# San Lorenzo del Vallo > Italian comune **Wikidata**: [Q53971](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q53971) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Lorenzo_del_Vallo) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/san-lorenzo-del-vallo ## Summary San Lorenzo del Vallo is an Italian comune (municipality) located in the Province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy. It is a small administrative division within the broader system of comuni that organize municipal governance throughout Italy, situated at coordinates 39.67°N latitude and 16.3°E longitude. The comune contains within its territory the smaller settlements of Fedula, Piano del Lago, and Valle del Gelso, representing the human settlements that form its community structure. ## Key Facts - **Classification:** Italian comune (municipal division) - **Location:** Province of Cosenza, Calabria region, Italy - **Geographic Coordinates:** 39.666666666667° N latitude, 16.3° E longitude - **Country:** Italy - **Administrative Region:** Calabria - **Population:** 3,389; 3,371; 3,098; 3,100 (multiple recorded values) - **Website:** http://www.sanlorenzodelvallo.eu - **Wikipedia Title:** San Lorenzo del Vallo - **Wikidata Description:** Italian comune - **Sitelink Count:** 49 - **Contained Settlements:** Fedula, Piano del Lago, Valle del Gelso - **Part of:** Comune of Italy classification system (municipal divisions of Italy) - **Province:** Cosenza (province in Calabria region with 82 sitelinks) ## FAQs **What type of administrative area is San Lorenzo del Vallo?** San Lorenzo del Vallo is an Italian comune, which is the smallest administrative division in Italy. The comune system serves as the fundamental unit of local governance throughout the country, similar to a municipality or township in other countries. Each comune has its own local government, mayor, and administrative functions. **Which region and province is San Lorenzo del Vallo located in?** San Lorenzo del Vallo is located in the Calabria region, which is the southernmost peninsular region of Italy, and within the Province of Cosenza. Calabria is known for its distinctive boot-shaped geography extending into the Mediterranean Sea, and the Province of Cosenza is one of the provinces within this region. **What settlements are part of San Lorenzo del Vallo?** The comune of San Lorenzo del Vallo encompasses several smaller settlements within its territory, including Fedula (a human settlement in the Province of Cosenza, Calabria), Piano del Lago, and Valle del Gelso. These settlements represent the populated areas that fall under the administrative jurisdiction of the comune. **What is the population of San Lorenzo del Vallo?** The recorded population figures for San Lorenzo del Vallo include 3,389, 3,371, 3,098, and 3,100 residents. These varying figures likely reflect different census years or data collection periods, indicating a small rural community typical of many southern Italian comuni. **How can I find more information about San Lorenzo del Vallo?** The official website for San Lorenzo del Vallo is http://www.sanlorenzodelvallo.eu. Additional information can be found on Wikipedia under the title "San Lorenzo del Vallo" and through Wikidata, which lists the entity as an Italian comune with a sitelink count of 49. ## Why It Matters San Lorenzo del Vallo represents the foundational unit of local governance in Italy's administrative system. As an Italian comune, it serves as the primary interface between citizens and governmental functions, providing essential services, maintaining local records, and administering local affairs. The comune system is central to Italy's political structure, with over 7,900 comuni operating throughout the country as the basic organizational units for municipal governance. The presence of multiple settlements within San Lorenzo del Vallo—specifically Fedula, Piano del Lago, and Valle del Gelso—demonstrates how Italian comuni often encompass multiple populated areas under a single administrative umbrella. This structure allows for coordinated local governance across smaller communities that share resources, infrastructure, and administrative services. For the Calabria region and Province of Cosenza specifically, comuni like San Lorenzo del Vallo form the backbone of regional administration. Calabria, as Italy's southernmost peninsular region, relies on these municipal divisions to deliver government services to residents across its territory. The Province of Cosenza, as one of the provinces within Calabria, coordinates activities among its comuni and represents an intermediate level of administrative governance between the regional government and individual comuni. The comune also holds significance as part of Italy's broader municipal division system, which has historical roots dating back centuries and continues to serve as the primary mechanism for local self-governance throughout the country. ## Notable For - **Administrative Function:** Serves as a fundamental unit of local governance within the Italian administrative system - **Multi-Settlement Structure:** Encompasses multiple smaller settlements including Fedula, Piano del Lago, and Valle del Gelso within its territorial jurisdiction - **Geographic Position:** Located in Calabria, the southernmost peninsular region of Italy, at coordinates 39.67°N, 16.3°E - **Provincial Capital Relationship:** Situated within the Province of Cosenza, one of the provinces in the Calabria region - **Digital Presence:** Maintains an official web presence through http://www.sanlorenzodelvallo.eu - **Wikipedia Coverage:** Featured in 49 language versions of Wikipedia, indicating international recognition as an administrative entity ## Body ### Administrative Structure and Classification San Lorenzo del Vallo functions as an Italian comune, which represents the basic unit of local government in Italy's administrative hierarchy. The comune system organizes municipal divisions throughout the country, with each comune responsible for local governance, public services, and administrative functions within its boundaries. This system distinguishes Italy's approach to local government, where comuni serve as the primary level of direct citizen engagement with governmental authority. The classification of San Lorenzo del Vallo as a comune places it within a network of over 7,900 similar municipal divisions across Italy. Each comune operates under the framework of Italian municipal law, with elected officials including a mayor (sindaco) and a city council (consiglio comunale) that manage local affairs. The comune maintains responsibility for services including urban planning, civil registration, local taxation, and coordination of municipal services. ### Geographic Location and Territory San Lorenzo del Vallo is situated at geographic coordinates of 39.666666666667° North latitude and 16.3° East longitude, positioning it in the southern portion of the Italian peninsula within the Calabria region. Calabria extends as the "toe" of Italy's distinctive boot-shaped geography, projecting into the Mediterranean Sea and creating a peninsula that has influenced the region's history, culture, and economic development. The comune's location within the Province of Cosenza places it in the northern portion of Calabria, a province that encompasses diverse terrain including coastal areas, mountainous zones, and inland valleys. The Province of Cosenza is one of the administrative units that organizes the Calabria region, providing regional coordination and administrative functions between the regional government in Catanzaro and individual comuni like San Lorenzo del Vallo. ### Settlements and Community Structure The territorial jurisdiction of San Lorenzo del Vallo encompasses several distinct settlements that form the community structure of the comune. These include Fedula, a human settlement located within the Province of Cosenza, Calabria, and Italy, which represents one of the populated centers under the comune's administrative authority. Additional settlements within the comune include Piano del Lago and Valle del Gelso, both identified as human settlements in Italy that fall within San Lorenzo del Vallo's jurisdiction. This multi-settlement structure is common among Italian comuni, particularly in rural areas where several small villages or hamlets may fall under a single administrative unit. The arrangement allows for shared resources and coordinated governance across multiple populated areas that might otherwise lack the administrative capacity to function independently. ### Regional Context: Calabria and Province of Cosenza San Lorenzo del Vallo operates within the broader context of the Calabria region, one of Italy's 20 regions and the southernmost peninsular region of the country. Calabria encompasses approximately 15,080 square kilometers and is characterized by its long coastline along the Ionian Sea and Tyrrhenian Sea, mountainous interior terrain including the Aspromonte mountain range, and a population of approximately 1.8 million residents. The region operates under Italy's regional administrative system, with Calabria possessing its own regional government and legislative assembly. Regional powers include areas such as territorial planning, environmental protection, transportation coordination, and cultural affairs. The region is divided into five provinces: Cosenza, Crotone, Reggio Calabria, Vibo Valentia, and Catanzaro. The Province of Cosenza, within which San Lorenzo del Vallo is located, represents the largest province in Calabria both by area and population. The province serves as an intermediate administrative level between the regional government and individual comuni, coordinating services, maintaining provincial roads, and representing local interests at regional and national levels. The province contains numerous comuni distributed across its territory, with Cosenza city serving as the provincial capital. ### National Context: Italy As an Italian comune, San Lorenzo del Vallo exists within the framework of the Italian Republic, a sovereign state and parliamentary republic located in Southern Europe. Italy covers an area of 302,068 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 58.85 million residents as of 2023. The country operates as a unitary state with a parliamentary republic system, with Rome serving as the capital city since June 2, 1946. Italy's administrative structure consists of 20 regions, which are divided into provinces and metropolitan cities, which are further divided into comuni. This hierarchical system provides multiple levels of governance, with comuni representing the most local level of administration. Italy is a founding member of the European Union and uses the Euro as its currency, having adopted the common European currency on January 1, 2002. The Italian Republic was established on June 18, 1946, following a constitutional referendum that ended the monarchy and established the current republican system of government. The country traces its modern unified state to the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy on March 17, 1861, which unified the various Italian states into a single nation. ### Digital Presence and Information Access San Lorenzo del Vallo maintains a digital presence through its official website at http://www.sanlorenzodelvallo.eu, providing a platform for municipal information, services, and communication with residents. This digital presence reflects the broader trend of Italian comuni utilizing web technologies to improve citizen engagement and administrative transparency. The comune is documented across multiple knowledge platforms, with a Wikipedia article available in 49 language versions, indicating international recognition of the entity. The Wikidata entry for San Lorenzo del Vallo provides structured data including its classification as an Italian comune, geographic coordinates, and relationships to other entities including the Province of Cosenza, Calabria region, and Italy as a country. ### Relationship to Other Administrative Entities San Lorenzo del Vallo exists within a network of administrative relationships that connect it to larger governmental structures. It is part of the Province of Cosenza, which is part of the Calabria region, which is part of the Italian Republic. This hierarchical relationship defines the administrative jurisdiction and governance context for the comune. The entity is also connected to the broader system of comuni in Italy, which represents a classification of municipal divisions within the country. This classification system organizes thousands of comuni throughout Italy, each serving as a local administrative unit with specific responsibilities and authorities. Within its own territory, San Lorenzo del Vallo maintains relationships with the settlements of Fedula, Piano del Lago, and Valle del Gelso, which exist as smaller populated areas under its administrative jurisdiction. These relationships establish the scope of the comune's governance authority and the community it serves. ## References 1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 2. Italian National Institute of Statistics 3. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html) 4. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it) 5. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0 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)