Metropolitan cities of Italy

The 15 metropolitan cities of Italy are special types of administrative divisions that began operating in 2015. They are a unique kind of province, each centered around a large main city and including the nearby suburbs and countryside. These areas are closely connected by economic activities, important public services, cultural ties, and shared geographical features. The metropolitan cities play a key role in organizing and supporting the many people who live and work in these busy regions of Italy.

History

In 1990, laws in Italy named certain big cities, like Turin, Milan, and Rome, as important areas, along with the lands around them. Later, in 2009, Reggio Calabria joined this group. Some special parts of Italy, such as Sardinia and Sicily, also picked their own important cities.

In 2014, the Italian Parliament made a new rule to create ten big city areas. Five more were added after that. These new city areas started working together on January 1, 2015, except for Sassari, which began in 2021 and will fully start in 2025.

Government

Palazzo Valentini is the seat of the Council of the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital.

A metropolitan city has a main city that serves as its capital and many surrounding towns. The city is led by a mayor who works with a group of elected leaders to make decisions and manage the city's services and budget.

The mayor is in charge of running the city and makes sure everything works well. The leaders work together to create rules and approve important plans for the city. They are chosen by people who live in the towns of the metropolitan city, and they serve for five years.

Functions

Metropolitan cities perform important tasks similar to those of a province. They handle local planning and zoning, provide local police services, and coordinate transport and city services. These roles help manage the needs of the large city and its surrounding areas.