silvio Berlusconi proposed a new reform that would have greatly increased the power of regions.[2]
The proposals, which had been particularly associated with Lega Nord, and seen by some as leading the way to a federal state, were rejected in the 2006 Italian constitutional referendum by 61.7% to 38.3%.[2] The results varied considerably among the regions, ranging from 55.3% in favour in Veneto to 82% against in Calabria.[2]
Every region has a statute that serves as a regional constitution, determining the form of government and the fundamental principles of the organization and the functioning of the region, as prescribed by the Constitution of Italy (Article 123). Although all the regions except Tuscany define themselves in various ways as an "autonomous Region" in the first article of their Statutes,[7] fifteen regions have ordinary statutes and five have special statutes, granting them extended autonomy.
These regions, whose statutes are approved by their regional councils, were created in 1970, even though the Italian Constitution dates back to 1948. Since the constitutional reform of 2001 they have had residual legislative powers: the regions have exclusive legislative power with respect to any matters not expressly reserved to state law (Article 117).[8] Yet their financial autonomy is quite modest: they keep just 20% of all levied taxes, mostly used to finance the region-based healthcare system.[9]
Article 116 of the Italian Constitution grants home rule to five regions, namely the Aosta Valley, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sardinia, Sicily, and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, allowing them some legislative, administrative and financial power to a varying extent, depending on their specific statute. These regions became autonomous in order to take into account cultural differences and protect linguistic minorities. Moreover, the government wanted to prevent them from potentially seceding or being taken away from Italy after the defeat in World War II.[10]
Each region has an elected parliament, called Consiglio Regionale (regional council), or Assemblea Regionale (regional assembly) in Sicily, and a government called Giunta Regionale (regional committee), headed by a governor called Presidente della Giunta Regionale (president of the regional committee) or Presidente della Regione (regional president). The latter is directly elected by the citizens of each region, with the exceptions of Aosta Valley and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol regions where the president is chosen by the regional council.
In the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region, the regional council is made up of the joint session of the two provincial councils of Trentino and of South Tyrol. The regional president is one of the two provincial commissioners.
Article 57 of the Constitution of Italy originally established that the Senate of the Republic was to be elected on a regional basis by Italian citizens aged 25 or older (unlike the Chamber of the Deputies, which was elected on a national basis and by all Italian citizens aged 18 or older). No region could have less than 7 senators, except for the two smallest regions: Aosta Valley (1 senator) and Molise (2 senators). From 2006 to 2020, 6 out of 315 senators (and 12 out of 630 deputies) were elected by Italians residing abroad.
After two constitutional amendments were passed respectively in 2020 (by constitutional referendum) and 2021, however, there have been changes. The Senate is still elected on a regional basis, but the number of senators was reduced from 315 to 200, who are now elected by all citizens aged 18 or older, just like deputies (themselves being reduced from 630 to 400). Italians residing abroad now elect 4 senators (and 8 deputies).
The remaining 196 senators are assigned to each region proportionally according to their population. The amended Article 57 of the Constitution provides that no region can have fewer than 3 senators representing it, barring Aosta Valley and Molise, which retained 1 and 2 senators respectively.
The regions of Italy are an important part of Italian identity and you often hear them mentioned when discussing where someone is from and they also often come up in talks about travel and itineraries, which is why I believe this article can be of use to you when planning your Italy trip!
Need to know: current health and safety regulations limit the opportunities to move in between region and, at times, even between provinces and municipalities. If planning any travel in Italy in 2021, please take this into account, check official sources at the time of travel and abide by regulations at all times.
The region has 5 provinces: Roma, Rieti, Frosinone, Latina and Viterbo and while it has many beautiful attractions, sees tourism focussing mostly in the city of Rome, other areas being frequented mostly by locals.
Liguria is the thin, long region in the north west of Italy where the Alps meet the sea. Liguria is stunning and unique: here, the mountains plunge into the Mediterranean and this creates wonderful unique landscapes that rea tthe visitors to both hiking and swimming opportunities.
Veneto is in the north east of Italy and it is one of the most famous regions in the country. Blessed with beautiful mountains, sandy beaches and some of the most beautiful cities in Italy, this is a stunning, well served region with plenty to offer to its visitors.
Trentino Alto Adige is a mountainous region in the north east of Italy, peculiar in appearance and culture thanks to the presence of the high peaks of the Alps and a strong Austrian influence (the area is bilingual).
Lombardia is the region of Milan. Large, beautiful and industrialized, Lombardia has many beautiful historical towns and beautiful nature in the area of Como and Lake Maggiore, two of its most famous and visited localities.
Friuli Venezia Giulia is the region in the north east of Italy, between Veneto and Slovenia. Despite having some wonderful cities and natural area, it is largely ignored by international tourism which means a visit here feels even more special as you feel you have stumbled upon a hidden gem!
Marche or le Marche are one of those regions tourism seems to have forgotten however, it has plenty to offer to its visitors. Beautiful towns and a stunning coastline are what attracts people here the most and the slower affluence of tourism also makes it a great budget option.
Italians have loved Puglia as a destination for centuries however, it seems the region only recently attracted international attention but it is catching up fast! Home to stunning beaches, amazing food and lovely towns, Puglia is perfect if you want a vacation that mixed sightseeing and the opportunity to enjoy the coast.
Calabria is the pointy part of the Italian boot, the long southern Italian region stretching towards Sicily. Calabria is a beautiful, varied region with a beautiful coastline and it is a popular destination especially for sea and sun vacations.
Sicily is one of the island regions of Italy and it is located immediately to the south east of mainland Italy. Sicily is a very popular tourist destination and it has a lot to offer to all types of travelers: a road trip in Sicily will allow you to enjoy historical towns, beautiful archaeological sites, stunning beaches and taste some of the best food in Italy.
Planning a trip to Italy can be overwhelming at best; how can travelers possibly choose where to go in a country filled with stunning natural wonders, historic sites, museums teeming with famous art, and culture and food unique to each region? But popular destinations also come with crowds of people all lining up to see the same sights; overtourism is a real problem, sometimes even a destructive force.
In nearby Udine, with its perfectly restored old town center, travelers can view Roman relics, visit a cathedral dating back to the 13th century, or book a winery tour; the region is known for its white wines. Its castle-turned-museum houses works by Caravaggio and Tiepolo.
Italy is made up of 20 regions, each with its own history, flavors, customs, and local dialects. Some regions, like Tuscany and Sicily, are well-known as travel destinations, while others like Lazio, Lombardy, and Piemonte, are overshadowed by their capitals Rome, Milan, and Turin. 041b061a72