# Martignano > Italian comune **Wikidata**: [Q52155](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52155) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martignano) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/martignano ## Summary Martignano is an Italian comune (municipality) located in the province of Lecce in the Apulia region of southern Italy. Situated at coordinates 40.23821° N latitude and 18.25602° E longitude, this small town serves as one of the municipal divisions within Italy's administrative structure. With a population of approximately 1,586 to 1,665 residents, Martignano represents a typical rural comune in the Salento peninsula area of the Italian peninsula. ## Key Facts - **Official Name:** Martignano - **Administrative Status:** Italian comune (municipal division) - **Location:** Province of Lecce, Apulia region, southern Italy - **Geographic Coordinates:** Latitude 40.23821° N, Longitude 18.25602° E - **Country:** Italy - **Population:** Approximately 1,586 to 1,665 residents (multiple census counts) - **Website:** http://www.comune.martignano.le.it/ - **Wikipedia Presence:** Available in 47 language versions (sitelink_count: 47) - **Administrative Classification:** Part of the sistema comunale italiano (Italian commune system) - **Province Identifier:** Lecce (province of Italy with 77 sitelinks across Wikipedia languages) - **National Classification:** One of approximately 7,904 comuni of Italy - **Regional Context:** Located in southern Italy (Mezzogiorno), specifically in the Salento sub-region of Apulia ## FAQs **What type of administrative area is Martignano?** Martignano is an Italian comune, which is the smallest administrative division in Italy. Comuni serve as the fundamental units of local government and are responsible for municipal services, civil registration, and local administration. Each comune is headed by a mayor (sindaco) and a city council (consiglio comunale). **Where is Martignano located geographically?** Martignano is situated in the province of Lecce, which is located in the Apulia (Puglia) region at the heel of the Italian peninsula. The town lies at coordinates 40.23821° N latitude and 18.25602° E longitude, placing it in the Salento area, the southern portion of the Apulian peninsula that separates the Adriatic Sea from the Ionian Sea. **What is the population of Martignano?** Martignano has a population of approximately 1,586 to 1,665 residents, based on the census data provided. This places it among the smaller comuni in the province of Lecce, which itself contains numerous small to medium-sized municipalities throughout its territory. **How does Martignano relate to broader Italian administrative divisions?** Martignano is part of a hierarchical administrative structure: it is a comune within the province of Lecce, which is located in the region of Apulia, which is itself one of the 20 regions of Italy. This structure is typical of Italian governmental organization, where comuni serve as the foundational local administrative units. **What is the official website for Martignano?** The official municipal website for Martignano is http://www.comune.martignano.le.it/, which follows the standard Italian convention for municipal websites using the .it country code top-level domain and indicating the province (le) in the URL. ## Why It Matters Martignano, while a small municipality, represents an important element of Italy's administrative and cultural landscape. As one of the approximately 7,904 comuni that divide the Italian territory, Martignano embodies the decentralized governance structure that characterizes Italy's municipal system. The comune serves as the primary point of contact between citizens and local government, handling essential functions such as population registration, local taxation, public works, and community services. The existence of Martignano as a distinct administrative entity reflects Italy's historical tradition of communal governance that dates back to the medieval period. The Italian comune system has evolved over centuries, transitioning from independent city-states during the Renaissance to modern administrative units within a unified nation. Municipalities like Martignano preserve this legacy while serving contemporary needs of local populations. From a geographical perspective, Martignano's location in the province of Lecce places it in one of Italy's most distinctive regions. The Salento area of Apulia has its own unique cultural identity, characterized by specific dialects, culinary traditions, and historical influences from both Mediterranean and continental European cultures. The province of Lecce, with its Baroque architecture and strategic position between the Adriatic and Ionian seas, has been an important area throughout Italian and Mediterranean history. The presence of Martignano in digital knowledge bases, with its Wikipedia article available in 47 languages, demonstrates the municipality's integration into global information networks. This digital presence facilitates research, tourism, and administrative communication for the municipality and its residents. ## Notable For - **Administrative Structure:** Representative of the Italian comune system, which forms the backbone of local governance in Italy - **Geographic Position:** Located in the Salento sub-region of Apulia, an area known for its unique blend of Adriatic and Ionian coastal influences - **Digital Presence:** Municipal information accessible through official website and Wikipedia coverage in 47 languages - **Provincial Membership:** Part of the province of Lecce, which contains 97 comuni and is known for its Baroque architectural heritage - **Regional Context:** Situated in Apulia (Puglia), one of Italy's 20 regions and home to approximately 4 million residents ## Body ### Administrative Status and Classification Martignano is classified as an Italian comune, which represents the fundamental unit of local administration in Italy. The comune system traces its origins to the medieval period when Italian cities organized themselves as independent communes, and it has evolved into the modern municipal structure that governs towns and cities throughout the country. Each comune, regardless of size, possesses legal personality and exercises administrative powers delegated by national and regional legislation. The comune of Martignano operates under the framework of Italian municipal law, which defines its competencies, organizational structure, and financial responsibilities. Like all Italian comuni, Martignano is governed by elected officials including a mayor (sindaco) and members of the city council (consiglio comunale). The municipal administration handles services ranging from civil status registration (births, deaths, marriages) to urban planning, local taxation, and the maintenance of public infrastructure. ### Geographic Location and Environment Martignano is positioned at coordinates 40.23821° north latitude and 18.25602° east longitude, placing it in the southeastern portion of the Italian peninsula. This location situates the municipality within the Salento peninsula, the heel of Italy's boot-shaped geography, which separates the Adriatic Sea to the east from the Ionian Sea to the west. The specific coordinates indicate a location in the interior of the Salento region, away from the coastal areas that characterize much of the province of Lecce. The province of Lecce, within which Martignano is located, encompasses the entire Salento peninsula and represents one of the 110 provinces of Italy. The province is named after its capital city, Lecce, which is known for its elaborate Baroque architecture and historical significance. The geography of the area includes a mix of coastal plains, gently rolling hills, and the characteristic Mediterranean vegetation of the southern Italian peninsula. The regional context places Martignano in Apulia (Puglia in Italian), one of Italy's 20 regions. Apulia extends along the Adriatic coast from the Gargano peninsula in the north to the tip of the Salento in the south. The region is characterized by its agricultural productivity, particularly olive oil production, and its strategic importance throughout Mediterranean history as a crossroads between Eastern and Western civilizations. ### Population and Demographics Martignano has a population of approximately 1,586 to 1,665 residents based on the census data provided. This population size is consistent with the many small comuni that exist throughout Italy, particularly in the southern regions where population dispersion is more common than in the urbanized north. The population figures represent the official counts recorded through Italian census procedures, which are conducted periodically to update demographic statistics. The population size of Martignano places it among the smaller municipalities in the province of Lecce, which ranges from small villages to larger towns like the provincial capital. Italian comuni can vary dramatically in population, from municipalities with fewer than 100 residents in mountain areas to major cities with populations exceeding one million. Martignano's population is typical of rural comuni in the southern Italian peninsula. ### Historical Context of Italian Comuni The establishment of Martignano as a comune must be understood within the broader context of Italian administrative history. The modern Italian comune system was formalized following the unification of Italy in the mid-19th century. The Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed on March 17, 1861, and the new state inherited the administrative divisions of the various pre-unification states while reorganizing them according to French-inspired administrative principles. The current Italian Republic, established on June 18, 1946, following the constitutional referendum, maintained the comune structure while introducing democratic governance at the municipal level. The Constitution of Italy recognizes comuni as autonomous entities with their own competencies, while establishing the framework for their organization and operation. This constitutional recognition ensures that municipalities like Martignano maintain a degree of local autonomy within the unitary Italian state. ### Relationship to Higher Administrative Levels Martignano's position within Italy's administrative hierarchy follows a clear structure: the comune is part of the province, which is part of the region, which is part of the national state. This hierarchical organization reflects the unitary character of the Italian state, where significant powers are delegated to sub-national entities but ultimate authority remains with the national government. The province of Lecce, with its 77 sitelinks across Wikipedia language editions, represents an important level of intermediate administration between the regional government in Bari (the capital of Apulia) and the municipal government of Martignano. Provinces in Italy handle functions including provincial road networks, secondary education, and coordination of municipal activities within their territories. At the national level, Italy is a sovereign parliamentary republic and a founding member of the European Union. With a population of approximately 58.85 million people and an area of 302,068 square kilometers, Italy ranks among the world's major economies and plays a significant role in European and global affairs. The country operates as a unitary state with 20 regions, 110 provinces, and approximately 7,904 comuni. ### Digital Presence and Information Access Martignano maintains an official municipal website at http://www.comune.martignano.le.it/, following the standard Italian convention for government websites. The URL structure incorporates the .it country code top-level domain and includes the provincial abbreviation "le" for Lecce, making it consistent with the naming conventions used by Italian public administration websites. The municipality's presence in digital knowledge bases includes a Wikipedia article available in 47 language versions, as indicated by the sitelink_count of 47. This multilingual coverage reflects the global interest in Italian municipalities and facilitates access to information about Martignano for speakers of different languages. The Wikipedia presence also indicates that Martignano meets the notability thresholds established by the online encyclopedia's editorial standards. ### Cultural and Regional Identity While specific details about Martignano's cultural institutions are not provided in the source material, the municipality's location in the Salento region of Apulia provides context for understanding its cultural identity. The Salento area has developed distinctive cultural characteristics over centuries of history, influenced by Greek, Norman, Spanish, and other Mediterranean civilizations that have left their mark on the region. The province of Lecce is particularly known for its Baroque architecture, which flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries and left a distinctive artistic legacy throughout the territory. The region's cuisine, characterized by olive oil, vegetables, seafood, and pasta dishes, represents one of the distinctive culinary traditions of southern Italy. The Salento dialect, which differs significantly from standard Italian, reflects the linguistic diversity that exists within the Italian peninsula. ### Administrative Statistics and Comparisons The sitelink_count of 47 for Martignano's Wikipedia article provides a metric for comparing the municipality's digital presence with other entities. This figure indicates the number of Wikipedia language editions that include an article about Martignano, which can serve as an indicator of international awareness of the municipality. The province of Lecce, with a sitelink_count of 77, demonstrates higher digital presence, consistent with its status as a significant administrative division. Italy as a country has a sitelink_count of 404, reflecting the extensive coverage of Italian topics across Wikipedia's language editions. The comune of Italy as a category has a sitelink_count of 60, indicating the number of Wikipedia editions that include articles about the concept of Italian comuni as an administrative category. This figure demonstrates the international relevance of Italy's unique administrative system. ### Economic and Social Context The municipality of Martignano operates within the broader economic context of the province of Lecce and the region of Apulia. Southern Italy (Mezzogiorno) has historically faced economic challenges relative to the more industrialized north, but the region has developed significant strengths in agriculture, tourism, and traditional crafts. Apulia is one of Italy's leading producers of olive oil, with vast groves covering the region's landscape. The coastal areas of the province of Lecce attract significant tourism during the summer months, while the interior maintains agricultural traditions that have characterized the region for centuries. Small municipalities like Martignano contribute to this economic landscape through agricultural production and participation in local supply chains. ### Conclusion Martignano represents a typical Italian comune in the province of Lecce, embodying the administrative, geographic, and cultural characteristics of the Salento region in southern Italy. While modest in population, the municipality participates in Italy's system of local governance and contributes to the diverse tapestry of Italian municipal life. Its presence in digital knowledge bases, combined with its official municipal website, ensures that information about Martignano remains accessible to researchers, visitors, and residents seeking to understand this corner of the Italian peninsula. ## References 1. BnF authorities 2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 3. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html) 4. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2017. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2017/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)