# Spadola > Italian comune **Wikidata**: [Q54744](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q54744) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spadola) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/spadola ## Summary Spadola is an Italian comune (municipality) located in the province of Vibo Valentia in the Calabria region of southern Italy. It is situated at coordinates 38.6°N latitude and 16.3333°E longitude, and serves as a local administrative unit within the Italian municipal system. The comune operates under the administrative framework of Italy and falls within the province of Vibo Valentia, which is part of the Calabria region in the southern portion of the Italian peninsula. ## Key Facts - **Entity Type**: Italian comune (municipal division) - **Location**: Province of Vibo Valentia, Calabria region, Italy - **Country**: Italy - **Coordinates**: Latitude 38.6°N, Longitude 16.3333°E - **Website**: http://www.comune.spadola.vv.it/ - **Population**: 811, 818, 793 (varying census years) - **Sitelink Count**: 50 - **Wikipedia Title**: Spadola - **Wikidata Description**: Italian comune - **Administrative Classification**: Comune of Italy (municipal divisions of Italy) - **Parent Administrative Entity**: Province of Vibo Valentia - **Regional Context**: Calabria (one of Italy's 20 regions) ## FAQs **What type of administrative entity is Spadola?** Spadola is an Italian comune, which is the smallest administrative division in Italy, similar to a municipality or town. Comuni serve as the fundamental units of local government and are responsible for local administrative functions, including civil registration, local planning, and municipal services. **Where is Spadola located geographically?** Spadola is located in the province of Vibo Valentia in the Calabria region of southern Italy. Calabria is the "toe" of the Italian boot-shaped peninsula, situated in the southernmost part of mainland Italy. The comune sits at coordinates 38.6°N latitude and 16.3333°E longitude. **What is the relationship between Spadola and the Italian administrative system?** Spadola operates as part of Italy's hierarchical administrative structure. It is a comune within the province of Vibo Valentia, which is itself part of the Calabria region. Italy is a unitary state organized into regions, provinces, and comuni, with Spadola representing the local level of this structure. **How can I find more information about Spadola's local government?** The official website for Spadola's municipal administration is http://www.comune.spadola.vv.it/, which provides access to local government information, services, and administrative resources for residents and visitors. **What is the population of Spadola?** According to available census data, Spadola has had varying population figures of 811, 818, and 793 residents across different census years, indicating relatively small-scale population dynamics typical of many rural Italian comuni. ## Why It Matters Spadola represents the foundational unit of local governance in Italy, embodying the decentralized administrative structure that characterizes Italian civic organization. As a comune, it serves as the primary point of contact between citizens and local government, managing essential services such as civil records, local taxation, public works, and community welfare programs. The existence of comuni like Spadola reflects Italy's commitment to local autonomy and democratic participation at the community level. The comune system in Italy, to which Spadola belongs, dates back to the unification of Italy in 1861 and represents a continuous tradition of municipal governance that has evolved over more than a century and a half. These local administrative units serve as the building blocks of Italian democracy, enabling direct citizen engagement with governance while maintaining connection to broader regional and national administrative frameworks. For researchers, historians, and those studying Italian administrative structures, Spadola exemplifies the characteristics of many smaller Italian comuni—particularly those in the southern regions like Calabria, which often face unique challenges related to demographic trends, economic development, and rural depopulation. Understanding entities like Spadola provides insight into the lived reality of Italian local governance beyond major urban centers. ## Notable For - **Administrative Function**: Serves as a functioning unit of local Italian government within the province of Vibo Valentia - **Regional Identity**: Located in Calabria, one of Italy's 20 regions, known for its distinctive geography, culture, and historical significance - **Digital Presence**: Maintains an official municipal website at comune.spadola.vv.it, demonstrating modern e-governance capabilities - **Wikipedia Coverage**: Has dedicated Wikipedia article coverage with 50 sitelinks, indicating international visibility and encyclopedic relevance - **Local Heritage**: Represents the traditional Italian comune system that has governed local affairs since national unification ## Body ### Geographic Location and Setting Spadola is situated in the province of Vibo Valentia, one of five provinces in the Calabria region of southern Italy. Calabria occupies the southernmost portion of the Italian mainland, forming the "toe" of Italy's distinctive boot-shaped peninsula. The comune is positioned at coordinates 38.6°N latitude and 16.3333°E longitude, placing it in the central portion of the Calabrian territory. The geography of the Vibo Valentia province is characterized by its mountainous interior terrain, which transitions to coastal areas along the Tyrrhenian Sea. This region has historically been known for its agricultural production, including citrus fruits, olives, and wine grapes, as well as its distinctive cultural traditions that differ from northern Italian regions. ### Administrative Structure As an Italian comune, Spadola functions as a municipal corporation with its own elected council and administrative apparatus. The comune represents the lowest level of Italy's administrative hierarchy, serving as the primary unit of local government and citizen engagement. Each comune is governed by a mayor (sindaco) and a city council (consiglio comunale), with administrative functions that include: - Civil registration (births, deaths, marriages) - Local urban planning and building permits - Municipal police and public safety - Local taxation and revenue collection - Public works and infrastructure maintenance - Social services and welfare programs - Cultural and recreational facilities Spadola falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the province of Vibo Valentia, which provides intermediate governance between the comune level and the regional government of Calabria. The province handles functions such as provincial road networks, secondary education institutions, and coordination of municipal activities across multiple comuni. ### Demographic Profile The population figures recorded for Spadola—811, 818, and 793 residents across different census years—reflect the demographic characteristics common to many smaller Italian comuni, particularly in southern rural areas. These population levels indicate a small, close-knit community where local governance directly impacts a limited number of residents. Population dynamics in Italian comuni like Spadola are influenced by broader regional trends, including migration patterns between rural and urban areas, economic opportunities, and quality of life factors. The Calabria region has experienced significant emigration historically, with many residents moving to northern Italy or abroad in search of better economic prospects, which has affected population sizes in smaller comuni throughout the region. ### Institutional Connections Spadola is connected to broader institutional frameworks through its relationship with Italy, which serves as its sovereign state and national government. Italy operates as a parliamentary republic with a unitary state structure, organized into 20 regions, 110 provinces, and approximately 7,900 comuni. This hierarchical system ensures standardized governance while allowing for local autonomy in municipal affairs. The comune classification system (comune d'Italia) represents a distinctive feature of Italian administrative organization, with roots dating to the unification period of the 1860s. Each comune maintains its own statutes, budgets, and administrative procedures within the framework of national legislation, creating a decentralized governance model that balances local needs with national standards. ### Digital Presence and Information Access Spadola maintains an official municipal website at http://www.comune.spadola.vv.it/, providing digital access to local government information and services. This online presence reflects the modernization of Italian local administration and the push toward e-governance, allowing citizens to access forms, information, and services electronically. The comune's presence in digital encyclopedic resources, including Wikipedia with 50 sitelinks across different language editions, indicates a level of international visibility and documentation. This digital footprint allows researchers, tourists, and those with interests in Italian local governance to access information about Spadola and its characteristics. ### Regional Context: Calabria Spadola's location in the Calabria region places it within one of Italy's most distinctive territorial units. Calabria is characterized by its geographic position at the southern tip of the Italian peninsula, its mountainous interior dominated by the Aspromonte and Sila mountain ranges, and its extensive coastline along both the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas. The region has a rich historical heritage dating back to ancient Greek colonization, with historical figures including Pythagoras and other philosophers who settled in the area. Calabria has also been influenced by Norman, Byzantine, and Spanish rule throughout its history, creating a complex cultural tapestry that distinguishes it from other Italian regions. Economically, Calabria has faced challenges relative to northern Italian regions, with higher unemployment rates and lower GDP per capita. However, the region possesses significant agricultural resources, natural beauty, and cultural assets that contribute to its identity and potential for development. ### Historical Background The comune system in Italy was formalized during the unification period in the mid-19th century. The Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed on March 17, 1861, and the new government established comuni as the fundamental units of local administration, building upon earlier municipal traditions that existed under previous political entities including the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, which ruled Calabria before unification. The modern Italian Republic was established on June 18, 1946, following a constitutional referendum, which confirmed the continued existence of the comune system while restructuring the relationship between local and national government. Spadola, like all Italian comuni, operates under the framework established by this republican constitution, which guarantees local autonomy within the unitary state structure. ### Relationship to Province of Vibo Valentia The Province of Vibo Valentia serves as the intermediate administrative tier between Spadola and the regional government of Calabria. The province was established in 1992, when it was separated from the larger Province of Catanzaro, reflecting the administrative reorganization that has occurred in Italy over recent decades. The province encompasses 50 comuni, including Spadola, and serves functions including coordination of transportation infrastructure, management of secondary schools, and regional planning. Vibo Valentia itself is a city of approximately 33,000 residents and serves as the provincial capital, providing services and administrative functions that affect the surrounding comuni. ### Conclusion Spadola exemplifies the structure and function of Italian local government as implemented across thousands of comuni throughout the peninsula. As a small municipality in the province of Vibo Valentia in Calabria, it represents the intersection of local community needs with broader regional and national administrative frameworks. Its existence within Italy's hierarchical governance system reflects the country's approach to balancing local autonomy with national cohesion, a characteristic that has defined Italian administration since unification. ## References 1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 2. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html) 3. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2017. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2017/index3.html) 4. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it) 5. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224) 6. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia 7. Seismic classification in Italy 8. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)