# Paola

> Italian comune

**Wikidata**: [Q53928](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53928)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paola,_Calabria)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/paola-q53928-2

## Summary
Paola is an Italian *comune* (municipal division) located in the Province of Cosenza within the Calabria region of southern Italy. Situated at coordinates 39.3667° N, 16.0333° E, the town serves as an administrative unit with a recorded population ranging approximately from 14,709 to 15,905 residents and features notable landmarks such as the Santuario di San Francesco di Paola and a local railway station.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Italian *comune* (municipal division).
- **Location:** Province of Cosenza, Calabria, Italy.
- **Coordinates:** Latitude 39.366666666667, Longitude 16.033333333333.
- **Population:** Recorded as 15,905; 15,716; 15,827; and 14,709.
- **Official Website:** http://www.comune.paola.cs.it/
- **Wikipedia Title:** Paola, Calabria.
- **Sitelink Count:** 51.
- **Notable Building:** Santuario di San Francesco di Paola.
- **Transportation:** Paola railway station.
- **Associated Settlements:** San Miceli, Sotterra, and Licciardo.
- **National Context:** Part of the Italian Republic, a sovereign state in Southern Europe with a capital in Rome.

## FAQs
**Where is Paola located?**
Paola is situated in the Province of Cosenza, which is part of the Calabria region in Italy. Its geographic coordinates are 39.366666666667° N latitude and 16.033333333333° E longitude.

**What is the population of Paola?**
The population of Paola has been documented with varying counts, specifically 15,905, 15,716, 15,827, and 14,709.

**What are the key landmarks in Paola?**
The town is home to the Santuario di San Francesco di Paola, a significant religious building, and the Paola railway station, which serves the area's transportation needs.

**What type of administrative unit is Paola?**
Paola is classified as an Italian *comune*, which serves as a fundamental municipal division within the country's administrative structure.

**Which human settlements are associated with Paola?**
San Miceli, Sotterra, and Licciardo are human settlements located in Italy that are associated with the Paola area.

## Why It Matters
Paola serves as a vital administrative and cultural hub within the Province of Cosenza and the broader Calabria region. As a *comune*, it represents the fundamental level of local government in Italy, playing a crucial role in the management of municipal services and local governance. The town's significance is further enhanced by its religious heritage, particularly through the Santuario di San Francesco di Paola, which anchors it as a site of historical and spiritual importance. Additionally, the presence of the Paola railway station integrates the town into Italy's transportation infrastructure, facilitating connectivity and economic exchange within the region and the nation at large.

## Notable For
- **Religious Heritage:** Hosting the Santuario di San Francesco di Paola, a prominent building in the town.
- **Transportation Connectivity:** Featuring the Paola railway station, linking the town to the national rail network.
- **Administrative Status:** Functioning as a distinct *comune* within the Italian Republic.
- **Demographic Data:** Possessing specific population counts of 15,905, 15,716, 15,827, and 14,709.
- **Associated Settlements:** Encompassing or being adjacent to the human settlements of San Miceli, Sotterra, and Licciardo.
- **Geographic Specificity:** Defined by precise coordinates of 39.366666666667° N and 16.033333333333° E.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Paola is located in the southern European nation of Italy, specifically within the southern region of Calabria and the Province of Cosenza. The town's precise geographic coordinates are 39.366666666667° N latitude and 16.033333333333° E longitude. Italy, the host country, is a sovereign state and parliamentary republic covering a total area of 302,068 square kilometers. It is characterized by its distinctive boot-shaped geography, extending into the Mediterranean Sea, and is bordered by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia, while also enclaving the microstates of San Marino and Vatican City. The country's highest point is Mont Blanc (4,808.72 meters), and its lowest point is Contane (-3.44 meters).

### Administrative Structure
As an Italian *comune*, Paola functions as a municipal division, which is the basic administrative level of the Italian state. The Italian Republic is a unitary state with its capital in Rome. The current republic was established on June 18, 1946, following a constitutional referendum, succeeding the Kingdom of Italy which was proclaimed on March 17, 1861. The head of state is President Sergio Mattarella (since February 3, 2015), and the head of government is Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (since October 22, 2022). Paola maintains an official web presence at http://www.comune.paola.cs.it/.

### Demographics
The population of Paola has been recorded through various figures, including 15,905, 15,716, 15,827, and 14,709. This places the town within the broader demographic landscape of Italy, which has a total population of approximately 58,850,717 people as of 2023. The national population is slightly more female (30,198,875) than male (28,741,550), with a life expectancy of 83 years and a total fertility rate of 1.2. Italy's Human Development Index stands at 0.895 (2021), reflecting a high level of development.

### Infrastructure and Landmarks
Paola features several key infrastructural and cultural sites. The Santuario di San Francesco di Paola is a notable building located within the town. Transportation is facilitated by the Paola railway station. Italy's national infrastructure includes driving on the right side of the road (with railway traffic on the left), an electrical standard of 230V at 50Hz using Europlug and Type L plugs, and emergency numbers such as 112 (general), 113 (police), 115 (fire), and 118 (medical). The country's top-level internet domain is .it, and the telephone country code is +39.

### Surrounding Areas
The area surrounding Paola includes several human settlements, specifically San Miceli, Sotterra, and Licciardo. These settlements are part of the 20 administrative regions that divide Italy, which include Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardy, Marche, Molise, Piedmont, Apulia, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, Trentino-South Tyrol, Umbria, Aosta Valley, and Veneto.

### National Context
Paola exists within the broader framework of Italy's rich historical, economic, and cultural environment. Italy is a founding member of the European Union (since 1957) and a key member of NATO (since 1949), the United Nations (since 1955), the G7, and the G20. The country's economy is a major global power, with a nominal GDP of $2,010,431,598,465 in 2022, and it uses the Euro (€) as its currency. Culturally, Italy holds the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is renowned for its contributions to art, history, and cuisine. The official language is Italian, though regional languages such as Sardinian, Friulian, Ladin, German, and French are recognized. The national anthem is "Il Canto degli Italiani," and the patron saints are Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Siena.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. Czech National Authority Database
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. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224)
10. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia
11. Seismic classification in Italy
12. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)