{{Short description|Comune of South Tyrol, Italy}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox Italian comune | name = Prettau | official_name = {{native name|de|Gemeinde Prettau}}<br />{{native name|it|Comune di Predoi}} | native_name = Predoi | image_skyline = Prettau.jpeg | image_caption = View of Prettau | image_shield = Predoi-Stemma2.svg | shield_alt = | image_map = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | coordinates = {{coord|47|2|N|12|6|E|type:city(620)_region:IT|display=inline, title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | region = [[Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol]] | province = [[South Tyrol]] | frazioni = | mayor_party = | mayor = Robert Alexander Steger | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 86 | population_footnotes = <ref name="Comune di Predoi"/> | population_total = 518 | population_as_of = 2024 | population_demonym = German: Prettauer<br />Italian: di Predoi | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 1478 | twin1 = | twin1_country = | saint = | day = | postal_code = 39030 | area_code = 0474 | website = {{URL|http://www.gemeinde.prettau.bz.it}} | footnotes = }}
'''Prettau''' ({{IPA|de|prɛˈtaɪ|lang}}; {{langx|it|Predoi}} {{IPA|it|preˈdɔi|}}) is a ''[[comune]]'' (municipality) of [[South Tyrol]], an [[Italy|Italian]] province in the country's north. It is the northernmost ''comune'' of Italy and is located within the [[Alps]] at the [[Austria–Italy border|border with Austria]]. It is situated at {{convert|1,478|m}} [[above sea level]]. {{As of|2024}}, the population was 518.
[[Copper extraction|Copper mining]] was historically the major industry in Prettau, until the abandonment of its copper mine in 1893.
== History == Prettau became a ''comune'' in 1958.<ref name="Comune di Predoi">{{cite web |title=Predoi |url=https://www.prettau.it/it/Vivere_il_comune/Numeri_e_fatti |website=Comune di Predoi |access-date=24 April 2025 |language=it-IT}}</ref>
Its [[coat of arms]] was granted in 1967 and is a blue and silver shield divided by four stylised adjacent mountain peaks and charged with two crossed pickaxes in the lower half. The shield depicts Prettau surrounded by tall glacial mountains, and the pickaxes are a reference to Prettau's historical copper mining industry.<ref name="Comune di Predoi"/>
== Geography == Prettau is located {{convert|1,478|m}} [[above sea level]]. Its territory covers an area of {{convert|86|km2|mi2}}.<ref name="Comune di Predoi"/><ref name="Aurina">{{cite web |title=Predoi in Valle Aurina – Alto Adige: Scopri le miniere |trans-title=Predoi in Aurina Valley, South Tyrol – From copper mining to pure air |url=https://www.valle-tures-aurina.com/localita/predoi/ |website=valle-tures-aurina.com |access-date=24 April 2025 |language=it}}</ref> About 70% of its area is protected land within the boundaries of [[Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park]].<ref name="Aurina"/> Prettau is the northernmost ''comune'' of Italy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Predoi, il paese più a nord d'Italia in Valle Aurina |trans-title=Predoi, the northernmost village in Italy in the Aurina Valley |url=https://www.suedtirol-it.com/predoi/ |website=suedtirol-it.com |access-date=24 April 2025 |language=it}}</ref>
== Demographics == The 2023 population census recorded 509 residents in Prettau.<ref name="2023 census">{{cite web |title=Die Dauerzählung der Bevölkerung in Südtirol – 2023 |trans-title=The permanent census of the population in South Tyrol – 2023 |url=https://astat.provinz.bz.it/de/publikationen/die-dauerzaehlung-der-bevoelkerung-in-suedtirol-2023 |website=Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol |access-date=24 April 2025 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Popolazione Predoi (2001–2023) Grafici su dati |trans-title=Population Predoi (2001–2023) Data graphs |url=https://www.tuttitalia.it/trentino-alto-adige/30-predoi/statistiche/popolazione-andamento-demografico/ |website=Tuttitalia.it |access-date=24 April 2025 |language=it}}</ref> However, the municipal government website gives a population of 518 at the end of 2024.<ref name="Comune di Predoi"/>
At the time of the 2024 linguistic census, 98.59% of Prettau's residents spoke German and 1.41% spoke Italian as their first language.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Ergebnisse Sprachgruppenzählung 2024 / Risultati Censimento linguistico 2024 |trans-title=Results of the 2024 linguistic census |magazine=ASTAT Info |date=December 2024 |issue=56 |publisher=Provincial Institute for the Statistics of the Autonomous Province of South Tyrol|url=https://astat.provinz.bz.it/de/aktuelles-publikationen-info.asp?news_action=300&news_image_id=1160209 |access-date=23 April 2025}}</ref>
== Economy == [[Copper extraction|Copper mining]] was the main economic activity in Prettau until 1893.<ref name="Aurina"/> According to a local legend, a farmer discovered Prettau's copper deposits by chance while trying to tame a bull. The bull's horns struck the ground and brought out golden sand. Locals initially mistook it for gold before realising it was copper.<ref name="Ferraresi">{{cite news |last=Ferraresi |first=Giovanna |title=Il paese più a nord d'Italia è Predoi: come arrivarci e cosa vedere |trans-title=The northernmost town in Italy is Predoi: how to get there and what to see |url=https://www.immobiliare.it/news/vivere-a/italia/il-paese-piu-a-nord-ditalia-e-predoi-come-arrivarci-e-cosa-vedere-191345/ |access-date=24 April 2025 |work=Immobiliare.it |date=1 March 2024 |language=it}}</ref> The old copper mine has since been converted into a local history museum.<ref name="Aurina"/>
Prettau's economy is now served primarily by tourism. The ''comune'' is known for its local [[bobbin lace]]–making.<ref name="Aurina"/>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Commonscat-inline}} * {{Official website|http://www.gemeinde.prettau.bz.it}} of the municipality {{in lang|de|it}} * Stefan Steinhauser, Eduard Tasser (2008). ''Prettau – Bilder, Fakten, Geschichten''. Prettau ([http://gallery.gvcc.net/prettau/Prettau_Dorfbuch2008.pdf Download, 25 MB)]
{{South Tyrol}}
{{Authority control}} [[Category:Municipalities of South Tyrol]] [[Category:Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park]]