# Castiglione Messer Raimondo > Italian comune **Wikidata**: [Q51435](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q51435) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castiglione_Messer_Raimondo) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/castiglione-messer-raimondo ## Summary Castiglione Messer Raimondo is an Italian comune (municipality) located in the Province of Teramo in the Abruzzo region of southern Italy. It sits at coordinates 42.5333° N latitude and 13.8833° E longitude, and serves as a administrative division within the Italian municipal system. The comune has a population of approximately 2,285 residents and functions as a local government unit within the broader framework of Italian regional administration. ## Key Facts - **Official Name:** Castiglione Messer Raimondo - **Administrative Status:** Comune (municipality) of Italy - **Location:** Province of Teramo, Abruzzo region, southern Italy - **Country:** Italy - **Geographic Coordinates:** Latitude 42.533333333333° N, Longitude 13.883333333333° E - **Population:** Approximately 2,285 residents (most recent figure); previous counts include 2,247 and 2,030 - **Website:** https://www.comunedicastiglione.gov.it/ - **Wikipedia Title:** Castiglione Messer Raimondo - **Wikidata Description:** Italian comune - **Sitelink Count:** 50 - **Regional Context:** Part of Abruzzo, one of Italy's 20 regions - **Related Settlements:** Appignano (human settlement in Province of Teramo, Abruzzo), Cesi (human settlement in Italy), Piani (human settlement in Italy) - **Administrative Classification:** Part of the sistema dei comuni italiani (Italian municipal system) - **Province:** Teramo (province in Abruzzo, southern Italy) ## FAQs **What region and province is Castiglione Messer Raimondo located in?** Castiglione Messer Raimondo is located in the Abruzzo region of southern Italy, specifically within the Province of Teramo. Abruzzo is one of Italy's 20 administrative regions and is known for its mountainous interior and Adriatic coastal areas. **What type of administrative entity is Castiglione Messer Raimondo?** Castiglione Messer Raimondo is a comune, which is the fundamental administrative division in Italy analogous to a municipality or town. Italian comuni serve as the smallest administrative units with local government authority, responsible for local services, planning, and administration. **What is the population of Castiglione Messer Raimondo?** The comune has a population of approximately 2,285 residents according to the most recent data available. Historical population figures show counts of 2,247 and 2,030, indicating some population fluctuation over time. **What nearby settlements are related to Castiglione Messer Raimondo?** The comune is associated with several nearby human settlements including Appignano (located in the Province of Teramo, Abruzzo), Cesi (in Italy), and Piani (in Italy). These settlements are part of the broader regional network within the Province of Teramo. **What is the official website of Castiglione Messer Raimondo?** The official municipal website is https://www.comunedicastiglione.gov.it/, providing local government information and services for residents. ## Why It Matters Castiglione Messer Raimondo represents the foundational unit of local governance in Italy, embodying the decentralized administrative structure that characterizes Italian civic organization. As a comune in the Province of Teramo within Abruzzo, it participates in the broader system of Italian municipal governance that dates back centuries and forms the backbone of local service delivery, urban planning, and community administration throughout Italy. The comune's existence within the Italian administrative framework connects it to Italy's system of 20 regions, 110 provinces, and approximately 7,904 comuni that collectively govern the country. This structure allows for localized governance while maintaining national coherence, enabling decisions to be made at the community level while adhering to regional and national policies. For residents of Castiglione Messer Raimondo, the comune provides essential services including local taxation, public utilities management, civil registry functions, building permits, and local economic development initiatives. The municipal government serves as the primary interface between citizens and the larger Italian governmental apparatus. The comune also holds significance within the cultural and historical tapestry of Abruzzo, a region known for its medieval hill towns, mountainous landscapes, and preserved traditional communities. Castiglione Messer Raimondo contributes to the regional identity and heritage that makes Abruzzo distinctive among Italy's regions. ## Notable For - **Municipal Governance:** Functions as a local government unit within Italy's sistema dei comuni italiani, one of approximately 7,904 comuni nationwide - **Regional Placement:** Situated in Abruzzo, the region with the highest concentration of UNESCO-protected medieval villages in Italy - **Geographic Position:** Located at coordinates 42.5333° N, 13.8833° E in the Province of Teramo, an area known for its agricultural production and traditional hill towns - **Digital Presence:** Maintains an official municipal website and has substantial online visibility with 50 sitelinks across Wikimedia projects - **Administrative Continuity:** Represents the enduring Italian comune system that has functioned as the basic unit of local administration since the unification of Italy ## Body ### Geography and Location Castiglione Messer Raimondo is situated in the Province of Teramo, which occupies the northern portion of the Abruzzo region in southern Italy. The comune is positioned at coordinates 42.533333333333° north latitude and 13.883333333333° east longitude, placing it in the hilly interior terrain that characterizes much of provincial Teramo. The municipality lies within the broader geographic context of the Apennine Mountain region, though specific elevation data would be found in detailed topographic records. The Province of Teramo borders the Adriatic Sea to the east and encompasses diverse landscapes ranging from coastal plains to mountainous interior zones. This geographic positioning has historically influenced the agricultural economy, settlement patterns, and cultural development of the area including Castiglione Messer Raimondo. ### Administrative Structure As an Italian comune, Castiglione Messer Raimondo operates as a municipal corporation with elected officials responsible for local governance. The comune system represents the lowest tier of administrative division in Italy, below the regional and provincial levels but above any subordinate entities such as frazioni (fractions or neighborhoods). The municipal government handles various local functions including: maintenance of public roads and infrastructure, management of local taxes and fees, issuance of building permits and business licenses, registration of births, deaths, and marriages, administration of local utilities and services, and implementation of national and regional policies at the local level. Castiglione Messer Raimondo is categorized within the broader classification of comuni italiani, which are municipal divisions of Italy. This classification connects it to the approximately 7,904 other comuni throughout the Italian peninsula, each serving as a distinct local administrative unit with its own mayor (sindaco) and city council (consiglio comunale). ### Demographics and Population The population of Castiglione Messer Raimondo stands at approximately 2,285 residents according to the most recent census data. Historical population figures indicate fluctuations, with previous counts of 2,247 and 2,030 residents recorded at different points. These population figures place the comune among the smaller municipalities in the Province of Teramo, consistent with the pattern of smaller hill towns that characterize the region. Population dynamics in comuni like Castiglione Messer Raimondo are influenced by factors including birth rates, mortality rates, migration patterns (both internal to Italy and international), and economic opportunities. Many smaller Italian comuni in rural areas have experienced population decline in recent decades as younger residents relocate to larger cities for education and employment opportunities. ### Regional Context: Abruzzo Castiglione Messer Raimondo exists within the Abruzzo region, one of Italy's 20 administrative regions. Abruzzo is located in southern central Italy and is bordered by the Marche region to the north, Lazio to the west, the Adriatic Sea to the east, and shares its southern border with Molise. The region is geographically diverse, featuring the Apennine Mountains in its interior, rolling hills, and a narrow coastal strip along the Adriatic Sea. Abruzzo is often referred to as the "greenest region in Europe" due to its extensive protected areas, national parks, and nature reserves. The region contains three national parks (Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga, Majella, and Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise) and numerous regional parks, making it significant for environmental conservation and outdoor tourism. The Province of Teramo, where Castiglione Messer Raimondo is located, is the northernmost province in Abruzzo and is known for its agricultural production, particularly wine, olive oil, and dairy products. The province includes several hill towns and medieval settlements that contribute to the region's cultural heritage. ### Related Settlements The source material identifies several human settlements related to Castiglione Messer Raimondo: **Appignano** is a human settlement located in the Province of Teramo, Abruzzo, southern Italy. Like Castiglione Messer Raimondo, it falls within the same provincial administrative boundaries and shares the regional context of Abruzzo. **Cesi** is a human settlement in Italy, with the specific provincial location not detailed in the source material but connected to the broader Italian settlement network. **Piani** is similarly identified as a human settlement in Italy, representing another point within the Italian geographic and administrative framework. These related settlements illustrate the network of small towns and villages that comprise the Italian peninsula's settlement pattern, particularly in regions like Abruzzo where numerous small comuni are distributed throughout the territory. ### Digital Presence and Information Access Castiglione Messer Raimondo maintains an official municipal website at https://www.comunedicastiglione.gov.it/, providing residents and visitors with access to local government information, services, and announcements. This digital presence reflects the modern administrative practices of Italian comuni, which increasingly utilize online platforms for citizen engagement and service delivery. The comune has a sitelink count of 50 across Wikimedia projects, indicating substantial online visibility and documentation. The Wikipedia article titled "Castiglione Messer Raimondo" serves as a primary reference point for information about the municipality in multiple languages. The Wikidata entry provides structured data including the classification as an Italian comune, geographic coordinates, and administrative relationships. ### Historical and Cultural Context While specific historical details about Castiglione Messer Raimondo are not provided in the source material, the comune exists within a region rich in Italian history and cultural heritage. The Province of Teramo contains numerous medieval hill towns, ancient Roman ruins, and Renaissance-era architecture that reflect the area's long human occupation. The name "Castiglione" (meaning "little castle" or "fortress" in Italian) suggests historical fortifications or defensive structures that were common throughout medieval Italy. Many comuni in Abruzzo and the broader Italian peninsula originated as fortified settlements atop hills, providing defensive advantages before the modern era. Italian comuni emerged as administrative units during the medieval period, with some cities and towns gaining communal self-governance during the 12th and 13th centuries. The modern sistema dei comuni was formalized following Italian unification in 1861, when the new Kingdom of Italy established standardized administrative divisions throughout the peninsula. ### Economic and Social Structure As a small comune in a rural region, Castiglione Messer Raimondo's economy is likely oriented toward agriculture, local services, and traditional economic activities characteristic of Abruzzo's interior. The province of Teramo is known for production of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine, extra virgin olive oil, and various dairy products including the famous pecorino cheese. The social structure of small Italian comuni like Castiglione Messer Raimondo typically features close-knit communities where local relationships, traditions, and civic participation play significant roles in daily life. Municipal governance provides opportunities for citizen involvement through local elections, public meetings, and community organizations. ### Administrative Relationships Castiglione Messer Raimondo participates in multiple levels of Italian administrative hierarchy: At the local level, the comune operates with its own municipal government, mayor, and council. At the provincial level, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Province of Teramo, which provides intermediate administrative functions between the comune and regional levels. At the regional level, Abruzzo's regional government sets policy directions and allocates resources that affect all comuni within the region. At the national level, Italian national government establishes the legal framework, fiscal policies, and administrative standards that govern all comuni throughout the country. This multi-level governance structure allows for both local autonomy and coordinated national administration, balancing community needs with broader regional and national interests. ## 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)