# Motta San Giovanni > Italian comune **Wikidata**: [Q54630](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q54630) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motta_San_Giovanni) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/motta-san-giovanni ## Summary Motta San Giovanni is an Italian comune (municipality) located in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, in the region of Calabria, southern Italy. It sits at coordinates approximately 38°N latitude and 15.7°E longitude, and serves as a municipal division within the Italian administrative system. The comune is part of the historical Province of Reggio Calabria, which was restructured into the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria in 2015. ## Key Facts - **Official Name:** Motta San Giovanni - **Administrative Type:** Comune (municipal division of Italy) - **Location:** Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy - **Coordinates:** Latitude 38°, Longitude 15.7° - **Country:** Italy - **Population:** 6,162 (one census); 6,086 (another census); 5,574 (another census) - **Website:** http://www.comunemottasg.it/ - **Wikipedia Title:** Motta San Giovanni - **Wikidata Description:** Italian comune - **Sitelink Count:** 50 - **Administrative Status:** Formerly in Province of Reggio Calabria; now in Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria (established 2015) - **Related Settlement:** Lazzaro (a frazione/hamlet within Motta San Giovanni) - **Regional Context:** Part of Calabria region, one of Italy's 20 administrative regions ## FAQs **What type of administrative area is Motta San Giovanni?** Motta San Giovanni is a comune, which is the fundamental administrative division in Italy, similar to a municipality or town council. Comuni are the smallest administrative units in Italy and are responsible for local governance, including urban planning, civil registration, and local services. **Which province and region is Motta San Giovanni located in?** Motta San Giovanni is located in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, which is in the Calabria region of southern Italy. Prior to 2015, it was part of the Province of Reggio Calabria, which was then restructured into a Metropolitan City under Italian administrative reforms. **What are the nearby notable locations?** Motta San Giovanni is associated with several nearby settlements and landmarks, including Lazzaro (a hamlet within its territory), Riaci Capo (a human settlement in Italy), Allai (another settlement), and the Castle of Santo Niceto (a fortification in Italy). The region of Calabria is known for its distinctive geography along the Italian peninsula. **What is the population of Motta San Giovanni?** According to available census data, Motta San Giovanni has a population of approximately 6,162 residents, with other recorded figures of 6,086 and 5,574 across different census years, indicating a declining population trend typical of many southern Italian rural comuni. **What is the official website for Motta San Giovanni?** The official municipal website is http://www.comunemottasg.it/, providing information about local government services, events, and administrative matters for residents and visitors. ## Why It Matters Motta San Giovanni represents the grassroots level of Italian administrative structure, serving as an essential unit of local governance in the southern Italian region of Calabria. As a comune, it provides critical public services to its residents, including civil registration, local taxation, public transportation coordination, and urban planning. The municipality's location in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria places it within one of Italy's metropolitan cities established in 2015 as part of administrative reform aimed at improving governance in provincial areas. The comune's association with Lazzaro connects it to a network of smaller settlements that together form the fabric of local life in Calabria. The broader Calabria region holds strategic importance in Italy due to its position on the southern tip of the Italian peninsula, bordering the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas. This geographical positioning has historically influenced the region's culture, economy, and trade connections. The presence of nearby historical fortifications like the Castle of Santo Niceto indicates the area's historical significance within the broader Reggio Calabria territory, which itself is known for its ancient Greek heritage and the famous Bronzi di Riace (Riace Bronzes) archaeological discoveries. Understanding Motta San Giovanni within this context helps illuminate how small Italian comuni contribute to the nation's overall historical and cultural tapestry. ## Notable For - **Administrative Status:** One of approximately 7,904 comuni in Italy, serving as a fundamental unit of local government - **Metropolitan Context:** Located within the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, a modern administrative unit established in 2015 - **Regional Heritage:** Part of Calabria, the region with the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy - **Geographical Position:** Situated in the southern Italian peninsula at approximately 38°N latitude - **Population Scale:** Representative of the medium-sized rural comuni characteristic of southern Italian interior regions ## Body ### Administrative Structure and Governance Motta San Giovanni functions as a comune, which is the basic territorial administrative unit in Italy. The comune system dates back to the unification of Italy in 1861, when the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed on March 17, 1861. Each comune is governed by a mayor (sindaco) and a council (consiglio comunale), providing local autonomy for municipal matters ranging from building permits to civil status registration. The municipality operates under the broader administrative framework of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, which replaced the traditional province in 2015. This transformation reflects a broader Italian administrative reform aimed at granting greater autonomy and resources to metropolitan areas while maintaining effective local governance structures. The Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria encompasses the territory previously managed by the Province of Reggio Calabria, which itself had a sitelink count of 74, indicating significant digital presence and information availability. ### Geographical Context Motta San Giovanni is situated at coordinates 38°N latitude and 15.7°E longitude, placing it in the interior of Calabria, the "toe" region of the Italian boot-shaped peninsula. This positioning places the comune within the broader geographical context of southern Italy, a region characterized by mountainous terrain, coastal plains, and distinctive Mediterranean climate patterns. The location within the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria connects Motta San Giovanni to the provincial capital of Reggio Calabria, a city known for its waterfront promenade (lungomare), the Aragonese Castle, and its role as a gateway to Sicily via the Strait of Messina. The broader Calabria region (Calabria, or Calabria in Italian) is one of Italy's 20 regions and is bordered by the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west and the Ionian Sea to the east. ### Population and Demographics The population figures for Motta San Giovanni—recorded as 6,162, 6,086, and 5,574 across different census years—reflect demographic trends common to many southern Italian comuni. These figures indicate a population decline, likely attributable to factors including rural-to-urban migration, limited economic opportunities in interior regions, and the broader demographic challenges facing southern Italy, including an aging population and lower birth rates compared to national averages. The population decline is consistent with broader Italian demographic patterns, where the national total fertility rate stands at 1.2 (2020), well below replacement level. Italy's population was approximately 58.85 million as of 2023, with slight female majority (30,198,875 females versus 28,741,550 males in 2022 data). The life expectancy in Italy averages 83 years, reflecting the nation's developed healthcare infrastructure. ### Local Infrastructure and Services The municipal government of Motta San Giovanni operates through its official website at http://www.comunemottasg.it/, providing digital access to local government services, public information, and administrative procedures. This digital presence reflects the broader modernization of Italian public administration, where even smaller comuni maintain online platforms for citizen engagement. As part of the Italian administrative system, Motta San Giovanni participates in national systems including the telephone country code +39, the .it internet top-level domain, and the Italian license plate code system. The comune falls within the UTC+01:00 time zone (standard time) and UTC+02:00 during daylight saving time, consistent with Italian national standards. ### Regional Connections and Nearby Entities Motta San Giovanni exists within a network of settlements and geographical features that define the local area. The frazione (hamlet) of Lazzaro is administratively part of Motta San Giovanni, representing the smaller settlements that together form the municipal territory. This settlement pattern is typical of Italian comuni, which often encompass multiple villages and hamlets within their boundaries. Nearby human settlements include Riaci Capo and Allai, both located in Italy and sharing the common characteristic of being small Italian towns or villages. The Castle of Santo Niceto represents the historical fortification heritage of the region, indicating the area's strategic importance throughout Italian history. Fortifications like this were common throughout Calabria, serving defensive purposes against invasions and providing centers of local power during various historical periods. The broader category of "comune of Italy" encompasses approximately 7,904 municipal divisions across the country, with a sitelink count of 60, indicating substantial digital documentation and information availability about this administrative category. Italy's administrative divisions include 20 regions, which are subdivided into provinces and metropolitan cities, which are further divided into comuni. ### Historical Context The area of Motta San Giovanni participates in the rich historical tapestry of Calabria, a region with roots dating back to ancient Greek colonization. The broader Reggio Calabria area is famous for the Bronzi di Riace (Riace Bronzes), two ancient Greek bronze statues discovered off the Calabrian coast in 1972, now housed in the National Museum of Reggio Calabria. These artifacts demonstrate the region's historical significance as part of Magna Graecia (Greater Greece), the coastal areas of southern Italy colonized by Greek settlers. The modern administrative structure of Italy, including the sistema comunale, was established during the unification period. The Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed on March 17, 1861, and the current Italian Republic was established on June 18, 1946, following a constitutional referendum. The administrative reforms of 2015 transformed the Province of Reggio Calabria into the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, reflecting contemporary governance needs while maintaining historical administrative boundaries. ### Economic and Cultural Context While specific economic data for Motta San Giovanni is not provided in the source material, the broader Calabrian economy is characterized by agriculture (particularly citrus fruits, olives, and wine production), tourism (due to coastal areas and historical sites), and traditional crafts. The region faces economic challenges common to southern Italy, including higher unemployment rates and slower economic growth compared to the northern regions. Culturally, Calabria maintains strong traditions including distinctive cuisine (known for products like 'nduja, Calabrian chili peppers, and citrus-based dishes), folk music, and religious festivals. The region is part of the broader Italian cultural context, where Italian serves as the official language, though regional languages and dialects are also spoken. The national anthem "Il Canto degli Italiani" unites Italians across all regions, including the residents of Motta San Giovanni. ### Administrative Relationships Motta San Giovanni maintains hierarchical administrative relationships with higher-level governmental structures. At the national level, Italy operates as a parliamentary republic with a unitary state structure, headed by President Sergio Mattarella (since February 3, 2015) and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (since October 22, 2022). The country is a founding member of the European Union (since 1957), NATO (since 1949), and the United Nations (since 1955). At the regional level, Calabria represents one of Italy's 20 regions, each with varying degrees of administrative autonomy. The Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, established in 2015, serves as the intermediate administrative layer between the regional government and the comune of Motta San Giovanni. This structure reflects Italy's complex system of multi-level governance, balancing local autonomy with regional and national coordination. ## 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. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File 10. Seismic classification in Italy 11. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)