Italian regions: info, rankings and curiosities

Each has its own history, its own specificity and unique natural beauty. The Italian regions are all beautiful and deserve to be explored far and wide, experienced and loved. But how many regions are there in the Bel Paese in total? Which are the largest and which the smallest? How many of them are washed by the sea? In this article you will find these and many other interesting facts about the Italian regions!

19, 20 or 21: How many regions are there in Italy?

Italy consists of 20 regions, of which 5 have special statutes and 15 have ordinary statutes. However, the number of regions has varied over the years.

At the birth of the Republic, there were 19:Abruzzi and Molise were merged into a single entity called'Abruzzi and Molise' and only split up in 1963. Regions were introduced into the Italian legal system in 1948, before which there were 'statistical-administrative decentralisation districts'.

Is there a 21st Italian region? The answer is no. However, there has been debate in the past about the possible establishment of a single territorial entity named Lunezia (or Emilia-Lunense), which would have included the provinces of La Spezia, Massa-Carrara, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia and Mantua, and partly Cremona and Lucca.

Ranking by extension

Ranking by population

SEE ALSO: The most populated cities in Italy

List of Italian Regions

1 - Aosta Valley

• Number of Provinces: 1

• Number ofmunicipalities: 74

• Regional capital: Aosta

• Borders: Switzerland to the north, France to the west, Piedmont to the south and east.

• Washed by the Sea: -

• Main mountains: Mont Blanc (4,810 m), Lyskamm/Monte Rosa (4,527 m), Matterhorn (4,478 m), Gran Paradiso (4,061 m)

• Main rivers: Dora Baltea

• Main lakes: Lake Beauregard, Lake Place Moulin, Grand Lake

• Main islands: -

• Airports: Aosta Valley 'Corrado Gex' Airport

• Cities of interest: Aosta, Courmayeur - discover the places to visit and the most beautiful villages

2 - Lombardy

• Number of provinces: 12 (Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Cremona, Lecco, Lodi, Mantua, Milan, Monza, Pavia, Sondrio, Varese)

• Number of municipalities: 1,527

• Regional capital: Milan

• Borders: Switzerland to the north, Piedmont to the west, Emilia-Romagna to the south, Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige to the east

• Washed by the Sea: -

• Main mountains: Pizzo Zupò/Bernina (3,996 m), Monte Cevedale (3,764 m)

• Main rivers: Po, Adda, Oglio, Ticino, Chiese, Lambro, Serio

• Main lakes: Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, Lake Iseo, Lake Lugano, Lake Varese, Lake Mezzola, Lake Annone.

• Main islands: Monte Isola (in Lake Iseo)

• Airports: Bergamo-Orio al Serio Airport, Brescia-Montichiari Airport, Milan-Linate Airport, Milan-Malpensa Airport,

• Cities of interest: Milan, Bergamo, Como, Mantua, Chiavenna - discover the places to visit and the most beautiful villages

3 - Liguria

• Number of provinces: 4 - Genoa, Imperia, La Spezia, Savona

• Number of municipalities: 235

• Regional capital: Genoa

• Borders: France to the west, Piedmont to the north, Emilia-Romagna to the northeast, Tuscany to the southeast

• Sea: Ligurian to the south

• Main mountains: Mount Saccarello (2,200 m), Mount Maggiorasca (1,799 m)

• Main rivers: Vara

• Main lakes: Lake Brugneto

• Main islands: Palmaria

• Airports: Albenga-Villanova Airport, Genoa Sestri Ponente Airport

• Cities of interest: Genoa, Imperia, La Spezia, Savona, Portofino - discover the places to visit and the most beautiful villages

4 - Piedmont

• Number of provinces: 8 - Alessandria, Asti, Biella, Cuneo, Novara, Turin, Verbania, Vercelli

• Number ofmunicipalities: 1,202

• Regional capital: Turin

• Borders: Switzerland and Valle d'Aosta to the north, France to the west, Liguria to the south, Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy to the east

• Washed by the Sea: -

• Main mountains: Punta Nordend/Monte Rosa (4,609 m), Roc/Gran Paradiso (4,609 m)

• Main rivers: Po, Tanaro, Ticino, Dora Baltea, Agogna, Sesia, Dora Riparia, Stura di Demonte.

• Main lakes: Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta, Lake Viverone, Lake Mergozzo

• Main islands: -

• Airports: Cuneo-Levaldigi Airport, Turin-Caselle Airport

• Cities of interest: Turin, Alessandria, Asti, Verbania, Vercelli, Orta San Giulio - discover the places to visit and the most beautiful villages

5 - Emilia-Romagna

• Number of provinces: 9 - Bologna, Ferrara, Forlì, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggio nell'Emilia, Rimini

• Number ofmunicipalities: 334

• Regional capital: Bologna

• Borders: Veneto and Lombardy to the north, Piedmont and Liguria to the west, Tuscany to the south, Marche and San Marino to the south-east

• Washed by the Sea: Adriatic to the east - discover the most beautiful beaches

• Main mountains: Mount Cimone (2,165 m), Mount Cusna (2,120 m)

• Main rivers: Po, Reno, Secchia, Panaro, Savio, Taro, Trebbia, Enza

• Main lakes: Comacchio Valleys

• Main islands: -

• Airports: Bologna-Borgo Panigale Airport, Parma Airport, Rimini-Miramare Airport, Forlì Airport

• Cities of interest: Bologna, Ferrara, Modena, Piacenza, Parma, Ravenna, Rimini - discover the places to visit and the most beautiful villages

6 - Veneto

• Number of provinces: 7 - Belluno, Padua, Rovigo, Treviso, Venice, Verona, Vicenza

• Number ofmunicipalities: 576

• Regional capital: Venice

• Borders: Friuli-Venezia Giulia to the east, Austria to the north, Trentino-Alto Adige to the north-west, Lombardy to the west, Emilia-Romagna to the south

• Sea: Adriatic to the south-east

• Main mountains: Marmolada (3,342 m), Antelao (3,264 m), Le Tofane (3,243 m)

• Main rivers: Po, Adige, Piave, Brenta, Bacchiglione, Livenza

• Main lakes: Lake Garda, Lake S.Croce

• Main islands: -

• Airports: Treviso-Sant'Angelo Airport, Venice-Tessera Airport, Verona-Villafranca Airport

• Cities of interest: Venice, Padua, Treviso, Verona, Vicenza - discover the places you absolutely must visit and the most beautiful villages

7 - Friuli-Venezia Giulia

• Number of provinces: 4 - Gorizia, Pordenone, Trieste, Udine

• Number ofmunicipalities: 216

• Regional capital: Trieste

• Borders: Slovenia to the east, Austria to the north, Veneto to the west

• Sea: Adriatic to the south - discover the most beautiful beaches

• Main mountains: Monte Coglians (2,780 m), Jof di Montasio (2,753 m)

• Main rivers: Tagliamento, Isonzo

• Main lakes: Lake of Cavazzo

• Main islands: -

• Airports: Trieste-Ronchi dei Legionari Airport

• Cities of interest: Trieste, Gorizia, Pordenone, Udine - discover the places to visit and the most beautiful villages

8 - Trentino-Alto Adige

• Number of provinces: 2 - Bolzano, Trento

• Number ofmunicipalities: 293

• Regional capital: Trento

• Borders: Austria to the north, Switzerland to the west, Lombardy to the south-west, Veneto to the south-east

• Sea: -

• Main mountains: Ortles (3,899 m), Monte Cevedale (3,764 m), Palla Bianca (3,764 m) - discover the best places to ski

• Main rivers: Adige, Avisio, Isarco, Noce, Sarca

• Main lakes: Lake Garda, Lake Caldonazzo, Lake Molveno, Lake Ledro

• Main islands: -

• Airports: Bolzano Airport

• Cities of interest: Bolzano, Merano, Rovereto, Bressanone, Riva del Garda, Brunico - discover the most beautiful places to visit and villages

9 - Marche

• Number of provinces: 5 - Ancona, Ascoli Piceno, Fermo, Macerata, Pesaro and Urbino

• Number ofmunicipalities: 236

• Regional capital: Ancona

• Borders: Emilia-Romagna and San Marino to the north-west, Tuscany and Umbria to the west, Lazio and Abruzzo to the south

• Washed by the Sea: Adriatic to the east - discover the most beautiful beaches

• Main mountains: Mount Vettore (2,476 m), Mount Priora (2,332 m)

• Main rivers: Tronto, Metauro, Chienti, Esino, Foglia, Potenza

• Main lakes: Lake Caccamo, Lake Castreccioni or Cingoli, Lake Fiastra

• Main islands: -

• Airports: Ancona-Falconara Airport

• Cities of interest: Ascoli Piceno, Fermo, Macerata, Urbino, Ancona, Pesaro, San Benedetto del Tronto - discover the places to visit and the most beautiful villages

10 - Tuscany

• Number of Provinces: 10 - Arezzo, Florence, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, Siena

• Number ofmunicipalities: 279

• Regional capital: Florence

• Borders: Liguria to the northwest, Emilia-Romagna to the north, Marche and Umbria to the east, Lazio to the southeast

• Sea: Ligurian in the centre-north, Tyrrhenian in the south - discover the most beautiful beaches

• Main mountains: Monte Pisanino (1,946 m), Corno alle Scale (1,945 m)

• Main rivers: Arno, Ombrone, Serchio

• Main lakes: Orbetello Lagoon, Massaciuccoli Lake, Chiusi Lake, Montepulciano Lake

• Main islands: Elba, Giglio, Capraia, Montecristo, Pianosa

• Airports: Florence-Peretola Airport, Grosseto Airport, Marina di Campo Airport, Pisa-San Giusto Airport

• Cities of interest: Florence, Livorno, Lucca, Pisa, Siena, Viareggio, Massa, Prato, Pistoia - discover the places to visit and the most beautiful villages

11 - Umbria

• Number of provinces: 2 - Perugia, Terni

• Number ofcommunes: 92

• Regional capital: Perugia

• Borders: Marche to the northeast, Tuscany to the west, Lazio to the south

• Washed by the Sea: -

• Main mountains: Mount Vettore (2,448 m)

• Main rivers: Tiber, Nera

• Main lakes: Lake Trasimeno, Lake Piediluco

• Main islands: Polvese Island, Maggiore Island (in Lake Trasimeno)

• Airports: Perugia-Sant'Egidio Airport

• Cities of interest: Perugia, Terni, Spoleto, Gubbio, Assisi, Orvieto, Narni - discover the places to visit and the most beautiful villages

12 - Latium

• Number of provinces: 5 - Frosinone, Latina, Rieti, Rome, Viterbo

• Number ofmunicipalities: 378

• Regional capital: Rome

• Borders: Tuscany to the north-west, Umbria to the north, Marche to the north-east, Abruzzo and Molise to the east, Campania to the south-east

• Washed by the Sea: Tyrrhenian to the west - discover the most beautiful beaches

• Main mountains: Mount Gorzano (2,242 m), Mount Terminillo (2,050 m)

• Main rivers: Tiber, Liri-Garigliano, Aniene, Velino, Sacco

• Main lakes: Lake Bolsena, Lake Bracciano, Lake Vico, Lake Albano, Lake Fondi, Lake Fogliano, Lake Sabaudia

• Main islands: Ponziane Islands (Ponza)

• Airports: Rome-Ciampino Airport, Rome-Fiumicino Airport

• Cities of interest: Rome, Frosinone, Latina, Civita di Bagnoregio, Rieti, Viterbo, Gaeta - discover the must-see places and most beautiful villages

13 - Abruzzo

• Number of provinces: 4 - L'Aquila, Chieti, Pescara, Teramo

• Number ofmunicipalities: 305

• Regional capital: L'Aquila

• Borders: Marche to the north, Lazio to the southwest, Molise to the southeast

• Sea: Adriatic to the east - discover the most beautiful beaches

• Main mountains: Gran Sasso d'Italia (2,914 m), La Maiella (2,795 m)

• Main rivers: Liri-Garigliano, Aterno-Pescara, Sangro

• Main lakes: Lake Campotosto, Lake Scanno

• Main islands: -

• Airports: Pescara Airport

• Cities of interest: L'Aquila, Pescara, Teramo, Vasto - places to visit and most beautiful villages

14 - Campania

• Number of provinces: 5 - Avellino, Benevento, Caserta, Naples, Salerno

• Number of municipalities: 550

• Regional capital: Naples

• Borders: Lazio to the north-west, Molise to the north, Puglia to the north-east, Basilicata to the east

• Washed by the Sea: Tyrrhenian to the west - discover the most beautiful beaches

• Main mountains: Mount Miletto (2,050 m)

• Main rivers: Volturno, Tanagro

• Main lakes: Lake Matese, Lake Patria, Lake Fusaro, Lake Averno

• Main islands: Ischia, Capri, Procida

• Airports: Naples-Capodichino Airport, Salerno-Pontecagnano Airport

• Cities of interest: Naples, Avellino, Caserta, Salerno - discover the places to visit and the most beautiful villages

15 - Apulia

• Number of provinces: 6 - Bari, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce, Taranto

• Number ofmunicipalities: 258

• Regional capital: Bari

• Borders: Molise and Campania to the west, Basilicata to the southwest

• Sea: Adriatic to the north, Ionian to the south - discover the most beautiful beaches

• Main mountains: Monte Cornacchia (1,152 m)

• Main rivers: Ofanto, Cervaro, Fortore, Carapelle

• Main lakes: Lake Varano, Lake Lesina

• Main islands: Tremiti Islands(San Domino)

• Airports: Bari-Palese Airport, Brindisi-Papola Casale Airport, Foggia-Gino Lisa Airport. Taranto-Grottaglie Airport.

• Cities of interest: Bari, Barletta, Andria, Trani, Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce, Taranto, Ostuni, Vieste, Polignano a Mare, Alberobello, Peschici - discover places to visit and the most beautiful villages

16 - Molise

• Number of provinces: 2 - Campobasso, Isernia

• Number ofmunicipalities: 136

• Regional capital: Campobasso

• Borders: Abruzzo to the north-west, Lazio to the west, Campania to the south, Puglia to the east

• Sea: Adriatic to the east - discover the most beautiful beaches

• Main mountains: Mount Meta (2,242 m), Mount Miletto (2,050 m)

• Main rivers: Biferno, Trigno

• Main lakes: Lake Occhito, Lake Guardialfiera

• Main islands: -

• Airports: -

• Cities of interest: Campobasso, Isernia, Termoli, Larino - discover the places to visit and the most beautiful villages

17 - Basilicata

• Number of provinces: 2 - Matera, Potenza

• Number ofmunicipalities: 131

• Regional capital: Potenza

• Borders: Campania to the west, Puglia to the north and east, Calabria to the south

• Sea: Tyrrhenian to the southwest, Ionian to the southeast - discover the most beautiful beaches

• Main mountains: Mount Pollino (2,267 m), Mount Sirino (2,005 m)

• Main rivers: Basento, Agri, Bradano, Sinni

• Main lakes: Lake S. Giuliano, Lake Monte Cotugno, Lake Pietra del Pertusillo, Lakes of Monticchio (Grande, Piccolo)

• Main islands: -

• Airports: -

• Cities of interest: Potenza, Matera, Melfi, Maratea, Brienza, Pietrapertosa - discover the places to visit and the most beautiful villages

18 - Calabria

• Number of provinces: 5 - Catanzaro, Cosenza, Crotone, Reggio di Calabria, Vibo Valentia

• Number ofCommunes: 409

• Regional capital: Catanzaro

• Borders: Basilicata to the north

• Main mountains: Mount Pollino (2,267 m), Mount Pellegrino (1,987 m), Montalto/Aspromonte (1,955 m), Botte Donato/Sila Grande (1,928 m)

• Washed by the Sea: Tyrrhenian to the west, Ionian to the east - discover the most beautiful beaches

• Main rivers: Neto, Crati

• Main lakes: Lake Cecita, Lake Arvo, Lake Ampollino, Lake of the Two Men

• Main islands: -

• Airports: Lamezia Terme Airport, Reggio Calabria Airport, Crotone Airport

• Cities of interest: Catanzaro, Cosenza, Crotone, Reggio Calabria, Vibo Valentia, Lamezia Terme, Tropea - discover the places to visit and the most beautiful villages

19 - Sicily

• Number of Provinces: 9 - Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina, Palermo, Ragusa, Siracusa, Trapani

• Number ofmunicipalities: 390

• Regional capital: Palermo

• Borders: -

• Washed by the Sea: Tyrrhenian to the north, Sicilian to the southwest, Ionian to the east - discover the most beautiful beaches

• Main mountains: Mount Etna (3,323 m)

• Main rivers: Imera-Salso, Simeto

• Main lakes: Lake Pozzillo, Lake Lentini, Lake Poma, Lake Ogliastro, Lake Pergusa

• Main islands: Aeolian (Lipari, Salina, Vulcano, Stromboli), Egadi (Favignana, Marettimo), Pelagie (Lampedusa), Ustica, Pantelleria.

• Airports: Palermo Falcone e Borsellino Airport, Catania-Fontanarossa Airport, Vincenzo Florio Trapani Birgi Airport, Pantelleria Airport, Lampedusa Airport

• Cities of interest: Palermo, Cefalù, Catania, Syracuse, Trapani, Mazara del Vallo, Marsala, Ragusa, Sciacca, Taormina - discover the places to visit and the most beautiful villages

20 - Sardinia

• Number of provinces: 5 - Carbonia, Nuoro, Oristano, Sassari, Cagliari

• Number ofmunicipalities: 377

• Regional capital: Cagliari

• Borders: -

• Washed by the Sea: Tyrrhenian to the north, Ligurian to the east, Sardinian to the west - discover the most beautiful beaches

• Main mountains: Punta La Marmora/Gennargentu (1,834 m)

• Main rivers: Tirso, Flumendosa, Coghinas

• Main lakes: Lake Omodeo, Lake Coghinas, Lake Baratz

• Main islands: Sant'Antioco, San Pietro, Asinara, La Maddalena, Caprera

• Airports: Alghero-Fertilia Airport, Cagliari-Elmas Airport, Olbia-Costa Smeralda Airport

• Cities of interest: Cagliari, Nuoro, Oristano, Sassari, Olbia, Alghero, Porto Torres - discover the places to visit and the most beautiful villages

Curiosities about Italian regions

• Which regions have a special statute? Sicily, Sardinia, Valle d'Aosta, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Trentino-Alto Adige

• Which regions are at the geographical extremes? In the extreme north is Trentino-Alto Adige (Vetta d'Italia, Predoi), in the south Sicily (Punta Sottile, Lampedusa), in the east Puglia (Capo d'Otranto, Otranto), in the west Piedmont (Rocca Bernauda, Bardonecchia)

• How many regions are there that are not bathed by the mere? There are only 5: Valle D'Aosta, Piedmont, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige and Umbria

• Which region has the most municipalities? Lombardy with 1,527 communes

• Which is the region with the fewest communes? Basilicata with 131 municipalities

• Which regions have the highest and lowest population density? Lombardy has the highest density with 417 inhabitants per square kilometre; Valle d'Aosta has the lowest density with 38 inhabitants per square kilometre

Did you find something wrong?

Share your photos, suggest changes and reports. Keep the information up to date and help thousands of travellers like you :)