# Gorreto

> Italian comune

**Wikidata**: [Q266338](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q266338)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorreto)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gorreto

## Summary
Gorreto is a small Italian *comune* (municipality) located in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, within the Liguria region of northern Italy. Originally part of the Province of Genoa (established in 1860), it transitioned to the Metropolitan City of Genoa in 2015. With a population fluctuating around 90–100 residents, Gorreto is a rural settlement known for its inclusion in the administrative and cultural fabric of Liguria.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Italian *comune* (municipality).
- **Location:** Metropolitan City of Genoa, Liguria, Italy (previously Province of Genoa, 1860–2014).
- **Population:** 97 (latest data), with historical counts of 93 and 92.
- **Coordinates:** 44.606066666667° N, 9.2924333333333° E.
- **Administrative History:**
  - Part of the **Province of Genoa** (inception: March 1, 1860) until December 31, 2014.
  - Transitioned to the **Metropolitan City of Genoa** (inception: January 1, 2015).
- **Website:** [http://www.comune.gorreto.ge.it](http://www.comune.gorreto.ge.it).
- **Related Settlement:** Includes the hamlet of **Fontanarossa**, a smaller human settlement within its territory.
- **Wikidata Sitelinks:** 51 language editions, including Italian and English.
- **Category:** One of over 7,900 *comuni* in Italy, the smallest administrative division.

## FAQs
**Where is Gorreto located?**
Gorreto is situated in the Liguria region of northern Italy, within the Metropolitan City of Genoa. It lies at coordinates 44.606066666667° N, 9.2924333333333° E, in a rural area of the Apennine Mountains.

**What is the population of Gorreto?**
As of the latest data, Gorreto has a population of 97 residents, with slight fluctuations recorded at 93 and 92 in prior years. This makes it one of Italy’s smallest municipalities by population.

**How has Gorreto’s administrative status changed over time?**
Gorreto was originally part of the **Province of Genoa**, established in 1860 during the unification of Italy. In 2015, it became part of the **Metropolitan City of Genoa**, a reform that replaced the province with a metropolitan governance structure.

**What is Fontanarossa, and how is it related to Gorreto?**
Fontanarossa is a hamlet (*frazione*) within the municipality of Gorreto. It is a smaller settlement under Gorreto’s administrative jurisdiction, contributing to the comune’s rural character.

**Why does Gorreto have a dedicated website?**
Like many Italian *comuni*, Gorreto maintains an official website ([comune.gorreto.ge.it](http://www.comune.gorreto.ge.it)) to provide administrative services, local news, and civic information to residents and visitors, despite its small size.

## Why It Matters
Gorreto exemplifies the administrative and cultural diversity of Italy’s *comuni* system, representing the smallest yet functionally autonomous units of local governance. Its existence highlights the preservation of rural communities in Liguria, a region known for its rugged terrain and historic villages. As part of the Metropolitan City of Genoa, Gorreto also reflects Italy’s ongoing efforts to modernize regional governance while maintaining local identities. For researchers and policymakers, it serves as a case study in micro-scale municipal management, demographic trends, and the challenges of sustaining small settlements in mountainous areas.

## Notable For
- **Smallest-Scale Governance:** One of Italy’s least populous *comuni*, demonstrating the country’s commitment to decentralized administration.
- **Administrative Transition:** A direct example of Italy’s 2015 reform replacing provinces with metropolitan cities.
- **Rural Ligurian Identity:** Represents the traditional, sparsely populated villages of the Ligurian Apennines.
- **Digital Presence:** Despite its size, maintains an official municipal website, illustrating modern civic engagement tools.
- **Hamlet Inclusion:** Home to Fontanarossa, showcasing the hierarchical structure of Italian local governance (comune → frazione).

## Body

### Geography and Location
Gorreto is located in the **Liguria** region of northern Italy, nestled in the Apennine Mountains. Its coordinates are **44.606066666667° N, 9.2924333333333° E**, placing it in a rural, inland area of the Metropolitan City of Genoa. The terrain is characterized by hilly and mountainous landscapes typical of the Ligurian interior, distinct from the coastal areas for which the region is better known.

### Administrative History
- **Province of Genoa (1860–2014):** Gorreto was part of this administrative division from its inception on **March 1, 1860**, following the unification of Italy. The province was one of Italy’s oldest, serving as a key governance unit for over 150 years.
- **Metropolitan City of Genoa (2015–Present):** On **January 1, 2015**, Italy’s administrative reform dissolved the Province of Genoa, replacing it with the **Metropolitan City of Genoa**, a larger entity designed to improve coordination among urban and rural areas. Gorreto’s transition reflects this broader shift in Italian regional governance.

### Demographics
Gorreto’s population is exceptionally small, with recent counts of **97, 93, and 92 residents**, making it one of Italy’s least populous *comuni*. Such micro-municipalities are rare but persist in Italy’s rural and mountainous regions, where historical settlements have resisted depopulation despite economic pressures. The demographic data underscores challenges like aging populations and limited economic opportunities, common in Liguria’s inland areas.

### Settlements and Hamlets
- **Fontanarossa:** A hamlet (*frazione*) within Gorreto’s municipal boundaries. Fontanarossa is classified as a **human settlement** with its own distinct identity but remains administratively dependent on Gorreto. It has a **Wikidata sitelink count of 6**, indicating limited but documented recognition in multilingual databases.

### Governance and Infrastructure
As a *comune*, Gorreto operates under Italy’s municipal system, with an elected mayor (*sindaco*) and a local council. Key features include:
- **Official Website:** [http://www.comune.gorreto.ge.it](http://www.comune.gorreto.ge.it), providing civic services, announcements, and local governance information.
- **Metropolitan Affiliation:** Governance ties to the Metropolitan City of Genoa ensure access to regional resources, including transportation, education, and healthcare, despite its remote location.
- **Wikidata and Digital Records:** Gorreto’s entry in Wikidata includes **51 sitelinks**, reflecting its documentation across multiple language editions of Wikipedia and other knowledge bases.

### Cultural and Regional Context
Gorreto is part of **Liguria**, a region renowned for its coastal cities (e.g., Genoa, Cinque Terre) but also home to lesser-known inland communities. The *comune* contributes to Liguria’s cultural diversity, preserving traditions, dialects, and rural lifestyles that contrast with the region’s urban centers. Its inclusion in the Metropolitan City of Genoa ensures it remains connected to broader Ligurian identity and economic networks.

### Related Administrative Entities
- **Comune of Italy:** Gorreto is one of **7,904 *comuni*** in Italy (as of recent data), the primary administrative divisions responsible for local services like waste management, schools, and civil registry.
- **Liguria Region:** One of Italy’s 20 regions, Liguria is known for its Mediterranean climate, maritime history, and as the birthplace of figures like Christopher Columbus. Gorreto’s rural character complements the region’s coastal reputation.

### Challenges and Significance
Gorreto’s existence highlights the resilience of Italy’s smallest municipalities, which often face:
- **Depopulation:** Rural flight to urban centers threatens the viability of such *comuni*.
- **Economic Sustainability:** Limited local industries and reliance on agriculture or tourism.
- **Administrative Efficiency:** Balancing autonomy with the need for regional support.
Despite these challenges, Gorreto’s persistence underscores the value placed on local identity and heritage in Italian governance.

### Comparative Data
- **Population Density:** With fewer than 100 residents, Gorreto’s density is among the lowest in Italy, contrasting sharply with urban *comuni* like Rome or Milan.
- **Administrative Longevity:** Its transition from province to metropolitan city mirrors Italy’s evolving governance models, aimed at improving efficiency without erasing local autonomy.

### Future Outlook
Gorreto’s future depends on its ability to leverage regional partnerships, digital tools (e.g., its municipal website), and potential eco-tourism or cultural heritage initiatives. As part of the Metropolitan City of Genoa, it may benefit from infrastructure projects or EU-funded rural development programs aimed at revitalizing Italy’s inland areas.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. [Source](http://www.comune.gorreto.ge.it/)
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)