# Tortona

> municipality in Italy

**Wikidata**: [Q17686](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17686)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortona)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tortona

## Summary
Tortona is a municipality (comune) located in the Province of Alessandria within the Piedmont region of Italy. Situated at coordinates 44.894° N, 8.866° E, the city has a recorded population ranging approximately from 26,432 to 27,440. It serves as the headquarters for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tortona and is geologically significant as the namesake of the Tortonian age.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Municipality (comune) in Italy.
- **Administrative Location:** Province of Alessandria, Piedmont, Italy.
- **Coordinates:** 44.894166666667° N, 8.8655555555556° E.
- **Population:** 27,163; 27,440; 27,299; 26,432 (various records).
- **Official Website:** https://www.comune.tortona.al.it/
- **Religious Seat:** Headquarters of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tortona.
- **Geological Significance:** The Tortonian age (fifth age of the Miocene Epoch) is named after Tortona.
- **Sports Teams:** Home to Derthona Basket (founded 1946) and ASD Derthona FBC 1908 (founded 1908).
- **Notable Structures:** Tortona Cathedral (inception 1574) and Shrine of Nostra Signora della Guardia (inception 1926).
- **Transport:** Contains the Tortona railway station.
- **Frazioni (Settlements):** Includes Bettole, Mombisaggio e Torre Calderai, Vho, and Castellar Ponzano.
- **National Context:** Located in Italy, a country with a population of 58,850,717 and a nominal GDP of $2,010,431,598,465 (2022).

## FAQs
**Where is Tortona located?**
Tortona is situated in the Province of Alessandria in the Piedmont region of Italy, a country in Southern Europe.

**What is the population of Tortona?**
Recorded population figures for the municipality include 27,163, 27,440, 27,299, and 26,432.

**What is the Tortonian age?**
The Tortonian is the fifth age of the Miocene Epoch and the Neogene Period, named after the city of Tortona.

**What sports teams are based in Tortona?**
The city is home to the Derthona Basket basketball team, established in 1946, and the ASD Derthona FBC 1908 football club.

**What are the key religious sites in Tortona?**
The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tortona and features the Tortona Cathedral, started in 1574, and the Shrine of Nostra Signora della Guardia, established in 1926.

## Why It Matters
Tortona holds a distinct place in geological science as the namesake of the Tortonian age, a critical time period used in stratigraphy to define layers of rock from the Miocene epoch. As the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tortona, the city functions as a significant religious and administrative hub within the Piedmont region. Culturally, it fosters local identity through its sports teams, Derthona Basket and ASD Derthona FBC 1908, which participate in national leagues. Its location within the Province of Alessandria places it in a historically rich area of Italy, connecting it to the broader economic and cultural framework of the Italian Republic.

## Notable For
- **Geological Namesake:** The Tortonian age of the Miocene Epoch is named after the city.
- **Religious Heritage:** Hosts the Tortona Cathedral (inception 1574) and the Shrine of Nostra Signora della Guardia (inception 1926).
- **Sports History:** Home to long-standing sports clubs, including Derthona Basket (1946) and ASD Derthona FBC 1908.
- **Administrative Role:** Serves as the headquarters for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tortona.
- **Transport Hub:** Contains the Tortona railway station.

## Body

### Geography and Administration
Tortona is a municipality located in the Province of Alessandria, which is part of the Piedmont region in Italy. The geographic coordinates for the city are 44.894166666667° N latitude and 8.8655555555556° E longitude. As a comune of Italy, it is one of the municipal divisions that make up the administrative structure of the Italian Republic. The city's official website is https://www.comune.tortona.al.it/. Population records for Tortona have varied, with figures including 27,163, 27,440, 27,299, and 26,432. The municipality encompasses several smaller settlements, known as frazioni, including Bettole, Mombisaggio e Torre Calderai, Vho, and Castellar Ponzano. Additionally, the Tortona railway station is located within the municipality, serving as a key transport link.

### Geological Significance
The city of Tortona is internationally recognized in the field of geology. The "Tortonian" is defined as the fifth age of the Miocene Epoch and the Neogene Period. This geological time period is named after Tortona, highlighting the area's importance in the historical study of earth sciences and stratigraphy.

### Religious Heritage
Tortona serves as the headquarters for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tortona, a diocese of the Catholic Church located in Italy. The city is home to significant religious architecture, including the Tortona Cathedral, a church building with an inception date recorded in 1574. Another important religious site is the Shrine of Nostra Signora della Guardia, a sanctuary established on October 23, 1926. These sites underscore the city's long-standing role in the religious history of the region.

### Sports and Culture
The municipality supports a vibrant sports culture, hosting two notable athletic organizations. Derthona Basket is a basketball team founded in 1946, with its headquarters located in Tortona. The city is also the home of ASD Derthona FBC 1908, an Italian football club that was established in 1908. Both teams contribute to the local community's identity and engagement in national sports leagues.

### National Context
Tortona is situated within Italy, a sovereign state and parliamentary republic in Southern Europe with a total area of 302,068 square kilometers. Italy, officially the Italian Republic, has a population of 58,850,717 as of 2023 and utilizes the Euro (€) as its currency. The country is a founding member of the European Union and a member of NATO, the G7, and the G20. Italy's capital is Rome, and the country is known for its boot-shaped geography, bordering France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. The nation has a high Human Development Index of 0.895 (2021) and a nominal GDP of over $2 trillion. The official language is Italian, though regional languages such as Piedmontese (relevant to the region of Tortona) and others are recognized. Italy drives on the right side of the road and operates on the CET time zone (UTC+01:00). The country is renowned for its cultural heritage, holding the record for the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Czech National Authority Database
4. MusicBrainz
5. Italian National Institute of Statistics
6. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html)
7. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it)
8. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224)
9. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia
10. Quora
11. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
12. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
13. Seismic classification in Italy
14. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)