The province of Sondrio (), also known as Valtellina (the major valley of the province) is a province in the Lombardy region of Italy. Its provincial capital is the city of Sondrio.

As of 2024, it has a population of 179,165.

History

thumb|left|Map with the grey area of [[Valchiavenna, Tre Pievi, Valtellina and Bormio ruled by the Three Leagues from 1512 to 1797]]

thumb|left|Historical regions of the province of Sondrio

The province was established in 1815, within the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia, combining the valleys of Valtellina, Valchiavenna and Bormio.

Before the Roman conquest, the territory was inhabited by Celts (Lepontii) and Rhaetians (Camunni). The Romans included this area in their Cisalpine Gaul province.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it came under the control of the Lombards and was first ruled by feudal lords from the local area. During the Middle Ages it belonged to the Kingdom of Italy. In the 14th century it fell under the rule of the Duchy of Milan due to the House of Visconti and House of Sforza. Sondrio and Valtellina were strategically important in the politics of Europe, especially in the sixteenth and 17th century religious wars, due to their connections to Europe by Sondrio's Spluga Pass and valleys. Upon the collapse of the Duchy of Milan, rule over Sondrio was exercised by the Swiss Canton of Graubünden. In the Valtellina War, Valtellina was invaded in 1622 by the Spanish Governor of Milan as the valleys had been used to transport troops around Europe; the Spanish efforts were assisted by a 1620 religious revolt in Valtellina against the Swiss.

thumb|[[Bacino di San Giacomo]]

The economy is based on construction, logging, quarrying, tourism and light industry. Workers from Switzerland commute to work in Sondrio, and other workers cross the border from Italy to join the Swiss workforce. Throughout the province grapes have traditionally been grown, each district having its own local variety and producing its own local wine. It has been necessary for farmers to engineer terraces on the steep slopes, building dry stone retaining walls and moving earth to make the best use of terrain that is unsuitable for general agricultural purposes. The traditions of viticulture are embedded in the culture of the countryside.

Municipalities

thumb|Map of the province of Sondrio

Here is a list of the most populated municipalities of the province.

thumb|[[Sondrio]]

thumb|[[Morbegno]]

thumb|[[Tirano]]

thumb|[[Chiavenna]]

thumb|[[Livigno]]

thumb|[[Cosio Valtellino]]

thumb|[[Talamona]]

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|-

! Comune

! Population

|-

||Sondrio

|

|-

|Morbegno

|

|-

|Tirano

|

|-

|Chiavenna

|

|-

|Livigno

|

|-

|Cosio Valtellino

|

|-

|Talamona

|

|-

|Teglio

|

|-

|Grosio

|

|-

|Valdidentro

|

|}

The full list is:

  • Albaredo per San Marco
  • Albosaggia
  • Andalo Valtellino
  • Aprica
  • Ardenno
  • Bema
  • Berbenno di Valtellina
  • Bianzone
  • Bormio
  • Buglio in Monte
  • Caiolo
  • Campodolcino
  • Caspoggio
  • Castello dell'Acqua
  • Castione Andevenno
  • Cedrasco
  • Cercino
  • Chiavenna
  • Chiesa in Valmalenco
  • Chiuro
  • Cino
  • Civo
  • Colorina
  • Cosio Valtellino
  • Dazio
  • Delebio
  • Dubino
  • Faedo Valtellino
  • Forcola
  • Fusine
  • Gerola Alta
  • Gordona
  • Grosio
  • Grosotto
  • Lanzada
  • Livigno
  • Lovero
  • Madesimo
  • Mantello
  • Mazzo di Valtellina
  • Mello
  • Menarola
  • Mese
  • Montagna in Valtellina
  • Morbegno
  • Novate Mezzola
  • Pedesina
  • Piantedo
  • Piateda
  • Piuro
  • Poggiridenti
  • Ponte in Valtellina
  • Postalesio
  • Prata Camportaccio
  • Rasura
  • Rogolo
  • Samolaco
  • San Giacomo Filippo
  • Sernio
  • Sondalo
  • Sondrio
  • Spriana
  • Talamona
  • Tartano
  • Teglio
  • Tirano
  • Torre di Santa Maria
  • Tovo di Sant'Agata
  • Traona
  • Tresivio
  • Val Masino
  • Valdidentro
  • Valdisotto
  • Valfurva
  • Verceia
  • Vervio
  • Villa di Chiavenna
  • Villa di Tirano

See also

  • Bacino di San Giacomo

References

  • Official website