# Altomonte

> Italian comune

**Wikidata**: [Q53826](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53826)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altomonte)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/altomonte

## Summary

Altomonte is an Italian comune (municipality) located in the Province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy. The town sits at coordinates 39.7°N latitude and 16.1333°E longitude and has a population of approximately 4,443 residents. Altomonte is recognized as part of "The most beautiful villages in Italy," an association of small towns of historical interest founded in 2001.

## Key Facts

- **Location:** Province of Cosenza, Calabria region, Italy
- **Coordinates:** 39.7° N, 16.133333333333° E
- **Country:** Italy
- **Classification:** Comune (municipal division) of Italy
- **Population:** 4,443 (most recent); 4,382; 4,019 (historical counts)
- **Website:** http://www.comune.altomonte.cs.it
- **Wikipedia Title:** Altomonte
- **Wikidata Description:** Italian comune
- **Sitelink Count:** 50
- **Membership:** Part of "The most beautiful villages in Italy" association (founded 2001)
- **Regional Context:** Located in Calabria, the "toe" region of the Italian peninsula

## FAQs

**What type of administrative area is Altomonte?**

Altomonte is a comune, which is the smallest administrative division in Italy, similar to a municipality or town. It operates under the broader administrative structure of the Province of Cosenza within the Calabria region.

**Which region and province is Altomonte located in?**

Altomonte is situated in the Calabria region of southern Italy, specifically within the Province of Cosenza. Calabria is the southernmost mainland region of Italy, known for its distinctive boot-toe shape geography.

**What is Altomonte known for being part of?**

Altomonte is recognized as a member of "The most beautiful villages in Italy" (I Borghi più belli d'Italia), an association founded in 2001 that promotes small Italian towns of historical and architectural interest. The association's headquarters are located in Italy.

**What are the population statistics for Altomonte?**

Altomonte has a population of approximately 4,443 residents according to the most recent count, with historical figures showing 4,382 and 4,019 in earlier census periods.

**How can I find more information about Altomonte?**

The official website for Altomonte is http://www.comune.altomonte.cs.it, where local government information and community details can be accessed.

## Why It Matters

Altomonte represents the rich tapestry of small historical towns that define southern Italy's cultural landscape. As a member of "The most beautiful villages in Italy" association, it represents communities that have preserved their historical architecture, traditional character, and cultural heritage against the pressures of modernization and urbanization. These towns serve as living museums of Italian history, showcasing medieval urban planning, ancient churches, and local traditions that date back centuries. The existence of such municipalities is significant because they maintain Italy's unparalleled concentration of UNESCO World Heritage sites and contribute to the country's position as the world leader in cultural heritage preservation. For researchers, tourists, and those interested in Italian history, Altomonte and similar comuni provide tangible connections to Italy's complex past, from Norman and Byzantine influences to Renaissance artistic achievements. Additionally, these smaller municipalities play crucial roles in regional economics, often serving as centers for local agriculture, craftsmanship, and tourism that sustain rural communities in regions like Calabria, which faces significant economic challenges compared to northern Italy.

## Notable For

- Membership in "The most beautiful villages in Italy" association, recognizing its historical and architectural significance
- Preservation of traditional Italian municipal governance as a comune
- Geographic positioning in Calabria, the southernmost mainland region of Italy
- Official municipal website providing local government services and information
- Part of the Province of Cosenza, one of the provinces in the Calabria region
- Representation in over 50 language versions of Wikipedia (sitelink count: 50)

## Body

### Geography and Location

Altomonte is strategically positioned in the southern Italian peninsula within the Calabria region, known colloquially as the "toe" of Italy's boot-shaped geography. The municipality sits at coordinates 39.7° North latitude and 16.1333° East longitude, placing it in the interior of Calabria away from the coastal areas that characterize much of the region. The Province of Cosenza, within which Altomonte is located, is one of the provinces comprising the Calabria region, which itself is one of Italy's 20 administrative regions. Calabria stretches between the Ionian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea, creating a narrow peninsula that has influenced the region's history, culture, and economic development. The town's location within this province places it in proximity to both the mountainous interior and the coastal zones, though Altomonte itself appears to be situated in an inland area based on its coordinate positioning.

### Administrative Structure

As an Italian comune, Altomonte functions as the fundamental unit of local government in Italy, analogous to a municipality or township in other countries. The comune system dates back to the unification of Italy in the 19th century and serves as the lowest level of administrative division in the Italian Republic. Each comune has its own government, headed by a mayor (sindaco) and a council (consiglio comunale), responsible for local services, urban planning, civil registration, and community affairs. Altomonte operates under the administrative framework of the Province of Cosenza (Provincia di Cosenza), which provides intermediate governance between the regional level and the municipal level. The Province of Cosenza is one of the provinces in the Calabria region and encompasses numerous comuni spanning diverse geographic and cultural contexts, from mountain communities to coastal towns.

### Demographics and Population

The population data for Altomonte reveals a small but significant community. The most recent population count stands at approximately 4,443 residents, with historical figures showing 4,382 and 4,019 in earlier census periods. These population figures are consistent with the characteristics of Italian comuni in rural areas of southern Italy, where smaller municipalities often serve as service centers for surrounding agricultural communities. The population size places Altomonte in the category of small Italian towns that maintain traditional community structures while facing contemporary challenges such as demographic shifts, aging populations, and rural depopulation that affect many interior communities in the Italian peninsula. The municipal boundaries encompass not only the central town but also surrounding territories that may include agricultural lands, hamlets, and rural settlements that fall under Altomonte's administrative jurisdiction.

### Historical and Cultural Recognition

Altomonte's inclusion in "The most beautiful villages in Italy" (I Borghi più belli d'Italia) association represents a significant recognition of its historical and architectural value. This association was founded in 2001 with the mission of promoting and preserving small Italian towns of exceptional historical and cultural interest. Membership in this organization is not automatic and requires meeting specific criteria related to architectural heritage, urban planning, and historical significance. The association, headquartered in Italy, has become a prestigious network of municipalities that demonstrate Italy's commitment to cultural preservation. For Altomonte, this membership signifies official recognition that the town possesses architectural landmarks, historical buildings, or urban layouts that merit preservation and appreciation. Such recognition often brings increased tourism, conservation funding, and administrative support for maintaining the town's historical character.

### Regional Context: Calabria

Altomonte exists within the broader context of Calabria, a region that holds a distinctive place in Italian geography, history, and culture. Calabria is the southernmost mainland region of Italy, forming the "toe" of the Italian boot. The region is characterized by its mountainous interior, particularly the Pollino massif and the Sila mountains, which contrast with its extensive coastlines along the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas. Calabria has a complex historical legacy that includes Greek colonization (giving the region its ancient name of Magna Graecia), Norman rule, Byzantine influence, and later inclusion in the Kingdom of Naples and then unified Italy. The region has historically faced economic challenges relative to northern Italy, with issues including infrastructure limitations, organized crime influence (the 'Ndrangheta), and higher unemployment rates. However, Calabria also possesses significant assets including agricultural production (particularly citrus fruits, olives, and wine), stunning natural landscapes, and a rich cultural heritage embodied in towns like Altomonte.

### Administrative and Digital Presence

Altomonte maintains an official web presence through its municipal website at http://www.comune.altomonte.cs.it, which serves as a portal for local government services, public information, community announcements, and administrative procedures. This digital presence reflects the modern integration of e-government services within Italian municipal administration, allowing residents to access permits, pay taxes, and obtain official documents through online platforms. The municipality also has a significant digital encyclopedia presence, with Altomonte represented on Wikipedia in over 50 language versions, indicating international interest in the town. The Wikidata entry for Altomonte (sitelink count: 50) provides structured data that enables integration with other knowledge bases and applications. This digital footprint extends beyond simple information provision to include the municipality's participation in broader data ecosystems that connect Italian comuni to global information networks.

### Relationship to Broader Italian Administrative Systems

Altomonte's existence as a comune places it within Italy's sophisticated multi-level governance system. At the national level, Italy operates as a parliamentary republic with a unitary state structure, though significant powers are delegated to regions, provinces, and comuni. The Italian administrative hierarchy places comuni (like Altomonte) at the base, above them provinces and metropolitan cities, then regions, and finally the national government. This structure allows for local governance while maintaining national coherence. Altomonte's relationship to Italy as its country context is fundamental, connecting the municipality to Italy's political systems, legal frameworks, economic structures, and cultural institutions. Italy's membership in the European Union, NATO, the United Nations, and numerous other international organizations creates the broader geopolitical context within which Altomonte operates, affecting everything from infrastructure funding to regulatory standards.

## 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. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
7. GeoNames
8. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224)
9. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia
10. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
11. Seismic classification in Italy
12. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)