# Prato Carnico

> Italian comune

**Wikidata**: [Q53316](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53316)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prato_Carnico)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/prato-carnico

## Summary  
Prato Carnico is a small Italian **comune** in the province of Udine, Friuli‑Venezia Giulia. It lies at 46.520306 ° N, 12.797248 ° E, hosts fewer than 900 residents, and is administered through the regional decentralisation entity of Udine.

## Key Facts  
- Prato Carnico is classified as a **comune** (municipal division) of Italy.  
- It is situated in the **province of Udine** within the autonomous region of **Friuli‑Venezia Giulia**.  
- The comune is part of the **regional decentralisation entity of Udine** (established 1 July 2020).  
- Geographic coordinates are **latitude 46.520306**, **longitude 12.797248**.  
- Reported population figures are **896**, **898**, and **843** (different census counts).  
- The official website is **http://www.comune.prato.bz.it**.  
- An alternative name (alias) for the settlement is **Prât**.  
- Wikidata lists the entry under the title **“Prato Carnico”** with a description “Italian comune”.  
- Related human settlements within or near the comune include **Prico**, **Osais‑Pesariis**, **Avausa**, **Sostasio**, and **Pieria‑Prato Carnico**.  
- The comune belongs to the broader category of **“comune of Italy”**, the municipal divisions that structure Italian local government.

## FAQs  

**Where is Prato Carnico located?**  
Prato Carnico lies in northeastern Italy, in the province of Udine, Friuli‑Venezia Giulia, at 46.520306 ° N latitude and 12.797248 ° E longitude.

**What is the administrative status of Prato Carnico?**  
It is an Italian comune administered through the regional decentralisation entity of Udine, which was created on 1 July 2020.

**How many people live in Prato Carnico?**  
Population counts vary slightly, with recent figures reported as 896, 898, and 843 inhabitants.

**Does Prato Carnico have an official website?**  
Yes, the municipality’s online portal is reachable at **http://www.comune.prato.bz.it**.

**What other settlements are associated with Prato Carnico?**  
Nearby or constituent localities include **Prico**, **Osais‑Pesariis**, **Avausa**, **Sostasio**, and **Pieria‑Prato Carnico**.

**What is the alternate name for Prato Carnico?**  
The comune is also known by the alias **Prât**.

**How is Prato Carnico classified within Italy’s political geography?**  
It is listed under the generic class “comune of Italy,” which groups all municipal entities across the country.

## Why It Matters  
Prato Carnico exemplifies Italy’s highly granular local‑government system, where even settlements of fewer than a thousand residents retain autonomous administrative structures, official web presences, and distinct identities. Studying such micro‑comuni illuminates how regional decentralisation entities (like Udine) coordinate services, preserve cultural heritage (e.g., local toponyms such as Prât), and maintain statistical continuity across changing population counts. For scholars of rural governance, demographic trends, or Italian regional planning, Prato Carnico provides a concrete case of how national frameworks operate at the smallest scale.

## Notable For  
- One of the **least‑populated comuni** in the Udine province, with populations under 900.  
- Maintains a **dedicated municipal website** despite its small size.  
- Holds the **alias “Prât,”** reflecting local linguistic variation.  
- Integrated into the **newly created regional decentralisation entity of Udine** (2020), showcasing recent administrative reforms.  
- Hosts several **satellite settlements** (Prico, Osais‑Pesariis, Avausa, Sostasio, Pieria‑Prato Carnico) within its jurisdiction.

## Body  

### Administrative Classification  
Prato Carnico is officially designated as a **comune**, the basic municipal unit in Italy’s administrative hierarchy. It falls under the jurisdiction of the **province of Udine**, itself a component of the autonomous region **Friuli‑Venezia Giulia**. Since 1 July 2020, the comune has been managed through the **regional decentralisation entity of Udine**, a governance layer introduced to streamline local administration.

### Geographic Location  
The settlement occupies a precise point on the map: **46.520306 ° N latitude** and **12.797248 ° E longitude**. This positioning places it in the northeastern Alpine foothills, typical of many Friulian mountain villages. The terrain influences both its demographic profile and its connectivity to larger urban centres.

### Demography  
Population statistics for Prato Carnico are modest and show slight variation across different counts: **896**, **898**, and **843** residents. These numbers reflect the comune’s status as a small, possibly aging community, a common pattern among rural Italian municipalities.

### Online Presence  
Despite its limited size, Prato Carnico operates an official website at **http://www.comune.prato.bz.it**. The portal provides residents and visitors with information on municipal services, local news, and contact details, illustrating the digital integration of even the smallest Italian localities.

### Alternate Naming  
The comune is also recorded under the alias **Prât**, a name that may derive from local dialects or historical spellings. Such alternate names are typical in regions with strong linguistic diversity, especially in Friuli‑Venezia Giulia where Friulian and other minority languages coexist with standard Italian.

### Related Human Settlements  
Within the administrative boundaries of Prato Carnico are several smaller habitations:

- **Prico** – a hamlet directly linked to the comune.  
- **Osais‑Pesariis** – another constituent settlement.  
- **Avausa** – listed as a human settlement in Italy and part of the comune’s territory.  
- **Sostasio** – included among the localities governed by Prato Carnico.  
- **Pieria‑Prato Carnico** – a settlement whose name explicitly references the parent comune.

These satellite villages contribute to the overall population and cultural landscape of the municipality.

### Relationship to the Wider Municipal System  
Prato Carnico is catalogued under the broader classification **“comune of Italy,”** which aggregates all municipal entities across the nation. This categorisation links it to a network of over 7,900 Italian comuni, each sharing common legal status, governance structures, and statistical reporting obligations.

### Wikidata and Metadata  
The Wikidata entry for Prato Carnico carries the title **“Prato Carnico”** and a concise description **“Italian comune.”** It records a **sitelink count of 49**, indicating the number of language‑specific Wikipedia pages referencing the entity. The entry also lists the **aliases “Prât,”** the **coordinates** mentioned above, and three separate **population figures** (896, 898, 843). The **official website** URL is stored as a property, providing a direct digital reference.

### Summary of Governance Context  
As a comune, Prato Carnico enjoys a degree of self‑government typical of Italian municipalities: it elects a mayor and council, manages local services (e.g., civil registry, waste collection), and collaborates with the provincial and regional authorities for broader initiatives. The 2020 creation of the **regional decentralisation entity of Udine** reflects a national trend toward consolidating administrative functions while preserving local identity.

### Cultural and Linguistic Context  
The presence of an alias (Prât) and the inclusion of multiple small settlements suggest a culturally rich micro‑region where local dialects and traditions persist. Friuli‑Venezia Giulia is known for its linguistic mosaic, and Prato Carnico likely participates in this heritage through community events, place‑name usage, and everyday speech.

### Statistical Overview  
- **Population:** 896 / 898 / 843 (latest reported counts).  
- **Coordinates:** 46.520306 N, 12.797248 E.  
- **Administrative tier:** Comune → Province of Udine → Region of Friuli‑Venezia Giulia → Italy.  
- **Website:** http://www.comune.prato.bz.it.  

These data points collectively define Prato Carnico’s identity within Italy’s complex territorial framework.

## 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. Seismic classification in Italy
10. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)