# Bistagno > Comune of Italy **Wikidata**: [Q17275](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17275) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bistagno) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bistagno ## Summary Bistagno is a comune (municipality) located in the Province of Alessandria in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. Situated at coordinates 44.661111111111° N, 8.3713888888889° E, this small Italian municipality is part of the administrative structure of Piedmont and is served by the Bistagno train station. The comune has a population of approximately 1,800-1,900 residents based on recorded figures, and operates under the local government system typical of Italian comuni. ## Key Facts - **Entity Type**: Comune of Italy (municipal division) - **Location**: Province of Alessandria, Piedmont, Italy - **Country**: Italy (sovereign state in Southern Europe) - **Coordinates**: Latitude 44.661111111111° N, Longitude 8.3713888888889° E - **Population**: Approximately 1,872, 1,813, and 1,748 (recorded figures from different years) - **Website**: http://www.comune.bistagno.al.it - **Wikipedia Title**: Bistagno - **Wikidata Description**: Comune of Italy - **Sitelink Count**: 54 - **Connected Infrastructure**: Bistagno train station (railway station in Italy) - **Administrative Hierarchy**: Part of Province of Alessandria, which is a province of Piedmont region ## FAQs **What type of administrative area is Bistagno?** Bistagno is a comune, which is the smallest administrative division in Italy, similar to a municipality or town. Italian comuni are the basic territorial units of local government and are part of larger provinces and regions. **Which province and region is Bistagno located in?** Bistagno is located in the Province of Alessandria in the Piedmont region (Piemonte) of northern Italy. Piedmont is one of Italy's 20 regions and is known for its mountainous terrain, wine production, and industrial significance. **What transportation infrastructure serves Bistagno?** Bistagno is served by the Bistagno train station, which is a railway station in Italy. This connects the municipality to the broader Italian rail network, facilitating travel and transport for residents. **How can I find more information about Bistagno?** The official website of Bistagno's municipal government is http://www.comune.bistagno.al.it. Additional information can be found on Wikipedia under the title "Bistagno" and through Wikidata. ## Why It Matters Bistagno represents the foundational unit of local governance in Italy, embodying the country's decentralized administrative system. As one of approximately 7,904 comuni in Italy, Bistagno plays a role in delivering essential public services to its residents, including local administration, public utilities, and community planning. The comune system allows for localized governance that addresses the specific needs of smaller communities while remaining integrated into the broader provincial and regional administrative structures. The presence of a train station indicates Bistagno's connectivity within the regional transportation network, enabling residents to access larger urban centers for work, education, and services. This infrastructure connection is particularly important for smaller municipalities in rural or semi-rural areas of Piedmont, where local train stations serve as vital links to economic opportunities in nearby cities. From a geographical perspective, Bistagno's location in Piedmont places it in one of Italy's most economically significant regions. Piedmont is home to major cities like Turin (Torino), is a leading producer of wine (including Barolo and Barbaresco), and has a strong industrial base. While Bistagno itself is a smaller municipality, it participates in the broader economic and cultural life of the region. The population figures (approximately 1,800-1,900 residents) indicate Bistagno is a small but stable community. Such comuni are essential for maintaining population distribution across Italy's territory, preventing excessive urbanization pressures on major cities, and preserving rural traditions and agricultural activities that contribute to Italy's food and wine production sectors. ## Notable For - **Administrative Role**: Serves as a local government center for its surrounding community in the Province of Alessandria - **Rail Connectivity**: Features the Bistagno train station, connecting residents to the Italian railway network - **Piedmont Location**: Situated in one of Italy's most prestigious wine-producing regions - **Municipal Website**: Maintains an official online presence at http://www.comune.bistagno.al.it - **Digital Presence**: Has a sitelink count of 54, indicating moderate visibility in online databases and encyclopedic references ## Body ### Geography and Location Bistagno is situated in northwestern Italy within the Piedmont region. The municipality lies at coordinates 44.661111111111° N latitude and 8.3713888888889° E longitude. This location places it in the Province of Alessandria, which occupies the southeastern portion of Piedmont. The terrain in this area of Piedmont consists of a mix of hills and plains, characteristic of the region's varied topography. The commune's geographical position places it within reasonable distance of major Piedmontese cities while maintaining its identity as a smaller rural municipality. ### Administrative Structure As an Italian comune, Bistagno functions as the fundamental unit of local administration in Italy. The comune system dates back to the unification of Italy in the 19th century and serves as the lowest level of government in the Italian administrative hierarchy. Each comune has its own elected council and administration responsible for local services, urban planning, civil registry, and local taxation. Bistagno falls under the jurisdiction of the Province of Alessandria, which provides intermediate governance between the regional level and the comuni. The Province of Alessandria itself is one of the provinces within Piedmont, a region that borders France and Switzerland and encompasses diverse landscapes from the Alps to the Po Valley. ### Population and Demographics Based on the recorded population figures from the source material, Bistagno has a population ranging between approximately 1,748 and 1,872 residents. These figures likely represent different census years or estimation periods. The population size is typical of smaller Italian comuni, particularly those in rural or semi-rural areas of Piedmont. Small comuni like Bistagno often experience challenges related to population decline or aging, common throughout Italy's rural interior, while also maintaining tight-knit community structures and lower costs of living compared to urban centers. ### Transportation and Infrastructure The Bistagno train station serves as the municipality's connection to Italy's extensive railway network. Italian railway stations serve as critical infrastructure for both passenger and freight transport, connecting smaller towns to regional hubs and major cities. For residents of Bistagno, the train station provides access to the regional capital of Alessandria and connections to broader Italian rail routes. This transportation link is essential for commuting, accessing services in larger cities, and connecting to Italy's high-speed rail network. The presence of a railway station also historically influenced Bistagno's development, as Italian comuni along rail lines often experienced economic growth and population increases during the periods of railway expansion in the 19th and 20th centuries. ### Regional Context: Piedmont Bistagno 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, with Turin (Torino) serving as the first capital of the unified Kingdom of Italy. The region is renowned for its wine production, with designations including Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, and Asti Spumante. Piedmont is also a major industrial center, home to the Fiat automotive company and numerous manufacturing enterprises. The region shares borders with France and Switzerland, giving it significant international character. The Province of Alessandria, where Bistagno is located, occupies the southeastern part of Piedmont and is known for its agricultural production, including cereals, vegetables, and livestock, as well as historical towns and cultural sites. ### Digital Presence and Information Access Bistagno maintains an official municipal website at http://www.comune.bistagno.al.it, providing residents and visitors with information about local services, government operations, community events, and administrative procedures. The ".al.it" domain extension indicates the municipality's association with the province of Alessandria. The comune has a sitelink count of 54, suggesting moderate visibility across online platforms, encyclopedias, and reference databases. The Wikipedia entry for "Bistagno" provides additional information about the municipality, while Wikidata entries categorize it as a "Comune of Italy" with associated properties including coordinates, population data, and administrative classifications. ### Historical Context The comune of Bistagno, like all Italian comuni, operates within a historical framework established during the unification of Italy. The modern Italian state was proclaimed on March 17, 1861, with the Kingdom of Italy established through the union of various Italian states under the Kingdom of Sardinia. The current Italian Republic was established on June 18, 1946, following a constitutional referendum. Throughout this historical evolution, the comune system has remained a constant feature of Italian local governance, providing continuity of local administration through the monarchical period and into the republican era. Bistagno and similar comuni represent the continuity of local community organization that predates modern Italy and continues to serve as the most immediate level of government for Italian citizens. ## References 1. Virtual International Authority File 2. BnF authorities 3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 4. Italian National Institute of Statistics 5. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html) 6. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it) 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. Seismic classification in Italy 11. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)