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40-666: Finale was struck by an earthquake on 20 May 2012 , which destroyed or damaged several historical structures, such as the Torre dei Modenesi (a clock tower), and most of both the local castle and cathedral. This article on a location in Emilia–Romagna is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . 2012 Northern Italy earthquakes In May 2012, two major earthquakes struck Northern Italy , causing 27 deaths and widespread damage. The events are known in Italy as

80-706: A foreland basin formed by the downflexing of the crust by the loading of the Apennine thrust sheets, overlies and mainly conceals the active front of the Northern Apennines fold and thrust belt , across which there is about one millimeter (0.04 in) per year of active shortening at present. Information from hydrocarbon exploration demonstrates that the area is underlain by a series of active thrust faults and related folds , some of which have been detected from anomalous drainage patterns. These blind thrust faults are roughly WNW–ESE trending, parallel to

120-688: A tundra climate ( ET ), where every month has an average temperature below 10 °C (50 °F). This climate may be either a kind of more severe cold oceanic climate, with a low summer average but mild winters, sometimes above −3 °C (27 °F), especially near lakes, or a more severe cold continental climate, with a very low winter average. Temperature averages in Plateau Rosa , at 3,400 m (11,200 ft) high, are −11.6 °C (11.1 °F) in January and 1.4 °C (34.5 °F) in July. It

160-626: A dark bread made with rye, and honey. Notable dishes include Carbonnade , similar to the Belgian dish of the same name consisting of salt-cured beef cooked with onions and red wine served with polenta; breaded veal cutlets called costolette ; teuteuns , salt-cured cow's udder that is cooked and sliced; and steak à la valdôtaine , a steak with croûtons , ham and melted cheese. Aosta Valley has many small and picturesque villages, three of them have been selected by I Borghi più belli d'Italia (English: The most beautiful Villages of Italy ),

200-504: A north–south direction of compression, on a fault plane trending west–east. This type of faulting is consistent with the regional tectonic setting. On 29 May (about 09:00 CEST, 07:00 UTC), a magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit the same area. The hypocentre has been estimated at 5–10 kilometres (3–6 mi) below Mirandola . A series of two or three, according to different sources, strong aftershocks with magnitudes larger than 5 occurred at between 12:55 and 13:02 local time. The 09:00 shock and

240-563: Is an Alpine valley which, with its tributary valleys, includes the Italian slopes of Mont Blanc , Monte Rosa , Gran Paradiso and the Matterhorn ; its highest peak is Mont Blanc (4,810 m or 15,780 ft). This makes it the highest region in Italy, according to the list of Italian regions by highest point . The valleys, usually above 1,600 m (5,200 ft), annually have a cold continental climate ( Dfc ). In this climate,

280-571: Is conducted evenly in French and Italian, so that anyone who has gone to school in the Aosta Valley can speak both languages to at least a medium-high level. Legal decree No.365 of 11 November 1946 (art.2) states that it is mandatory to know both Italian and French to teach in Aosta Valley's schools. According to Aosta Valley's autonomous status (art.39), the same quantity of hours of French and Italian teaching must be held. The decree No.861 of

320-415: Is not divided into provinces. Nevertheless, it is still divided into 74 comunes namely: The population density of Aosta Valley is by far the lowest of the Italian regions. In 2008, 38.9 inhabitants per km were registered in the region, whereas the average national figure was 198.8, though the region has extensive uninhabitable areas of mountain and glacier, with a substantial part of the population living in

360-462: Is the coldest place in Italy where the climate is verifiable. In the past, above 3,500 m (11,500 ft), all months had an average temperature below freezing, with a perpetual frost climate (EF). In recent years, however, there has been a rise in temperatures. See, as an example, the data for Plateau Rosa. Early inhabitants of the Aosta Valley were Celts and Ligures , whose language heritage remains in some local placenames. Rome conquered

400-552: Is the highest growth among the Italian regions. With a negative natural population growth, this is due exclusively to positive net migration. Between 2001 and 2011, the population of Aosta Valley grew by a further 7.07%. As of 2006 , the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) estimated that 4,976 foreign-born immigrants live in Aosta Valley, equal to 4.0% of the total regional population. The Valdôtain population and their language dialects have been

440-546: The 2012 Emilia earthquakes , because they mainly affected the Emilia region. The first earthquake, registering magnitude 6.1, struck in the Emilia-Romagna region, about 36 kilometres (22 miles) north of the city of Bologna , on 20 May at 04:03 local time (02:03 UTC ). The epicentre was between Finale Emilia , Bondeno and Sermide . Two aftershocks of magnitude 5.2 occurred, one approximately an hour after

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480-635: The Franconian line and built himself a commanding fortification at Bard . Saint Anselm of Canterbury was born in Aosta in 1033 or 1034. The region was divided among strongly fortified castles, and in 1191, Thomas I of Savoy found it necessary to grant to the communes a Charte des franchises ("Charter of Liberties") which preserved autonomy—rights that were fiercely defended until 1770, when they were revoked to tie Aosta more closely to Piedmont , but which were again demanded during post-Napoleonic times. In

520-670: The Secondary education final exam , similar to the first test (in Italian). The regional language , known as patoué valdotèn or simply patoué ( patois valdôtain in French), is a dialectal variety of Franco-Provençal . It is spoken as a native and second language by 68,000 residents, or about 58% of the population according to a sociolinguistic survey carried out by the Fondation Émile Chanoux in 2001. The survey found that

560-527: The ducal palace were damaged. An aftershock on the 3 June was felt throughout Northern Italy and caused the collapse of the 18th century clock tower in Novi di Modena , already imperilled by the earthquake of recent days. The earthquake damage in Emilia "could exceed 4 billion" according to the vice-president of Confindustria Emilia-Romagna , Gaetano Maccaferri, who released these figures in testimony before

600-574: The 13:00 shocks were felt throughout Northern Italy, up to the Aosta province . The 09:00 earthquake was also felt in Austria , Switzerland, Slovenia and Croatia , with reports of swaying buildings in Austria. The two large aftershocks at 12:55 and 13:02 could also be felt in Austria. This earthquake had a similar mechanism to the 20 May shock. This earthquake, like the previous earthquake of 20 May,

640-526: The 15th-century cathedral of Mirandola , already damaged on 20 May, collapsed after the 29 May shock. The earthquake was felt in most of Northern Italy, triggering evacuation of schools and other buildings. Some buildings in the Modena province and neighbouring areas, already damaged in the first earthquake, collapsed. After the mainshock of 20 May, inspections were underway to determine which buildings were safe to reenter. The 29 May earthquake occurred during

680-469: The Italian language was native to 77.29% of respondents, Franco-Provençal to 17.91%, and French to 1.25%, though the active use of these languages by the population shows French at 75.41% and Franco-Provençal at 55.77%. The population of Gressoney-Saint-Jean , Gressoney-La-Trinité and Issime , in the Lys Valley , speak two dialects of Walser German , Titsch and Töitschu respectively. According to

720-618: The President of the Republic of 31 October 1975 (art.5) states that it is mandatory to pass a French exam to teach in Aosta Valley for Italian native speakers, as well an Italian exam for French native speakers. Italian law No.196 of 16 May 1978 states the adaptation rules of national educational programmes into French for Aosta Valley, and states as well that all members of the examination boards must be fluent both in Italian and French. Aosta Valley students must pass an extra test in French at

760-490: The Senate Committee on Industry. Aosta Valley The Aosta Valley ( French : Vallée d'Aoste [vale dɔst] ; Italian : Valle d'Aosta [ˈvalle daˈɔsta] ; Arpitan : Val d'Aoûta ) is a mountainous autonomous region in northwestern Italy . It is bordered by Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes , France , to the west; by Valais , Switzerland , to the north; and by Piedmont , Italy, to

800-410: The central valley. Negative natural population growth since 1976 has been more than offset by immigration. The region has one of Italy's lowest birth rates , with a rising average age. This, too, is partly compensated by immigration, since most immigrants arriving in the region are younger people working in the tourist industry. Between 1991 and 2001, the population of Aosta Valley grew by 3.1%, which

840-408: The churches and many of the factories in the area. Seven people were killed. In San Carlo more than 350 families lost their houses. Within the next nine days, there were six aftershocks exceeding magnitude 5, 28 of magnitude 4–5 and 139 of magnitude 3–4. The mainshock could be felt as far away as Switzerland . The focal mechanism indicates that the earthquake was a result of thrust faulting , with

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880-456: The daytime, when many people were working. As in the mainshock of 20 May, many of the dead in the 29 May earthquake were workers inside huge warehouses and factories. A local union representative has demanded an investigation to determine who was responsible for permitting the companies to resume operations. Both the 20 and 29 May events caused damage to the neighbouring provinces of Bologna , Reggio Emilia , Rovigo and Mantua , where parts of

920-507: The epicentre suffered damage. One of the towers of Castello Estense , a moated medieval structure in the centre of Ferrara, was damaged in the earthquake. Half of a clock tower in Finale Emilia dating from the 13th century (known as the torre dei modenesi ) fell down in the mainshock and the remaining part collapsed completely during an aftershock later that day. There was also significant damage to factories and agricultural land in

960-490: The main event and another approximately eleven hours after the main event. Seven people were killed. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the same area nine days later, on 29 May, causing an additional twenty deaths and widespread damage, particularly to buildings already weakened by the 20 May earthquake. The epicentre was in Medolla : the quake itself occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi). The Po Plain ,

1000-637: The mid-13th century, Emperor Frederick II made the County of Aosta a duchy (see Duke of Aosta ), and its arms charged with a lion rampant were carried in the Savoy arms until the reunification of Italy in 1870. The region remained part of Savoy lands, with the exceptions of French occupations from 1539 to 1563, later in 1691, and then between 1704 and 1706. It was also ruled by the First French Empire between 1800 and 1814. During French rule, it

1040-530: The mountain front, and dip shallowly towards the south-southwest. Several damaging historical earthquakes, such as the 1570 Ferrara earthquake , have occurred in the area. The 20 May earthquake sequence began with a magnitude 4.0 foreshock at 01:13 local time (23:13 UTC 19 May). Less than three hours later, at 04:04 local time (02:04 UTC) the biggest of these earthquakes occurred with magnitude 6.1 between Finale Emilia (province of Modena) and Sant'Agostino (province of Ferrara). This strong quake destroyed all

1080-575: The province of Modena , in areas already affected by earthquakes in recent days. This earthquake was generated by a fault other than that responsible for the earthquakes of 20 and 29 May in Emilia, although part of the same group of geological structures. Initial reports after the 20 May shock listed seven dead, including four workers at a factory in Ferrara , and about 5,000 people left homeless. At least 100 structures of historical significance have been damaged or destroyed. Many churches in towns around

1120-477: The region from the local Salassi around 25 BC and founded Augusta Prætoria Salassorum (modern-day Aosta) to secure the strategic mountain passes, and they went on to build bridges and roads through the mountains. Thus, the name Valle d'Aosta literally means "Valley of Augustus". In 1031–1032, Humbert I of Savoy , the founder of the House of Savoy , received the title Count of Aosta from Emperor Conrad II of

1160-565: The region. Production of Grana Padano and Parmigiano-Reggiano hard cheeses was badly affected; approximately 300,000 wheels , with an estimated value of €200 million, were destroyed. Five of the deaths were caused by the collapse of recently constructed factory buildings. Stefano Gresta, president of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology , deemed it "unacceptable that modern constructions such as warehouses and industrial sheds have collapsed in an earthquake which

1200-426: The regional government. The region is divided into 74 comuni (French: communes ). The official languages are Italian and French ; Valdôtain , a dialect of Franco-Provençal , is also officially recognized. Italian is spoken as a mother tongue by 77.29% of the population, Valdôtain by 17.91%, and French by 1.25%. In 2009, reportedly 50.53% of the population could speak all three languages. The Aosta Valley

1240-399: The snow season is very long, as long as 8 or 9 months at the highest points. During the summer, mist occurs almost every day. These areas are the wettest in the western Alps. Temperatures in January are low, between −7 and −3 °C (19 and 27 °F), and in July are between 20 and 35 °C (68 and 95 °F). Areas between 2,000 and 3,500 m (6,600 and 11,500 ft) usually have

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1280-515: The south and east. The regional capital is Aosta . Covering an area of 3,263 km (1,260 sq mi) and with a population of about 128,000, it is the smallest, least populous, and least densely populated region of Italy. The province of Aosta having been dissolved in 1945, the Aosta Valley region was the first region of Italy to abolish provincial subdivisions, followed by Friuli-Venezia Giulia in 2017 (where they were reestablished later). Provincial administrative functions are provided by

1320-435: The subject of some sociological research. The Aosta Valley was the first government authority to adopt Modern French as the official language in 1536, three years before France itself. Since 1946, Italian and French are the region's official languages and are used for the regional government's acts and laws, though Italian is much more widely spoken in everyday life, and French is mostly spoken in cultural life. Education

1360-541: The survey, Walser German was spoken as a mother tongue by 207 people, or 17.78%, in these three villages. Nevertheless, it was known to 56.38% of the population. There are numerous medieval castles and fortified houses in the Aosta Valley, including Châtel-Argent , Saint-Pierre Castle , Fénis Castle , Issogne Castle , Bard Fort , Ussel Castle , Sarre Castle , Cly Castle , Verrès Castle , and Châtelard Castle . Savoy Castle in Gressoney-Saint-Jean

1400-596: The valley has been dominated by autonomist regional parties such as the Valdostan Union , which represents the interests of the French-speaking population. The latest regional election was held in September 2020. On 2 March 2023, Renzo Testolin was elected regional president, supported by a coalition of autonomist and progressive lists. The Aosta Valley, being the smallest region of Italy by area,

1440-535: The valley. It is found in dishes such as the soup à la vâpeuleunèntse ( Valpelline Soup). Other cheeses made in the region are Tomme de Gressoney and Seras. Fromadzo ( Valdôtain for cheese ) has been produced locally since the 15th century and also has PDO status. Regional specialities, besides Fontina, are Motzetta (dried chamois meat), Vallée d'Aoste Lard d'Arnad (a cured and brined fatback product with PDO designation), Vallée d'Aoste Jambon de Bosses (a kind of ham , likewise with PDO designation),

1480-504: Was conceived in the 19th century and completed in 1904. Since 1990, it has also been home to the Savoy Castle Alpine Botanical Garden . The cuisine of Aosta Valley is characterized by simplicity and revolves around "robust" ingredients such as potatoes, polenta ; cheese and meat; and rye bread . Many of the dishes involve Fontina , a cheese with PDO status, made from cow's milk that originates from

1520-764: Was distinctly felt in Trentino Alto Adige . It was especially felt on the upper floors of buildings both in Trento and Bolzano , and created some concern among residents. On 6 June at 06:08 local time, a magnitude 4.5 earthquake hit 50 km further east with an epicenter off the coast of Ravenna in Romagna at a depth 25.6 km. The earthquake was felt strongly and distinctly in Ravenna and Rimini , then less in Pesaro and Ancona , and very slightly in

1560-512: Was part of Aoste arrondissement in Doire department. As part of the Kingdom of Sardinia , it joined the new Kingdom of Italy in 1861. French forces briefly controlled the area at the end of World War II , but withdrew under British and American pressure. The region gained special autonomous status after the end of World War II; the province of Aosta ceased to exist in 1945. For decades,

1600-534: Was strong, but not exceptional". The area was not included in seismic hazard maps until 2003, when, after a reassessment, it was classified as "medium risk", with a 10% likelihood of such an earthquake in the next 450 years. A law introduced in 2006 imposed building standards appropriate for the seismic hazard classification, but few of the older buildings have been upgraded to meet these requirements. The 29 May magnitude 5.8 earthquake left 18 people dead, more than 350 injured, and more than 15,000 homeless. The roof of

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