The province of Fermo (Italian: provincia di Fermo) is a province in the Marche region of Italy. It was established in 2004 and became operational in 2009. Its administrative centre and provincial capital is the city of Fermo (population of 37,995 inhabitants). Other major cities include Porto Sant'Elpidio (25,118 inhabitants), Porto San Giorgio (16,201 inhabitants), Sant'Elpidio a Mare (16,838 inhabitants), and Montegranaro (13,358 inhabitants). As of 2017, the province has a population of 174,358 inhabitants and spans an area of 862.77 square kilometres (333.12 sq mi). It contains 40 comuni (sg.: comune).[2]

Provincia di Fermo
Coat of arms of Provincia di Fermo
Map highlighting the location of the province of Fermo in Italy
Map highlighting the location of the province of Fermo in Italy
Country Italy
RegionMarche
Capital(s)Fermo
Comuni40
Government
 • PresidentMichele Ortenzi
Area
 • Total784.22 km2 (302.79 sq mi)
Population
 (30 September 2017)
 • Total174,358
 • Density220/km2 (580/sq mi)
GDP
 • Total€4.202 billion (2015)
 • Per capita€23,875 (2015)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
63900
Telephone prefix0734, 0736
Vehicle registrationFM
ISTAT109
Websitewww.provincia.fermo.it

History edit

An 1861 report by Minister Minghetti to Prince Eugene of Savoy, Lieutenant of the King,[3] justified merging the small and fragmented provinces of southern Marche into a single large province, a move to overcome the historical border between the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the Papal States. The residents of Abruzzo and Cardinal Filippo de Angelis were opposed to this. Despite this, 58% of the population of Fermo voted in favour of merging some smaller provinces, and the province of Ascoli-Fermo was created and became known as Ascoli Piceno.[4]

In 2000, supporters of forming a new province of Fermo exploited a pact between the Lega Nord and Forza Italia who had formed a number of proposals regarding establishing provincial bodies, including one that later led to the foundation of the province of Monza and Brianza. Fabrizio Cesetti was the only signatory of the act forming the province,[5] which was delayed due to the conclusion of the Legislature XIII of Italy. Following this, Law 147/2004 was passed, and the province of Fermo was established in 2004.[6]

Geography edit

The Province of Fermo is in the Marche region of central Italy, and stretches from the Sibillini Mountains to the Adriatic Sea. Its main geographic feature is the valley of the River Tenna. This river rises in the mountains, enters the province near Servigliano, passes through Grottazzolina and Montegiorgio, and reaches the sea near Sant'Elpidio a Mare and Porto Sant'Elpidio. The River Aso forms the southern border of the province, separating it from the Province of Ascoli Piceno. It rises in the mountains and flows into the Adriatic Sea at Pedaso. To the north of the province lies the Province of Macerata.[7] Footwear and leather goods are produced in the area, and the main agricultural products are cereals, vegetables, grapes, olives and livestock.[8]

The town of Fermo, the capital of the province, is an old town perched on a hill. It has a historic centre, a large piazza and a cathedral dating from 1227 with a Gothic facade. There are also traces of a Roman amphitheatre nearby. The neighbouring municipality of Porto San Giorgio has a castle dating from 1269, which protected the valley that leads to Fermo.[9]

Government edit

President Term start Term end   Party
Fabrizio Cesetti 22 June 2009 1 July 2015 SEL/PD
Aronne Perugini[10] 2 July 2015 18 December 2016 Ind. CS
Moira Canigola 18 December 2016 19 December 2021 Ind. CS
Michele Ortenzi 19 December 2021 Incumbent Ind. CS

References edit

  1. ^ Regions and Cities > Regional Statistics > Regional Economy > Regional Gross Domestic Product (Small regions TL3), OECD.Stats. Accessed on 16 November 2018.
  2. ^ "Provincia di Fermo" [Province of Fermo]. Tutt Italia. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  3. ^ Collezione celerifera delle leggi, decreti, istruzioni e circolari [Celeriferous collection of laws, decrees, instructions and circulars]. Stamperia reale. 1861.
  4. ^ "L'ordinamento giudiziario nelle Marche 1859 – 1861" [The judiciary in the Market 1859 - 1861] (PDF). Amministrazione Provinciale di Pesaro e Urbino. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  5. ^ Bill C. 6447, "Istituzione della Provincia di Fermo", approved 7 March 2001. Retrieved 17 August 2015
  6. ^ "Senate, transcript of the session 609 of 19/05/2004". Parliament of Italy. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  7. ^ The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World (13 ed.). Times Books. 2011. p. 76. ISBN 9780007419135.
  8. ^ "Eurostat". Circa.europa.eu. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Fermo" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). 1911.
  10. ^ Vice-President

External links edit

43°9′37.51″N 13°43′5.16″E / 43.1604194°N 13.7181000°E / 43.1604194; 13.7181000