# Lequile > Italian comune **Wikidata**: [Q52148](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52148) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lequile) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lequile ## Summary Lequile is an Italian comune (municipality) located in the province of Lecce in the Apulia region of southern Italy. Situated at coordinates 40.3°N latitude and 18.133333333333°E longitude, Lequile serves as a local administrative center within one of Italy's provinces characterized by its rich historical heritage and Mediterranean geography. ## Key Facts - **Type:** Italian comune (municipal division) - **Location:** Province of Lecce, Apulia region, Italy - **Geographic Coordinates:** Latitude 40.3°N, Longitude 18.133333333333°E - **Country:** Italy - **Province:** Lecce (sitelink_count: 77) - **Website:** https://www.comune.lequile.le.it/ - **Population:** 8,661; 8,689; 8,888 (multiple census years) - **Wikipedia Title:** Lequile - **Wikidata Description:** Italian comune - **Sitelink Count:** 46 - **Related Airport:** Lecce Galatina Airport (sitelink_count: 6) - **Administrative Classification:** Comune of Italy (municipal divisions of Italy; country: Italy, ; sitelink_count: 60) ## FAQs **What region and province is Lequile located in?** Lequile is situated in the province of Lecce, which is located in the Apulia (Puglia) region of southern Italy. The province is known for its Baroque architecture, Mediterranean coastline, and historical significance within the Italian peninsula. **What type of administrative division is Lequile?** Lequile is classified as a comune, which is the fundamental administrative division in Italy. Comuni serve as local municipalities that govern smaller towns and cities, handling local administration, services, and civic functions. **What is the geographic position of Lequile?** Lequile is positioned at coordinates 40.3°N latitude and 18.133333333333°E longitude, placing it in the southern portion of the Italian peninsula within the province of Lecce, close to the Adriatic Sea coast. **What nearby transportation infrastructure serves Lequile?** Lequile is connected to regional transportation through Lecce Galatina Airport, located in the broader province area. This airport provides air connectivity to and from the Lequile area within the Italian aviation network. **How does Lequile relate to Italy's administrative structure?** Lequile operates as part of Italy's hierarchical administrative system, falling under the comune level (municipal division), which is part of the province of Lecce, which in turn is part of the Apulia region within the sovereign state of Italy. ## Why It Matters Lequile represents a fundamental unit of local governance in Italy's administrative structure, embodying the historical comune system that has been central to Italian civic organization for centuries. As a municipality within the province of Lecce, Lequile contributes to the governance and social fabric of one of Italy's distinctive southern regions, which is renowned for its Baroque architectural heritage, agricultural production (particularly olive oil and wine), and strategic position along the Adriatic coast. The comune system in Italy, of which Lequile is a part, represents one of the oldest forms of local self-government in Europe. These municipalities handle essential public services including urban planning, local taxation, civil registration, and community welfare programs. The population figures for Lequile (ranging between approximately 8,600 and 8,900 residents) indicate a mid-sized Italian comune, typical of the numerous towns that form the backbone of Italy's provincial structure. The province of Lecce, within which Lequile is located, holds particular cultural and historical significance in Italy, known for its distinctive "Baroque of Lecce" architectural style and its position as a gateway between Italy and the Balkans across the Adriatic Sea. ## Notable For - **Administrative Structure:** Part of Italy's historic comune system, the fundamental municipal division of Italy since the medieval period - **Regional Identity:** Located in the province of Lecce, one of Italy's 110 provinces and part of the Apulia region - **Geographic Position:** Situated at approximately 40.3°N latitude, placing it in the Mediterranean climate zone of southern Italy - **Connectivity:** Associated with Lecce Galatina Airport, providing regional air transportation links - **Digital Presence:** Maintains an official municipal website at comune.lequile.le.it - **Knowledge Representation:** Has a Wikipedia article with 46 sitelinks and a defined Wikidata entry describing it as an Italian comune ## Body ### Geography and Location Lequile is positioned at coordinates 40.3°N latitude and 18.133333333333°E longitude, placing it in the southeastern portion of the Italian peninsula within the province of Lecce. The geographic positioning situates Lequile in the Apulia region, which forms the "heel" of Italy's boot-shaped geography and borders the Adriatic Sea. This location provides the municipality with a Mediterranean climate characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters typical of southern Italy's coastal regions. The province of Lecce, within which Lequile is located, encompasses a territory known for its distinctive Baroque architecture, extensive olive groves, and historical significance dating back to Roman and medieval periods. The area has historically served as a crossroads between the Italian peninsula and the eastern Mediterranean. ### Administrative Structure Lequile functions as a comune, which is the basic administrative unit in Italy's municipal system. The comune represents the lowest level of formal territorial administration in Italy, responsible for local governance, public services, and civic administration. Each comune is governed by a mayor (sindaco) and a council (consiglio comunale), with administrative functions that include civil registry, urban planning, local taxation, and coordination of municipal services. The comune of Lequile is part of the province of Lecce, one of Italy's provinces that serve as intermediate administrative divisions between regions and municipalities. The province of Lecce holds a sitelink count of 77, indicating substantial representation across Wikimedia projects. Italy itself is divided into 20 regions, 110 provinces, and approximately 7,904 comuni, creating a comprehensive three-tier administrative structure. ### Demographics and Population Lequile has a population ranging between approximately 8,600 and 8,900 residents based on available census data. This population size places Lequile among the smaller to mid-sized comuni in the province of Lecce, which itself contains numerous municipalities of varying sizes. The population figures reflect the typical demographic pattern of southern Italian provinces, where many residents live in smaller towns and rural municipalities rather than large urban centers. The population data for Lequile aligns with the broader demographic characteristics of the province of Lecce, which has experienced both emigration and immigration patterns throughout Italy's modern history. The Apulia region generally has experienced population growth in recent decades, though some rural comuni have faced challenges related to youth emigration to larger Italian cities or abroad. ### Infrastructure and Connectivity Lequile benefits from its association with the province of Lecce's transportation infrastructure, including Lecce Galatina Airport. This airport, with a sitelink count of 6, provides regional air connectivity serving the broader Lecce area and surrounding municipalities. The airport facilitates connections to other Italian cities and international destinations, supporting both tourism and business travel to the region. The broader transportation network in the province includes railway connections, highway links, and regional road systems that connect Lequile to other municipalities in Apulia and across Italy. The province's capital, Lecce, serves as a major transportation hub for the surrounding area. ### Digital and Knowledge Representation Lequile maintains an official municipal website at https://www.comune.lequile.le.it/, providing digital access to municipal services, administrative information, and community resources for residents and visitors. This digital presence reflects the broader modernization of Italian municipal administration and provides transparent access to local government information. In the digital knowledge ecosystem, Lequile is represented through Wikipedia with a sitelink count of 46, indicating moderate visibility across the Wikimedia platform. The Wikidata entry for Lequile provides structured data describing it as an Italian comune, linking it to the broader knowledge graph of Italian municipalities. The entity is categorized under "comune of Italy", which encompasses all Italian municipalities and has a sitelink count of 60, demonstrating the comprehensive coverage of Italian comuni in structured knowledge databases. ### Regional Context Lequile exists within the broader context of the province of Lecce, which is distinguished by its unique Baroque architectural heritage, particularly in the capital city of Lecce, known as "The Florence of the South" for its elaborate Baroque churches and palaces. The province encompasses coastal areas along the Adriatic Sea, interior agricultural lands producing olive oil, wine, and agricultural products, and historical sites dating from Greek colonization through the Roman period, medieval kingdom, and Renaissance. The Apulia region, of which Lecce province is a part, represents one of Italy's 20 regions with its own legislative powers and administrative functions. The region has historically been influenced by various Mediterranean cultures, including Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Norman, and Spanish, creating a rich cultural tapestry evident in its architecture, cuisine, and traditions. ### Relationship to Italian Administrative System Lequile's classification as a comune places it within Italy's distinctive administrative tradition, which differs from the systems found in many other European countries. The Italian comune system has historical roots dating back to the medieval period when comuni emerged as autonomous municipal corporations in northern and central Italy. Over time, the sistema comunale evolved while maintaining its fundamental role as the primary unit of local self-government. Today, Italy's approximately 7,904 comuni vary dramatically in size, from small rural municipalities like Lequile to major cities such as Rome, Milan, and Naples. Each comune operates within a framework defined by national legislation while maintaining local autonomy over certain administrative matters. The comune serves as the level of government closest to citizens, handling matters such as birth and death registration, marriage licensing, local building permits, and coordination of essential services. ## 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/app/?i=P02) 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)