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The 'Province of Belluno' (''Provincia di Belluno'') is a province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Belluno.
It has an area of 3,678 km², and a total population of 209,550 (2001).

Contents

''Comuni''

Geography

History

Economy

Linguistic minorities

External links

''Comuni''

There are 69 ''comuni'' (singular: ''comune'') in the province. As of June 30, 2005, the main ''comuni'' by population are:

''Comune''	Population
Belluno	36,112
Feltre	20,122
Sedico	9,174
Ponte nelle Alpi	8,180
Santa Giustina	6,517
Mel	6,288
Cortina d'Ampezzo	6,216
Limana	4,670
Trichiana	4,604
Pedavena	4,435
Agordo	4,225
Longarone	4,114
Cesiomaggiore	4,096
Pieve di Cadore	4,017

Geography

The province of Belluno is rather wide, and almost entirely occupied by mountain areas. It encompasses the natural and historical regions of Cadore, Feltrino, Alpago, Val di Zoldo, Agordino, Comelico and Ampezzano. The eastern part of the province features the Dolomites, including the famous Tofane, Marmolada and Cime di Lavaredo. The province is rich in water, with the presence of the wide Piave River, with its affluents Boite and Cordevole.
In the southern part is the Valbelluna, the widest and most populated valley of the province, with is bordered by the Venetian Prealps. Here is also located the National Park of Belluno Dolomites.

History

The most ancient archeological finding in the province is that of Lagole di Calalzo, in Cadore, belonging to a c. 5th century BC sanctuary dedicated to a health god of Paleoveneti. A greater site, a nechropolis, has been excavated in the ''comune'' of Mel. Findings from these sites are now housed in the Museums of Pieve di Cadore and Mel.

Economy

Until recent times, the economy of the province was based on poor mountain agriculture. Now the latter has lost much of its importance, with the exception of the cultivation of beans in the Lamon highlands. Now the Bellunese can boast one of the most important industrial sectors of northern Italy, that of glasses production (Luxottica has its eat in Agordo, for example). Also important are the sectors of house appliances (Zanussi and others) and toilets furnitures (Ceramica Dolomite, IdealStandard).
One of the most important factor of the Bellunese economy is tourism. Cortina d'Ampezzo, Alleghe, Arabba, Sappada and others are renowned in Italy and abroad.

Linguistic minorities

In the province, language minorities are present, which are now tutelated by law:

★ a Ladin minority is present in the three communes of Colle Santa Lucia-Col, Livinallongo del Col di Lana-Fodom and Cortina d'Ampezzo-Anpezo.

★ a German-speaking minority in the commune of Sappada-Plodn, Farra d'Alpago and Tambre.

External links

★ Province homepage
Belluno's map