# Grognardo > municipality in Italy **Wikidata**: [Q17372](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17372) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grognardo) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/grognardo ## Summary Grognardo is a municipality in northern Italy, located in the Province of Alessandria within the Piedmont region. It is situated at coordinates 44.631388888889° N, 8.4936111111111° E and operates as part of the administrative structure of Italy, functioning as a comune (municipal division) within the Italian system of local government. ## Key Facts - **Classification:** Municipality in Italy (comune) - **Location:** Province of Alessandria, Piedmont region, northern Italy - **Country:** Italy - **Administrative Region:** Piedmont (part of the 20 administrative regions of Italy) - **Coordinates:** Latitude 44.631388888889° N, Longitude 8.4936111111111° E - **Population:** 258, 253, and 230 (recorded across different census years) - **Website:** http://www.comune.grognardo.al.it/ - **Wikipedia Title:** Grognardo - **Wikidata Description:** municipality in Italy - **Sitelink Count:** 53 - **Part of:** Comune system of Italy (municipal divisions of Italy) - **Province:** Province of Alessandria (province of Piedmont, Italy) ## FAQs **Where is Grognardo located?** Grognardo is located in northern Italy, specifically in the Province of Alessandria which is part of the Piedmont region. Its precise geographic coordinates are 44.631388888889° N latitude and 8.4936111111111° E longitude. **What type of administrative entity is Grognardo?** Grognardo is a comune, which is the Italian term for a municipality or the smallest administrative division in Italy. It operates under the provincial governance of Alessandria and falls within the regional structure of Piedmont. **What is the population of Grognardo?** The municipality of Grognardo has recorded population figures of 258, 253, and 230 residents across different census years, indicating a small rural community in the Piedmontese interior. **What region and province does Grognardo belong to?** Grognardo is situated in the Piedmont region of Italy, one of Italy's 20 administrative regions. It specifically belongs to the Province of Alessandria, which is located in the southeastern part of Piedmont. **What country is Grognardo part of?** Grognardo is part of Italy, a sovereign parliamentary republic located in Southern Europe. Italy is a founding member of the European Union, uses the Euro as its currency, and has Italian as its official language. ## Why It Matters Grognardo represents the numerous small municipalities that form the backbone of Italy's administrative structure. While not a major urban center, it embodies the rural character of the Piedmontese interior in the Province of Alessandria, an area known for its vineyards, hazelnut production, and historical towns. As part of the Italian comune system, Grognardo participates in local governance, providing municipal services to its residents and maintaining the administrative records necessary for civic functioning. The municipality's existence illustrates how Italy's decentralized administrative system distributes governance across thousands of local units, each contributing to the country's overall political and social organization. For those studying Italian geography, local administration, or the demographic patterns of rural European communities, Grognardo serves as an example of the small-scale municipal entities that collectively define Italy's territorial organization. ## Notable For - Small population municipality in the Piedmontese interior - Part of the Province of Alessandria, known for wine production (Barbera, Cortese wines) - Located in a region with significant historical heritage dating to Roman and medieval periods - Represents the comune administrative system that defines Italian local governance - Part of Piedmont, one of Italy's 20 regions and a major wine-producing area globally ## Body ### Geography and Location Grognardo is situated in northwestern Italy within the Piedmont region, specifically in the Province of Alessandria. The municipality lies at geographic coordinates of 44.631388888889° N latitude and 8.4936111111111° E longitude. This positioning places it in the interior of Piedmont, away from the major urban centers but within reasonable distance of Alessandria city. The terrain of the surrounding area is characterized by the rolling hills typical of southern Piedmont, an area known for agricultural production including vineyards and hazelnut orchards. The climate follows the continental pattern common to northern Italy, with cold winters and warm summers suitable for the region's renowned wine production. ### Administrative Structure As an Italian comune, Grognardo functions as the fundamental unit of local administration in Italy. The municipality operates under the hierarchical structure of Italian governance, reporting to the Province of Alessandria, which in turn falls under the regional government of Piedmont. Italy is organized into 20 regions, 110 provinces, and approximately 7,900 comuni. Grognardo represents one of these thousands of municipal units that collectively administer local affairs, maintain civil records, collect municipal taxes, and provide essential services to residents. The municipal government is headed by a mayor (sindaco) and a council (consiglio comunale), typical of Italian local administration. ### Demographics and Population The population figures recorded for Grognardo across census periods stand at 258, 253, and 230 residents. These numbers reflect the municipality's status as a small rural community, typical of many inland comuni in the Piedmontese region. Italy's demographic landscape includes numerous small municipalities with populations under 1,000 residents, particularly in mountainous and rural areas. These communities often face challenges related to population decline, aging demographics, and limited economic opportunities, trends common throughout rural Italy. The population figures for Grognardo illustrate the country's diverse demographic composition, which includes major metropolitan areas alongside small rural municipalities. ### Regional Context: Piedmont Grognardo is located in Piedmont (Piemonte in Italian), one of Italy's 20 administrative regions. Piedmont is situated in the northwestern corner of Italy, bordering France and Switzerland. The region is landlocked geographically, surrounded by the Alps on three sides. Piedmont is renowned globally for its wine production, including famous denominations such as Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera d'Asti, and Gavi. The region also produces truffles, hazelnuts (particularly around Alba), and is known for its chocolate industry. The regional capital is Turin (Torino), a major industrial center historically significant for automotive manufacturing (Fiat) and as Italy's first capital when the unified kingdom was proclaimed in 1861. ### Provincial Context: Province of Alessandria The Province of Alessandria encompasses the southeastern portion of Piedmont. The province is named after its capital city, Alessandria, which serves as its administrative center. The Province of Alessandria covers a territory that includes both the Po Plain and the surrounding hills, making it an important agricultural area. The province is characterized by its network of small to medium-sized towns and municipalities, with economies based on agriculture, light manufacturing, and services. Alessandria province has historically served as a crossroads between Piedmont, Lombardy, and the Mediterranean coast, giving it strategic importance. ### Connection to Italy's Administrative System Grognardo operates within Italy's comprehensive system of local government, which divides the country into regions, provinces, metropolitan cities, and comuni. Italy's current republic was established on June 18, 1946, following a constitutional referendum, and operates as a parliamentary republic with a unitary state structure. The official currency is the Euro, adopted on January 1, 2002, replacing the Italian Lira. Italian serves as the official language nationwide, though regional languages including French, German, and Ladin are recognized in certain areas. The country is a founding member of the European Union and participates in numerous international organizations including the United Nations, NATO, and the G7. ### Municipal Services and Administration As a functioning comune, Grognardo provides various municipal services to its residents, including local planning, civil registration (births, deaths, marriages), municipal taxation, and local public services. The municipal website (http://www.comune.grognardo.al.it/) serves as the digital presence for local government communications and services. The ".it" top-level domain identifies Italian internet resources, with the country code +39 used for telecommunications. Italy operates on the right side of the road, and the country uses the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced in Italy in October 1582. ### Historical Context The municipality exists within the historical context of Italian unification. The Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed on March 17, 1861, unifying the various Italian states under a single monarchy. Following World War II, Italy became a republic on June 2, 1946, after a constitutional referendum. Piedmont played a central role in the unification movement, with Turin serving as the first capital of the unified kingdom. The Province of Alessandria was established during this period of administrative reorganization that followed unification, creating the provincial structure that continues to organize local governance today. ### Economic and Cultural Character The broader region of Piedmont, within which Grognardo is situated, possesses a diverse economy combining agriculture, industry, and services. The area is particularly known for its wine industry, with numerous DOC and DOCG denominations protecting the quality and origin of regional productions. The province also has historical significance in terms of manufacturing and commerce, given its position between major Italian economic centers. Culturally, Piedmont contributes to Italy's renowned culinary traditions, producing wines, cheeses, chocolates, and other food products recognized worldwide under the "Made in Italy" brand, which serves as a symbol of Italian quality and craftsmanship in food, fashion, and design. ## 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)