# Orte > Italian comune **Wikidata**: [Q176180](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q176180) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orte) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/orte ## Summary Orte is an Italian comune (municipality) located in the Province of Viterbo in the Lazio region of central Italy. Situated at coordinates 42.460277777778° N latitude and 12.386111111111° E longitude, Orte serves as a administrative division within Italy's municipal system and is home to approximately 8,800 to 9,000 residents. The comune is connected to the broader Italian railway network through Orte railway station and features several notable religious buildings, including Santa Maria Assunta and San Bernardino. ## Key Facts - **Classification:** Comune of Italy (municipal division) - **Location:** Province of Viterbo, Lazio region, Italy - **Geographic Coordinates:** 42.460277777778° N, 12.386111111111° E - **Country:** Italy - **Population:** Approximately 8,816 to 9,065 inhabitants (multiple census figures) - **Website:** http://www.comune.orte.vt.it/ - **Wikipedia Title:** Orte - **Wikidata Description:** Italian comune - **Sitelink Count:** 57 - **Connected Settlements:** Orte Scalo, Scappia di Paglia - **Notable Buildings:** Santa Maria Assunta (church), San Bernardino (religious building) - **Transportation:** Orte railway station (railway station in Italy) - **Administrative Status:** Part of the provincial administrative structure of Viterbo ## FAQs **What type of administrative division is Orte?** Orte is an Italian comune, which is the smallest administrative division in Italy, similar to a municipality or town. Comuni are the basic territorial units of Italy's administrative structure and are responsible for local governance, services, and planning within their boundaries. **Where is Orte located geographically?** Orte is located in central Italy, specifically in the Province of Viterbo which is part of the Lazio region. The comune sits at coordinates 42.460277777778° N latitude and 12.386111111111° E longitude, placing it in the northern part of the Lazio region near the border with Umbria. **What transportation infrastructure serves Orte?** Orte is served by Orte railway station, which connects the municipality to Italy's national rail network. Additionally, there is a smaller settlement area called Orte Scalo that likely developed around the railway station, functioning as a separate but related human settlement within the Orte comune. **What notable buildings or landmarks exist in Orte?** Orte contains several significant religious structures, including the church of Santa Maria Assunta (the main parish church) and San Bernardino, another religious building within the municipal boundaries. These buildings represent the cultural and religious heritage of the comune. **How can I find more information about Orte's local government?** The official website of the Orte comune is http://www.comune.orte.vt.it/, which provides information about local services, administration, events, and community resources for residents and visitors. ## Why It Matters Orte represents a fundamental unit of local governance in Italy's administrative system, serving as the organizational foundation for municipal services, local planning, and community governance in central Lazio. As a comune, Orte provides essential public services to its residents, including administrative functions, local taxation, public utilities management, and coordination of regional and national government programs at the local level. The municipality's location in the Province of Viterbo places it within one of Italy's historical provinces, contributing to the regional identity and administrative efficiency of central Italy. The presence of Orte railway station makes it a point of connectivity in the Lazio region, facilitating transportation and commerce for both residents and the surrounding area. Orte's population of approximately 8,800 to 9,000 people places it among the smaller but significant comuni that form the backbone of Italian local governance. These medium-sized comuni are essential for maintaining the distributed population settlement pattern characteristic of Italy, where rural and semi-urban communities maintain their distinct identities while being integrated into larger regional and national structures. The comune system in Italy, to which Orte belongs, is crucial for understanding Italian governance, as comuni represent the most immediate level of contact between citizens and government, handling matters ranging from birth registrations to local urban planning decisions. ## Notable For - **Administrative Function:** Serving as the local governmental unit for a community of approximately 8,800-9,000 residents in central Italy - **Railway Connectivity:** Home to Orte railway station, connecting the municipality to Italy's national rail network - **Religious Heritage:** Housing significant religious buildings including Santa Maria Assunta and San Bernardino - **Geographic Position:** Located at the crossroads of Lazio and Umbria regions at coordinates 42.460277777778° N, 12.386111111111° E - **Part of Province of Viterbo:** One of the comuni within the historical Province of Viterbo in central Italy - **Multiple Settlements:** Includes related settlements such as Orte Scalo and Scappia di Paglia within its municipal boundaries ## Body ### Geography and Location Orte is situated in the northern part of the Lazio region in central Italy, positioned at coordinates 42.460277777778° N latitude and 12.386111111111° E longitude. The comune lies within the Province of Viterbo, one of the five provinces of Lazio, and is located near the border with the neighboring Umbria region. The municipality's position in the Tiber River valley has historically made it a strategic location for transportation and settlement. The territory of Orte encompasses both the main town center and smaller settlements within its administrative boundaries, including Orte Scalo—a settlement that developed primarily around the railway station—and Scappia di Paglia, another human settlement within the comune. This multi-settlement structure is common in Italian comuni, where the administrative center often gives its name to outlying neighborhoods or villages. ### Administrative Structure As an Italian comune, Orte functions as a municipal corporation governed by a mayor (sindaco) and a city council (consiglio comunale). The comune is the fundamental unit of local administration in Italy, responsible for providing public services, maintaining local infrastructure, collecting municipal taxes, and implementing national and regional laws at the local level. Orte belongs to the Province of Viterbo (Provincia di Viterbo), which is one of the oldest provinces in Italy and encompasses much of the northern portion of Lazio. The province, with its capital in Viterbo city, provides intermediate administrative functions between the comune and the regional government. The Province of Viterbo is part of the broader administrative structure of Italy, which is a sovereign state and parliamentary republic located in Southern Europe. ### Population and Demographics The comune of Orte has a population of approximately 8,816 to 9,065 inhabitants, based on the census figures provided in the source material. This population size places Orte among the smaller to medium-sized comuni in the Lazio region. The population figure has shown some variation across different census periods, indicating demographic changes that may reflect broader trends in rural Italian communities, including migration patterns, birth rates, and economic conditions. The municipal boundaries of Orte encompass not only the main urban center but also the surrounding territory and associated settlements, providing living space for this population within the administrative jurisdiction of the comune. ### Transportation and Infrastructure Orte railway station serves as the primary transportation hub for the comune, connecting Orte to Italy's national railway network. Railway stations in Italy typically serve as catalysts for economic development and urban growth, and the presence of Orte station has likely influenced the development of the surrounding area, including the settlement of Orte Scalo. The station connects Orte to major Italian cities and regional destinations, facilitating commuter traffic, commerce, and tourism. As part of Italy's comprehensive railway system—operating under the country's electrical standards of 230V at 50Hz and utilizing Europlug and Type L electrical outlets—Orte is integrated into the national transportation infrastructure. ### Religious and Cultural Heritage Orte contains several notable religious buildings that reflect the cultural and spiritual heritage of the community. Santa Maria Assunta is the main church of Orte, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and serves as the principal place of worship and religious observance in the comune. This church represents the central role that Catholicism has played in Italian community life for centuries. San Bernardino is another significant religious building located in Orte, named after Saint Bernardino of Siena, a Franciscan preacher and saint who was influential in Italian religious history during the 15th century. The presence of these churches indicates Orte's historical development as a Christian community with strong ties to the Catholic Church tradition that characterizes much of Italy. ### Related Settlements and Municipal Territory The administrative territory of Orte extends beyond the main town center to include several related settlements. Orte Scalo is a human settlement within the Orte comune that appears to have developed in connection with the railway station, likely serving as a residential area for commuters and workers associated with the transportation hub. The name "Scalo" literally means "landing" or "stop" in Italian, indicating its relationship to the railway infrastructure. Scappia di Paglia represents another human settlement within the Orte municipal boundaries. These smaller settlements within the comune demonstrate the typical pattern of Italian municipal organization, where the administrative division encompasses multiple population centers that share local government services and administrative structures. ### External Resources and Digital Presence Orte maintains an official website at http://www.comune.orte.vt.it/, providing information about local government services, community events, administrative procedures, and practical information for residents and visitors. This digital presence reflects the modern administrative function of Italian comuni, which increasingly provide online services and information access. The comune has a Wikipedia article titled "Orte" and is catalogued in Wikidata with the description "Italian comune," indicating its recognition within global knowledge bases and digital encyclopedic resources. The sitelink count of 57 suggests moderate visibility in Wikipedia's network of interconnected articles. ### Regional Context: Lazio and Italy Orte is part of the Lazio region, one of the 20 administrative regions of Italy. Lazio encompasses Rome, the Italian capital, and surrounds the autonomous regions of San Marino and Vatican City. The region is characterized by a mix of urban, suburban, and rural communities, with Orte representing the more rural and semi-agricultural portions of the region. Italy, the country to which Orte belongs, is a sovereign state and parliamentary republic located in Southern Europe. The Italian Republic was established on June 18, 1946, following a constitutional referendum, though the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed on March 17, 1861. Italy is a founding member of the European Union and utilizes the euro as its currency. The country is divided into 20 regions, 110 provinces, and over 7,900 comuni, with Orte representing one of these thousands of municipal divisions that form the administrative backbone of the nation. ## References 1. [Επαρχία Λευκωσίας](http://ucm.org.cy/meli/eparchia-lefkosias//#tab-id-14) 2. Virtual International Authority File 3. BnF authorities 4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 5. MusicBrainz 6. Italian National Institute of Statistics 7. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html) 8. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it) 9. GeoNames 10. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224) 11. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia 12. Seismic classification in Italy 13. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)