# Catignano > Italian comune **Wikidata**: [Q51352](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q51352) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catignano) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/catignano ## Summary Catignano is an Italian comune (municipality) located in the Province of Pescara in the Abruzzo region of southern Italy. It is one of numerous municipal divisions within Italy, a sovereign parliamentary republic and founding member of the European Union. The comune serves as a local administrative unit within the Italian governmental structure. ## Key Facts - **Classification:** Comune (municipal division) of Italy - **Location:** Province of Pescara, Abruzzo region, Italy - **Country:** Italy — sovereign state in Southern Europe - **Coordinates:** Latitude 42.35° N, Longitude 13.95° E - **Website:** http://www.comune.catignano.pe.it/ - **Population:** 1,337 (one recorded figure), 1,374 (alternative figure), 1,227 (alternative figure) - **Wikipedia Title:** Catignano - **Sitelink Count:** 49 (Wikipedia connections) - **Administrative Context:** Part of the system of comuni (municipal divisions of Italy), which are the fundamental territorial units of Italian administrative organization ## FAQs **What type of administrative area is Catignano?** Catignano is an Italian comune, which serves as the smallest territorial administrative unit in Italy, similar to a municipality or township in other countries. Each comune is governed by a mayor and council and handles local administrative matters. **Which province and region is Catignano located in?** Catignano is situated in the Province of Pescara, which is located in the Abruzzo region of southern Italy. Abruzzo is one of Italy's 20 regions and is known for its Apennine mountains and Adriatic coastline. **What country is Catignano part of?** Catignano is part of Italy, a sovereign parliamentary republic located in Southern Europe. Italy is a founding member of the European Union, NATO, and the United Nations, with Rome as its capital city. **How can I find more information about Catignano?** The official municipal website is available at http://www.comune.catignano.pe.it/, and the comune has a Wikipedia article titled "Catignano" with 49 sitelinks connecting to other language editions. ## Why It Matters Catignano represents the foundational unit of Italian local governance, embodying the decentralized administrative structure that characterizes Italy's political system. As one of over 7,900 comuni in Italy, Catignano participates in the democratic governance of the country at the grassroots level, managing local services, urban planning, civil records, and community affairs. The comune system dates back to the unification of Italy in 1861 and remains essential to how Italians interact with their government daily. Understanding Catignano provides insight into how Italy balances national cohesion with local autonomy, allowing regions like Abruzzo to maintain distinct cultural and administrative identities while participating in broader European integration. ## Notable For - Being one of the municipal divisions within the Province of Pescara, which contains 46 comuni total - Representing the traditional administrative unit structure of Italian local government - Contributing to the total of approximately 7,904 comuni that divide the Italian territory - Located in Abruzzo, a region known for its natural parks, mountain landscapes, and historical villages ## Body ### Geographic Location and Context Catignano is positioned at coordinates 42.35° North latitude and 13.95° East longitude, placing it in the central portion of the Abruzzo region. The location situates the comune within the Apennine mountain zone of central Italy, approximately inland from the Adriatic coast. Abruzzo is bordered by the regions of Marche, Lazio, and Molise, and is characterized by its mountainous terrain, national parks, and medieval hill towns. The Province of Pescara, of which Catignano is a part, encompasses both coastal areas around the city of Pescara and interior mountainous territory, serving a population across its 46 comuni. ### Administrative Structure As an Italian comune, Catignano operates as a municipal corporation with its own elected government. The comune is the basic territorial unit of local administration in Italy, responsible for functions including civil registry (anagrafe), urban planning, local police, public sanitation, and the administration of local taxes and fees. This administrative structure traces its origins to the Napoleonic period and was formalized throughout Italy during the unification process beginning in 1861. The system allows for significant local autonomy within the framework of the Italian Republic, established on June 18, 1946, following the constitutional referendum that ended the monarchy. ### Population and Demographics Catignano has a recorded population of approximately 1,337 to 1,374 residents, based on the population figures provided in the source material. These figures likely represent different census years or estimates. The population size is consistent with the many small to medium-sized comuni that characterize the Italian peninsula, particularly in interior rural regions like Abruzzo where depopulation of smaller villages has been a trend in recent decades due to urbanization and migration to larger cities. ### Connection to Italian Administrative System Catignano belongs to the broader category of "comune of Italy", which represents the municipal divisions of Italy. Italy contains approximately 7,904 comuni, making it one of the countries with the highest number of local administrative units in Europe. Each comune has its own mayor (sindaco) and city council (consiglio comunale), and many also have a municipal council (giunta comunale) led by the mayor. This decentralized structure allows Italy to govern a diverse nation of over 58 million people while maintaining local representation tailored to community needs. ### Regional Context: Abruzzo The comune is located in Abruzzo, one of Italy's 20 regions. Abruzzo is situated in central-southern Italy, stretching from the Apennine Mountains to the Adriatic Sea. The region is known for its three national parks (Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga, Parco Nazionale della Majella, and Parco Nazionale del Velino-Sirente), making it one of the most environmentally protected regions in Europe. The regional capital is L'Aquila, while Pescara is the largest city and the location of the provincial capital for Catignano's province. ### Provincial Context Catignano falls under the Province of Pescara, which has 82 sitelinks according to the source material. The Province of Pescara was established in 1927 and covers an area of approximately 1,225 square kilometers along the Adriatic coast and interior Abruzzo territory. The province includes 46 comuni, ranging from the coastal city of Pescara (the provincial capital and largest city) to smaller inland municipalities like Catignano. Provincial governments in Italy handle functions that span multiple comuni, including road maintenance, public transportation coordination, and provincial planning. ### National Context: Italy Catignano exists within the framework of the Italian Republic, a sovereign parliamentary republic established in 1946. Italy covers an area of 302,068 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 58.85 million people as of 2023. The country is a founding member of the European Union (since 1957), NATO (since 1949), and the United Nations (since 1955). Italy operates as a unitary state with 20 regions, 110 provinces, and approximately 7,904 comuni. The official language is Italian, and the capital is Rome. Italy uses the euro as its currency, having adopted it on January 1, 2002, replacing the Italian lira. ### Digital Presence and Information Access Catignano maintains an official municipal website at http://www.comune.catignano.pe.it/, providing residents and visitors with access to local government services, administrative information, and community resources. The comune has a Wikipedia article titled "Catignano" with 49 sitelinks, indicating connections to other language editions of Wikipedia. The Wikidata entry ( concept applied to Catignano) provides structured data about the comune, including its classification as an Italian municipal division and geographic coordinates. ### Historical Administrative Evolution The comune system in Italy was consolidated during the unification of Italy in the mid-19th century. The Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed on March 17, 1861, and the current Italian Republic was established on June 18, 1946, following a constitutional referendum. Throughout this period, the comune has remained the fundamental unit of local administration, though the specific boundaries and administrative responsibilities of individual comuni have evolved over time. Many smaller comuni, particularly in rural mountain regions like parts of Abruzzo, have experienced population decline and administrative reorganization as younger generations have migrated to urban areas. ## References 1. Virtual International Authority File 2. BnF authorities 3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 4. MusicBrainz 5. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html) 6. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2017. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2017/index3.html) 7. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it) 8. GeoNames 9. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224) 10. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia 11. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File 12. Seismic classification in Italy 13. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)