Latina (Italian: [laˈtiːna] ) is the capital of the province of Latina, in the Lazio region, in Central Italy. As of 2024, the city has 127,486 inhabitants and is the second-largest city of the region, after the national capital Rome.[3]

Latina
Comune di Latina
Panorama of Latina
Panorama of Latina
Flag of Latina
Coat of arms of Latina
Location of Latina
Map
Latina is located in Italy
Latina
Latina
Location of Latina in Italy
Latina is located in Lazio
Latina
Latina
Latina (Lazio)
Coordinates: 41°28′02″N 12°54′13″E / 41.46722°N 12.90361°E / 41.46722; 12.90361
CountryItaly
RegionLazio
ProvinceLatina (LT)
FrazioniSee list
Government
 • MayorMatilde Celentano (Fdl)
Area
 • Total277 km2 (107 sq mi)
Elevation
21 m (69 ft)
Population
 (31 December 2015)[2]
 • Total125,985
 • Density450/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
DemonymLatinensi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
04100, 04010, 04013
Dialing code0773
ISTAT code059011
Patron saintSaint Maria Goretti and St. Mark
Saint dayApril 25, July 6
WebsiteOfficial website
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1871407—    
1881509+25.1%
1901916+80.0%
1911990+8.1%
19211,227+23.9%
19311,812+47.7%
193619,654+984.7%
195135,187+79.0%
196149,331+40.2%
197178,210+58.5%
198193,738+19.9%
1991106,203+13.3%
2001107,898+1.6%
2011117,892+9.3%
2021127,861+8.5%
Source: ISTAT

It is one of the youngest cities in Italy, being founded as Littoria in 1932 under the fascist administration, when the area surrounding it which had been a swamp since antiquity was drained.

History

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The inauguration of Littoria in 1932

Although the area was first settled by the Latins, the modern city was founded by Benito Mussolini on 30 June 1932 as Littoria, named for the fascio littorio. The city was inaugurated on 18 December of the same year. Littoria was populated with settlers coming mainly from Friuli and Veneto, who formed the so-called Venetian-Pontine community (today surviving only in some peripheral boroughs). The edifices and the monuments, mainly in rationalist style, were designed by famous architects and artists such as Marcello Piacentini, Angiolo Mazzoni and Duilio Cambellotti.

In 1934 it became a provincial capital and, after World War II, renamed Latina in 1946. With the arrival of other people mostly from Lazio itself, the original Venetian-like dialect was increasingly substituted by a form of Romanesco dialect.

The city coat of arms is a blue shield with a stylized drawing of the City Hall Clock Tower in the middle, standing on a field of green, and flanked by two stalks of wheat tied at the base with a red ribbon engraved with the motto LATINA OLIM PALUS ("Latina, once a swamp") in Latin. The shield is surmounted by a mural crown.

Economy

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The city has some pharmaceutical, chemical industry and a strong service sector. Latina is also an important centre for agriculture (vegetables, flowers, sugar, fruit, cheese and derivates).

The former Latina nuclear power plant has been shut down and is currently undergoing decommissioning.

Government

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Frazioni

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The frazioni of Latina are: Latina Lido, Latina Scalo, Borgo Bainsizza, Borgo Carso, Borgo Faiti, Borgo Grappa, Borgo Isonzo, Borgo Montello, Borgo Piave, Borgo Podgora, Borgo Sabotino, Borgo Santa Maria, Borgo San Michele, Chiesuola, and Tor Tre Ponti.

Geography

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Latina is located in the Province of Latina, part of the southern section of the region of Lazio. The city is about 62 km (39 mi) south of Rome The municipality borders on Aprilia, Cisterna di Latina, Nettuno, Pontinia, Sabaudia, Sermoneta and Sezze.

Climate

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Latina has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa) like most of southern Italy.

Climate data for Latina
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 14.2
(57.6)
15.1
(59.2)
18.1
(64.6)
22.0
(71.6)
24.9
(76.8)
29.7
(85.5)
32.1
(89.8)
31.6
(88.9)
28.8
(83.8)
24.3
(75.7)
18.7
(65.7)
15.3
(59.5)
22.9
(73.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 4.1
(39.4)
4.6
(40.3)
7.3
(45.1)
11.2
(52.2)
14.3
(57.7)
18.2
(64.8)
20.7
(69.3)
21.5
(70.7)
18.1
(64.6)
12.9
(55.2)
8.6
(47.5)
5.0
(41.0)
12.2
(54.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 81.3
(3.20)
68.6
(2.70)
73.7
(2.90)
66.0
(2.60)
38.5
(1.52)
9.3
(0.37)
2.8
(0.11)
6.4
(0.25)
35.7
(1.41)
93.8
(3.69)
111.5
(4.39)
99.1
(3.90)
686.7
(27.04)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 165.9 179.5 213.1 230.1 278.5 325.8 367.6 343.2 280.9 225.6 161.3 154.9 2,926.4
Source: Weatherbase[4]
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The Italian film My Brother Is an Only Child is set in Latina.[5]

The Amazon Prime Video original series Prisma follows the coming-of-age of a group of teenagers from Latina.[6]

People

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International relations

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Twin towns / Sister cities

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Latina is twinned with:

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Bilancio demografico mensile". demo.istat.it. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  4. ^ "Historical weather for Latina, Italy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
  5. ^ Weissberg, Jay (2007-05-18). "My Brother Is an Only Child Review". variety.com. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
  6. ^ "Prisma". Amazon Prime Video. Amazon Studios. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
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  • Official website
  • Ofteland, Hanne Storm (2002). "Littoria" (PDF). Institute for Art History, University of Oslo. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2010.