# Ala di Stura > Italian comune **Wikidata**: [Q8976](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8976) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ala_di_Stura) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ala-di-stura ## Summary Ala di Stura is an Italian comune (municipality) located in the Metropolitan City of Turin in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. Situated at coordinates 45.31515°N, 7.305909°E, this small mountain settlement is part of the historical Province of Turin, which existed from 1859 to 2015, and is now administered under the Metropolitan City of Turin established in 2015. The comune encompasses the human settlement of Martassina and serves as a local administrative unit within the Italian municipal division system. ## Key Facts - **Official Name:** Ala di Stura - **Administrative Status:** Italian comune (municipal division) - **Location:** Piedmont region, northern Italy - **Coordinates:** Latitude 45.31515°N, Longitude 7.305909°E - **Current Administrative Unit:** Metropolitan City of Turin (established 2015) - **Former Administrative Unit:** Province of Turin (1859-2015) - **Country:** Italy - **Population:** 465, 456, 441, 465 (various census counts) - **Sitelink Count:** 59 - **Wikipedia Title:** Ala di Stura - **Wikidata Description:** Italian comune - **Website:** https://www.comune.aladistura.to.it/ - **Contains Settlement:** Martassina (human settlement within Ala di Stura) - **Parent Classification:** Comune of Italy (municipal divisions of Italy) - **Part of:** Italy (sovereign state), European Union, NATO, United Nations ## FAQs **What region is Ala di Stura located in?** Ala di Stura is located in the Piedmont region (Piemonte) in northern Italy, specifically in the Metropolitan City of Turin. Piedmont is one of Italy's 20 regions and is situated at the northwestern corner of the country, bordering France and Switzerland. **What is the administrative history of Ala di Stura's location?** Ala di Stura was historically part of the Province of Turin, which existed from 1859 to 2015. In 2015, the Province of Turin was replaced by the Metropolitan City of Turin, a metropolitan city in the Piedmont region, as part of Italian administrative reforms. **What is the population of Ala di Stura?** According to the available census data, Ala di Stura has a population of approximately 465 residents, with recorded figures of 465, 456, 441, and 465 across various counts. **What settlements are part of Ala di Stura?** Ala di Stura includes the human settlement of Martassina, which is located within the comune's boundaries in the mountain area of Piedmont. **What type of administrative unit is Ala di Stura?** Ala di Stura is a comune, which is the basic administrative unit in Italy similar to a municipality or town. Comuni are the fundamental territorial divisions of Italy and are part of the larger administrative structure that includes provinces, metropolitan cities, and regions. ## Why It Matters Ala di Stura represents the traditional Italian mountain comuni system that has governed local populations in the Alpine regions of Piedmont for centuries. As part of the historical Province of Turin—an area that served as the first capital of unified Italy from 1861 to 1865—Ala di Stura contributes to understanding the administrative evolution of northern Italian municipalities. The comune's location in the Piedmontese Alps makes it representative of the small mountain communities that characterize this border region between Italy and France. The transition from Province to Metropolitan City in 2015 reflects broader Italian governmental reforms aimed at modernizing local administration, and Ala di Stura's continued existence as a comune demonstrates the resilience of Italy's traditional municipal structure in managing small, geographically isolated communities. ## Notable For - Mountain location in the Piedmontese Alps - Part of the historical Province of Turin, which served as Italy's first capital - Inclusion of the Martassina settlement - Part of the Metropolitan City of Turin since 2015 - Representative of Italian Alpine comuni - Website accessibility for municipal services ## Body ### Geography and Location Ala di Stura is situated in the mountainous terrain of the Piedmont region in northern Italy. The comune is positioned at coordinates 45.31515°N latitude and 7.305909°E longitude, placing it in the Alpine foothills near the French border. This geographical positioning places Ala di Stura within the traditional mountain communities that characterize the northwestern Italian landscape. The area is part of the broader Alpine region that defines Piedmont's eastern and northern boundaries, creating a landscape of valleys, peaks, and traditional mountain settlements. ### Administrative Structure Ala di Stura functions as a comune, which is the fundamental unit of local administration in Italy. The Italian comune system dates back to the unification of Italy and serves as the equivalent of a municipality or township. Each comune has its own local government, typically consisting of a mayor (sindaco) and a city council (consiglio comunale). Ala di Stura operates under this system and provides local services to its residents, maintaining administrative autonomy within the larger framework of the Metropolitan City of Turin. The comune is part of the larger Italian administrative hierarchy that includes 20 regions, of which Piedmont is one. Below the regional level, Italy is divided into metropolitan cities (città metropolitane) and provinces, with comuni serving as the most local level of government. This structure allows for both regional coordination and local autonomy in managing community affairs. ### Historical Administrative Context Historically, Ala di Stura was part of the Province of Turin (Provincia di Torino), which existed from 1859 to 2015. The Province of Turin was one of the original provinces established during the reorganization of Italian territories following the unification of Italy in 1861. The province encompassed the capital city of Turin and surrounding areas, including numerous mountain comuni like Ala di Stura. In 2015, as part of Italian administrative reforms aimed at modernizing local government, the Province of Turin was replaced by the Metropolitan City of Turin (Città Metropolitana di Torino). This change transformed the administrative structure from a traditional province to a metropolitan city, reflecting broader European trends toward metropolitan governance. The Metropolitan City of Turin now encompasses the same general territory but with updated administrative powers and structures appropriate for contemporary governance needs. ### Population and Demographics Ala di Stura has a population of approximately 465 residents, with census figures showing counts of 465, 456, 441, and 465 across various recording periods. This population size is consistent with small mountain comuni in the Piedmontese Alps, where settlements are often modest due to the challenging terrain and climate. The population density reflects the rural, mountainous character of the area, where agriculture, tourism, and traditional mountain activities form the economic backbone. ### Settlements Within the Comune The comune of Ala di Stura encompasses the settlement of Martassina, a human settlement located within the municipal boundaries. Martassina represents the populated core of the comune, serving as the primary residential area for residents. The inclusion of Martassina within Ala di Stura demonstrates how Italian comuni often encompass multiple settlements, villages, or frazioni (fractions) under a single administrative umbrella. ### Regional Context: Piedmont and Turin Ala di Stura is located in Piedmont (Piemonte), one of Italy's 20 regions and historically one of the most significant. Piedmont was the driving force behind Italian unification, and Turin served as the first capital of the unified Kingdom of Italy from 1861 to 1865 before the capital moved to Florence and eventually to Rome. Today, Piedmont remains an economically and culturally important region, known for its automotive industry (Fiat), wine production, and Alpine tourism. The Metropolitan City of Turin, of which Ala di Stura is now part, is a metropolitan city in the Piedmont region. Established in 2015, it governs the urban area surrounding Turin and includes both urban and rural comuni. The metropolitan city structure allows for coordinated planning and development across the region, balancing the needs of the major urban center with those of smaller communities like Ala di Stura. ### National Context: Italy Ala di Stura exists within the broader context of Italy, a sovereign parliamentary republic located in Southern Europe. Italy is a founding member of the European Union and NATO, and maintains significant cultural, economic, and political influence globally. The country operates as a unitary state with its capital in Rome, and uses the Euro as its currency since 2002. Italian serves as the official language, though regional languages and dialects are also spoken throughout the country. Italy's administrative structure divides the nation into regions, provinces/metropolitan cities, and comuni, creating a hierarchical system of local governance. This structure allows for both national coordination and local autonomy, enabling comuni like Ala di Stura to maintain distinct identities while participating in larger regional and national frameworks. ### Local Governance and Services As a functioning comune, Ala di Stura maintains its own municipal website at https://www.comune.aladistura.to.it/, providing residents with access to local government services, information, and administrative resources. The .to domain extension indicates the comune's association with the province of Turin, following the Italian convention of using provincial abbreviations in internet domain names for public institutions. The comune is responsible for local services including urban planning, local taxes, civil status records (births, deaths, marriages), local police, and maintenance of public spaces and infrastructure. These responsibilities are managed by locally elected officials who serve the community according to Italian municipal law. ### Cultural and Historical Significance While Ala di Stura may be a small comune, it represents the broader pattern of mountain settlement that has characterized the Italian Alps for centuries. The comuni system in Italy dates back to the unification period and represents a deliberate choice to maintain local identity and governance rather than consolidating all authority at regional or national levels. This approach allows communities like Ala di Stura to preserve their unique characteristics while participating in the larger Italian state. The area's location in Piedmont, near the French border, has historically made it a region of cultural exchange and occasionally conflict between Italian and French influences. Today, the region maintains strong economic and cultural ties with France, Switzerland, and the broader Alpine region. ### Connection to the Comune of Italy Classification Ala di Stura belongs to the broader classification of comuni of Italy, which are the municipal divisions of the country. There are approximately 7,904 comuni in Italy, making it one of the countries with the highest number of municipalities in Europe. This system reflects Italy's commitment to decentralized governance and local autonomy. Each comune, regardless of size, operates under the same basic legal framework and has similar powers and responsibilities, creating a uniform system of local administration across the entire country. ## References 1. Virtual International Authority File 2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 3. Italian National Institute of Statistics 4. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html) 5. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it) 6. GeoNames 7. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224) 8. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia 9. Seismic classification in Italy 10. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)