# Gargallo > Italian comune **Wikidata**: [Q22450](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q22450) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gargallo,_Piedmont) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gargallo-q22450-2 ## Summary Gargallo is an Italian comune (municipality) located in the Province of Novara in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. Situated at coordinates 45.72757145° N, 8.40919245° E, this small municipality represents one of the administrative divisions within Italy's provincial system. The comune falls under the broader administrative category of municipal divisions of Italy and is part of the country Q38 (Italy), which is a sovereign parliamentary republic and founding member of the European Union. ## Key Facts - **Entity Type**: Italian comune (municipal division of Italy) - **Location**: Province of Novara, Piedmont region, northern Italy - **Geographic Coordinates**: 45.72757145° N, 8.40919245° E - **Country**: Italy — a sovereign state and parliamentary republic located in Southern Europe - **Administrative Classification**: Comune of Italy — municipal divisions of Italy (country: Q38, ) - **Website**: http://www.comune.gargallo.no.it - **Population**: 1831, 1832, 1763 (figures from different census years) - **Wikipedia Title**: Gargallo, Piedmont - **Wikidata Description**: Italian comune - **Sitelink Count**: 54 (Wikipedia connections) - **Country Inception**: Kingdom of Italy proclaimed March 17, 1861; Italian Republic established June 18, 1946 - **Currency**: Euro (adopted January 1, 2002; previously Italian Lira 1946–2002) - **Official Language**: Italian - **Driving Side**: Right-hand traffic ## FAQs **What type of administrative division is Gargallo?** Gargallo is an Italian comune, which is the smallest administrative division in Italy, similar to a municipality or town. Comuni are the basic territorial units of Italy's administrative organization and are headed by a mayor (sindaco) and a city council. **Where exactly is Gargallo located?** Gargallo is located in the Province of Novara, which is in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. The geographic coordinates are 45.72757145° north latitude and 8.40919245° east longitude, placing it in the southern part of the Novara province near the border with the Lombardy region. **What is the population of Gargallo?** According to the available census data, Gargallo has had population figures of 1831, 1832, and 1763 at different points in time, indicating a small to medium-sized municipality typical of rural Italian comuni. **What is the official website of Gargallo?** The official municipal website is http://www.comune.gargallo.no.it, where local government information, services, and community details would be published. **What region and province does Gargallo belong to?** Gargallo is part of the Piedmont region (Piemonte), one of Italy's 20 regions, and specifically belongs to the Province of Novara. Piedmont is located in northwestern Italy and is known for its Alpine foothills, vineyards, and industrial centers. **What is the relationship between Gargallo and the Italian administrative system?** As an Italian comune, Gargallo operates within Italy's unitary state structure. Italy is classified as a parliamentary republic with 20 regions, including Piedmont, and is a founding member of the European Union and NATO. The comune represents the lowest level of Italy's administrative hierarchy, responsible for local services, urban planning, and municipal records. ## Why It Matters Gargallo represents the foundational unit of Italian local governance, embodying the decentralized administrative structure that characterizes Italy's political system. While small in population, comuni like Gargallo form the backbone of Italian civic administration, providing essential services such as civil registration, local taxation, public utilities, and community planning to their residents. The existence of Gargallo as a comune illustrates how Italy maintains its characteristic blend of centralized state authority and local administrative autonomy. Each of Italy's approximately 8,000 comuni operates with significant local governance powers, collecting taxes, managing local budgets, and implementing national policies at the community level. This system dates back to the unification of Italy in 1861, when the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed on March 17, 1861, establishing the administrative framework that still governs municipalities like Gargallo today. From an economic perspective, comuni in Piedmont, including Gargallo, contribute to the region's significance as one of Italy's most productive areas. The Province of Novara specifically has historically been important for agriculture (particularly rice cultivation), industry, and services. The region's economy benefits from proximity to Milan and the broader Po Valley industrial corridor. The presence of a municipal website (http://www.comune.gargallo.no.it) indicates that Gargallo participates in Italy's digital governance initiatives, providing residents with online access to administrative services and local government information—a reflection of Italy's modernization efforts since becoming a republic in 1946. ## Notable For - **Administrative Significance**: Represents one of Italy's fundamental municipal divisions within the Province of Novara - **Regional Identity**: Part of Piedmont (Piemonte), one of Italy's 20 regions, known for its Alpine landscapes, vineyards, and culinary traditions - **Geographic Position**: Located in northern Italy at coordinates 45.72757145° N, 8.40919245° E, in an area between the Po Valley and the Alps - **Digital Presence**: Maintains an official municipal website, indicating engagement with e-governance practices - **Historical Context**: Operates within the Italian administrative framework established during the unification period (1861) and refined under the republican constitution (1946) - **Local Governance**: Demonstrates Italy's system of communal self-administration typical of the approximately 8,000 comuni nationwide ## Body ### Geographic Location and Context Gargallo is situated in the Province of Novara, located in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. The geographic coordinates of 45.72757145° north latitude and 8.40919245° east longitude place the municipality in the southern portion of the Novara province, an area characterized by gently rolling hills transitioning from the Po Valley plain toward the Alpine foothills. This positioning situates Gargallo within one of Italy's most economically significant regions, close to the border with the Lombardy region and within reasonable distance of major urban centers including Milan, Turin, and Novara itself. The Province of Novara encompasses a diverse territory that includes both agricultural lands and emerging industrial zones. The area has historically been known for rice cultivation, with the Po Valley providing ideal conditions for this staple crop. The region's agricultural heritage remains significant, though the province has also developed industrial and service sector economies, particularly in the cities of Novara and nearby areas. Piedmont (Piemonte), of which Novara province is a part, is one of Italy's 20 regions and occupies the northwestern corner of the Italian peninsula. The region is bordered by France and Switzerland to the west and north, respectively, and by the Liguria region to the south. Piedmont is geographically defined by the Alps to the north and west, the Apennine Mountains to the south, and the Po River plain in the east. This diverse geography ranges from high Alpine peaks to fertile river valleys, providing the region with significant agricultural, tourism, and natural resources. ### Administrative Structure As an Italian comune, Gargallo represents the fundamental unit of local government in Italy. The Italian administrative system is organized hierarchically, with the state (stato) at the top, followed by regions (regioni), provinces (province) or metropolitan cities (città metropolitane), and finally comuni (singular: comune). Comuni are the smallest territorial divisions with administrative autonomy, and there are approximately 8,000 such municipalities throughout Italy. Each comune is governed by a mayor (sindaco) and a city council (consiglio comunale), with executive power exercised by the mayor and a junta (giunta) composed of councilors. This structure was formalized in the Italian Constitution of 1948, following the establishment of the Italian Republic on June 18, 1946, after the constitutional referendum that ended the monarchy. The Kingdom of Italy had been proclaimed on March 17, 1861, marking the unification of the Italian peninsula under a single monarchy, and the administrative framework of comuni was inherited and adapted from earlier regional traditions. The comune of Gargallo operates under this framework, providing local services to its residents, maintaining civil records, managing local public works, collecting municipal taxes, and implementing national and regional policies at the local level. The municipal website (http://www.comune.gargallo.no.it) serves as the digital interface between the local government and citizens, reflecting Italy's broader adoption of digital administration tools. ### Demographic Profile The population figures of 1831, 1832, and 1763 recorded for Gargallo at different census points indicate a small Italian municipality. These figures are consistent with the many comuni in Italy's interior and rural areas, where populations often number in the thousands rather than the tens of thousands found in larger cities. The slight variations in population across different census years reflect broader demographic trends affecting rural Italy, including urbanization pressures that have seen younger populations migrate to larger cities and coastal areas, as well as the general aging trend characteristic of Italy's population profile. Italy's national population, as of 2023, stands at approximately 58,850,717 people, with a life expectancy of 83 years and a total fertility rate of 1.2 children per woman (2020), indicating an aging demographic trend. This national context helps explain the population dynamics of smaller comuni like Gargallo, where aging populations and youth out-migration are common challenges. The Italian state has implemented various policies to address these demographic concerns, including incentives for young families and efforts to revitalize rural areas. ### Economic and Cultural Context While specific economic data for Gargallo is not provided in the source material, the broader context of the Province of Novara and Piedmont provides relevant background. The Piedmont region has historically been one of Italy's most prosperous areas, with a diversified economy encompassing agriculture, industry, and services. The Province of Novara specifically has developed strong manufacturing, logistics, and agricultural sectors. Piedmont is internationally renowned for its wine production, with regions like Barolo and Barbaresco producing some of Italy's most prestigious wines. The region's culinary traditions include dishes such as risotto, agnolotti (stuffed pasta), and bagna cauda (a warm garlic and anchovy dip). These cultural elements, while not specific to Gargallo, represent the broader cultural context in which the comune operates. Italy's economy, as a whole, is the world's eighth-largest by nominal GDP, with a GDP of approximately $2.01 trillion in 2022. The country is a founding member of the European Union, adopted the Euro as its currency on January 1, 2002 (replacing the Italian Lira, which had been in use since 1946), and participates in the Schengen Area of free movement. Italy is also a member of NATO (since 1949), the United Nations (since 1955), and the G7 group of major industrialized democracies. ### Historical Background The modern Italian state traces its origins to the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy on March 17, 1861, when the various Italian states and territories were unified under a single monarchy. This unification, led by the Kingdom of Sardinia (which included Piedmont), created the administrative framework that would eventually encompass Gargallo as part of the Province of Novara. The monarchy lasted until 1946, when a constitutional referendum established the Italian Republic on June 18, 1946. This transition marked a fundamental change in Italy's political system, transforming the country from a kingdom into a parliamentary republic with a new constitution (the Constitution of Italy) that took effect in 1948. Under the republic, Italy developed into a democratic state with significant economic growth, becoming a founding member of the European Economic Community (the precursor to the European Union) in 1957. The Province of Novara, to which Gargallo belongs, was established as part of this administrative reorganization. The province system in Italy dates to the unification period, with provinces serving as intermediate administrative units between regions and comuni. Novara province has historically been important for its agricultural production (particularly rice), its strategic position between Milan and Turin, and its industrial development. ### Connection to Italian National Identity Gargallo, as an Italian comune, participates in the broader Italian system of local governance and national identity. Italy, officially known as the Italian Republic (Repubblica Italiana), is characterized by its distinctive boot-shaped peninsula geography, rich cultural heritage (with the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites globally), and significant influence on world art, architecture, cuisine, and fashion. The official language of Italy is Italian, though the country recognizes several regional and minority languages including Sardinian, Friulian, Ladin, German, French, and others. The national anthem is "Il Canto degli Italiani," and the patron saints are Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Siena. Italy's cultural influence extends globally through its contributions to the Renaissance, its culinary traditions (pizza, pasta, espresso), its fashion industry (Milan is a major fashion capital), and its automotive manufacturing (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Fiat). As part of this national fabric, comuni like Gargallo contribute to Italy's administrative functionality and cultural continuity. While small in population, these municipalities maintain the historical tradition of local governance that has characterized the Italian peninsula since Roman times, adapting to the modern republican framework established in 1946. ### Digital Infrastructure The presence of an official website (http://www.comune.gargallo.no.it) indicates Gargallo's integration into Italy's digital governance infrastructure. Italian public administration has increasingly moved online, with comuni providing digital services for everything from birth registrations and tax payments to building permits and community announcements. The ".it" top-level domain is Italy's country code for internet resources, and Italian public institutions at all levels maintain digital presences to serve citizens more efficiently. This digital infrastructure reflects Italy's broader technological development and its integration into European Union digital single market initiatives. The country's telephone country code is +39, and Italy maintains robust digital connectivity as part of its modern administrative and economic systems. ### Relationship to Broader Administrative Categories Gargallo belongs to several nested administrative categories that illustrate the structure of Italian governance: - **Country Level**: Italy — a sovereign parliamentary republic, member of the EU, NATO, and UN - **Regional Level**: Piedmont (Piemonte) — one of Italy's 20 regions - **Provincial Level**: Province of Novara — an administrative division within Piedmont - **Municipal Level**: Comune of Gargallo — the lowest level of local administration This hierarchical structure allows for both local autonomy and coordination across administrative levels. Regions have significant legislative powers, particularly in areas like health, education, and environmental protection. Provinces serve as intermediate coordination bodies, while comuni handle local implementation of policies and services. The classification of Gargallo as a "comune of Italy" (country: Q38, ) places it within the category of Italian municipal divisions, which number approximately 8,000 and vary greatly in size from small rural communities like Gargallo to large cities like Rome, Milan, and Naples. This classification system is maintained through Wikidata and Wikipedia, with Gargallo having a sitelink count of 54, indicating its presence in multiple language editions of Wikipedia and related knowledge bases. ## References 1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 2. Italian National Institute of Statistics 3. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html) 4. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it) 5. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224) 6. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia 7. Seismic classification in Italy 8. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)