{{Short description|Province of Italy}} {{Infobox settlement <!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name = Province of Isernia | native_name = {{native name|it|Provincia di Isernia}} | settlement_type = [[Provinces of Italy|Province]] | image_skyline = Castel_san_Vincenzo.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = Lake of [[Castel San Vincenzo]] | image_flag = Flag of the Province of Isernia.svg | flag_alt = | image_shield = Provincia di Isernia-Stemma.svg | shield_alt = | image_map = Isernia in Italy.svg | map_alt = | map_caption = Map highlighting the location of the province of Isernia in Italy | coordinates = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Italy}} | subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Italy|Region]] | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Molise}} | established_title = | established_date = | seat_type = Capital(s) | seat = [[Isernia]] | parts_type = [[Comune|Municipalities]] | parts_style = para | p1 = 52 | government_footnotes = | leader_party = | leader_title = President | leader_name = Alfredo Ricci | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = <ref name="area">{{cite web|url=https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224|title=Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011|language=it|publisher=[[Italian National Institute of Statistics|ISTAT]]}}</ref> | area_total_km2 = 1535.24 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-01 |title= Resident population by age, sex and marital status on 1st January 2026 |url=https://demo.istat.it/app/?i=POS&l=en |website=demo.istat.it |publisher=[[Italian National Institute of Statistics|ISTAT]] |access-date=2026-04-01}} (On the search form, choose the statistical region of the municipality in the Area section, the Region, the Province, and the name of the Municipality)</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-01 |title= Resident population by age, sex and marital status on 1st January 2026 |url= https://demo.istat.it/data/posas/POSAS_2026_en_All_files.zip |website=demo.istat.it |publisher=[[Italian National Institute of Statistics|ISTAT]] |access-date=2026-04-01}}The file URL linking on technical dataset.</ref> | population_total = 78,217 | population_as_of = 2026 | population_density_km2 = auto | demographics_type2 = GDP | demographics2_footnotes = <ref name=":0">[http://stats.oecd.org/ Regions and Cities > Regional Statistics > Regional Economy > Regional Gross Domestic Product (Small regions TL3)], OECD.Stats. Accessed on 16 November 2018.</ref> | demographics2_title1 = Total | demographics2_info1 = €1.663 billion (2015) | demographics2_title2 = Per capita | demographics2_info2 = €19,199 (2015) | timezone1 = [[Central European Time|CET]] | utc_offset1 = +1 | timezone1_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] | utc_offset1_DST = +2 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 86070-86071, 86073-86080, 86082-86099, 86170 | area_code_type = Telephone prefix | area_code = 086, 0865, 0874 | iso_code = | registration_plate = [[Italian car number plates|IS]] | blank_name_sec1 = [[Istituto Nazionale di Statistica|ISTAT]] | blank_info_sec1 = 094 | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | footnotes = }}
The '''Province of Isernia''' ({{langx|it|provincia di Isernia}}) is a [[Provinces of Italy|province]] in the region of [[Molise]] in [[Southern Italy|southern]] [[Italy]]. The provincial capital is the city of [[Isernia]] and the president of the province is Alfredo Ricci.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.primopianomolise.it/politica/province/80470/presidenza-della-provincia-di-isernia-alfredo-ricci-batte-il-centrodestra-ufficiale-e-vince-la-sfida-con-felice-ianiro-di-baggio-qualcuno-aveva-fatto-i-conti-senza-loste/|title=Presidenza della Provincia di Isernia: Alfredo Ricci batte il «centrodestra ufficiale» e vince la sfida con Felice Ianiro. Di Baggio: «Qualcuno aveva fatto i conti senza l’oste»|date=2019-08-25|website=PrimoPiano Molise|language=it-IT|access-date=2020-01-09}}</ref> The province has a population of 78,217 in an area of {{Convert|1535.24|km2|sqmi}} across its 52 municipalities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-01 |title= Resident population by age, sex and marital status on 1st January 2026 |url=https://demo.istat.it/app/?i=POS&l=en |website=demo.istat.it |publisher=[[Italian National Institute of Statistics|ISTAT]] |access-date=2026-04-01}} (On the search form, choose the statistical region of the municipality in the Area section, the Region, the Province, and the name of the Municipality)</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-01 |title= Resident population by age, sex and marital status on 1st January 2026 |url= https://demo.istat.it/data/posas/POSAS_2026_en_All_files.zip |website=demo.istat.it |publisher=[[Italian National Institute of Statistics|ISTAT]] |access-date=2026-04-01}}The file URL linking on technical dataset.</ref><ref name="area" />
==History== Isernia was known as ''[[Samnites|Samnite]] Aesernia'' until it fell under [[Roman Republic| Roman rule]] in 263 BC. The territory was later given to [[Alcek|Alczeco]] for his efforts against the Byzantines with his [[Bulgars|Bulgari]]an military, by the [[Duchy of Benevento]]; most of this territory became Molise County. Throughout the 9th century the area was repeatedly sacked during Muslim invasions and suffered an earthquake in 847; these destroyed the cities of Isernia and [[Venafro]].<ref name="2002d"/> Despite this, the city was made an episcopal see and was granted the status of county in 964. A 1979 archaeological discovery near the city of Isernia found evidence of a settlement dating back to the [[Paleolithic|Palaeolithic]] period over 736,000 years ago.<ref name="2002d">{{cite book|author=Roy Palmer Domenico|title=The Regions of Italy: A Reference Guide to History and Culture|year=2002|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-30733-1|pages=226–227}}</ref>
In Molise County, Benedictines formed the [[San Vincenzo al Volturno]] monastery in the province of Isernia after Rome fell in 476. When the area was invaded by the Muslims, 500 to 900 monks were decapitated by them and many were taken as slaves; despite this, the monastery continued to function and reached its peak size during the eleventh and twelfth centuries. [[Pope Celestine V]] was born near Isernia and the province's feast day is on 19 May, the date Celestine V was canonized. An earthquake in 1805 destroyed Isernia's cathedral, which was rebuilt atop the ruins of the destroyed structure in 1837.<ref name="2002d" />
The province gained attention during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Italy]], as by 15 March it was the only one of Italy's 110 provinces to not have a single confirmed case of the [[COVID-19 virus]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zunino |first1=Corrado |title=Coronavirus, il fortino di Isernia: "Siamo gli ultimi senza un contagio"|trans-title=Coronavirus, the fortress of Isernia: "We are the last ones without an infection"|url=https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2020/03/15/news/coronavirus_la_resistenza_di_isernia_siamo_gli_ultimi_senza_un_contagio_-251344100/ |access-date=15 March 2020 |work=La Repubblica |date=15 March 2020 |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Isernia è l'unica provincia italiana senza casi positivi al coronavirus|trans-title=Isernia is the only Italian province without positive cases of coronavirus |url=https://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/cronaca/isernia-lunica-provincia-italiana-senza-casi-positivi-al-coronavirus_16188194-202002a.shtml |access-date=15 March 2020 |publisher=TGCOM24 |date=15 March 2020 |language=it}}</ref>
==Geography== [[file:Teatro-Pietrabbondante.jpg|thumb|The Samnite amphitheatre of [[Pietrabbondante]]]] The province of Isernia is a largely mountainous area of Southern Italy, part of the region of [[Molise]]. To the southwest the mountains decrease in height and the wooded hills give way to the plains around [[Venafro]]. To the northeast is the [[province of Campobasso]], also part of Molise, and to the north the [[Province of L'Aquila|provinces of L'Aquila]] and [[Province of Chieti|Chieti]], both in the region of [[Abruzzo]]. To the west is the [[province of Frosinone]] in [[Lazio]] and to the south the [[province of Caserta]] in [[Campania]].<ref name=Atlas/>
There are four mountain ranges in the province and the [[Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise|Abruzzo National Park]] straddles the border with Abruzzo. The highest peak in the province is [[Monte Mare]], {{convert|2020|m|ft|0}}. The main rivers are the [[Volturno]] which flows into the Tyrrhenian and the [[Trigno]] which flows into the [[Adriatic]].<ref name=Atlas>{{cite book |title=The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World |edition=13 |year=2011 |publisher=Times Books |isbn=9780007419135 |page=76}}</ref> The lake of [[Castel San Vincenzo]] is a man-made reservoir built to power a hydroelectric scheme.
The economy of the region has been traditionally based on agriculture. The holdings are mostly small and produce grapes, cereals, olives, vegetables, fruit and dairy products. Traditional products grown in the province include [[grass pea]]s (''Lathyrus sativus'') and [[farro]], which is made from a specialist form of wheat. [[Tintilia]] grapes are grown for the production of the region's red wine, the "Tintilia del Molise".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.consorziovinimolise.centaurusweb.it/index.php/vino-tintilia-del-molise-doc |title=Vino Tintilia del Molise |publisher=In vino veritas et benignitas |access-date=21 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430203044/http://www.consorziovinimolise.centaurusweb.it/index.php/vino-tintilia-del-molise-doc |archive-date=30 April 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
=== Municipalities === {{Main|List of municipalities of the province of Isernia}} {{div col|colwidth=18em}} *[[Acquaviva d'Isernia]] *[[Agnone]] *[[Bagnoli del Trigno]] *[[Belmonte del Sannio]] *[[Cantalupo nel Sannio]] *[[Capracotta]] *[[Carovilli]] *[[Carpinone]] *[[Castel del Giudice]] *[[Castel San Vincenzo]] *[[Castelpetroso]] *[[Castelpizzuto]] *[[Castelverrino]] *[[Cerro al Volturno]] *[[Chiauci]] *[[Civitanova del Sannio]] *[[Colli a Volturno]] *[[Conca Casale]] *[[Filignano]] *[[Forlì del Sannio]] *[[Fornelli]] *[[Frosolone]] *[[Isernia]] *[[Longano]] *[[Macchia d'Isernia]] *[[Macchiagodena]] *[[Miranda, Molise|Miranda]] *[[Montaquila]] *[[Montenero Val Cocchiara]] *[[Monteroduni]] *[[Pesche]] *[[Pescolanciano]] *[[Pescopennataro]] *[[Pettoranello del Molise]] *[[Pietrabbondante]] *[[Pizzone]] *[[Poggio Sannita]] *[[Pozzilli]] *[[Rionero Sannitico]] *[[Roccamandolfi]] *[[Roccasicura]] *[[Rocchetta a Volturno]] *[[San Pietro Avellana]] *[[Sant'Agapito]] *[[Sant'Angelo del Pesco]] *[[Sant'Elena Sannita]] *[[Santa Maria del Molise]] *[[Scapoli]] *[[Sessano del Molise]] *[[Sesto Campano]] *[[Vastogirardi]] *[[Venafro]]{{div col end}}
== Demographics == As of 2026, the population is 78,217, of which 50.1% are male, and 49.9% are female. Minors make up 12.8% of the population, and seniors make up 28.5%.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-01 |title= Resident population by age, sex and marital status on 1st January 2026 |url=https://demo.istat.it/app/?i=POS&l=en |website=demo.istat.it |publisher=[[Italian National Institute of Statistics|ISTAT]] |access-date=2026-04-01}} (On the search form, choose the statistical region of the municipality in the Area section, the Region, the Province, and the name of the Municipality)</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-01 |title= Resident population by age, sex and marital status on 1st January 2026 |url= https://demo.istat.it/data/posas/POSAS_2026_en_All_files.zip |website=demo.istat.it |publisher=[[Italian National Institute of Statistics|ISTAT]] |access-date=2026-04-01}}The file URL linking on technical dataset.</ref> {{Historical populations|1861|125745|1871|133784|1881|130396|1901|132524|1911|130904|1921|129080|1931|116547|1936|117304|1951|117246|1961|105801|1971|92166|1981|92524|1991|91942|2001|89852|2011|87241|2021|80564|cols=2|align=none|source=[[National Institute of Statistics (Italy)|ISTAT]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Popolazione residente dei comuni. Censimenti dal 1861 al 1991|trans-title=Resident population of the municipalities. Censuses from 1861 to 1991|url=https://ebiblio.istat.it/digibib/Censimenti%20popolazione/Censimentipopolazioneresidentedal1861/RML0050288Pop_res_cens_1861_1991.pdf|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251112200324/https://ebiblio.istat.it/digibib/Censimenti%20popolazione/Censimentipopolazioneresidentedal1861/RML0050288Pop_res_cens_1861_1991.pdf |archive-date=2025-11-12|lang=it|publisher=[[National Institute of Statistics (Italy)|ISTAT]]}}</ref><ref name="timeseries">{{cite web |title=Resident population - Time series|url=https://esploradati.istat.it/databrowser/#/en/censpop/dashboards|publisher=[[National Institute of Statistics (Italy)|ISTAT]]}}</ref>}}
=== Immigration === As of 2025, of the known countries of birth of 76,917 residents, the most numerous are: [[Italy]] (71,607 – 93.1%), [[Romania]] (711 – 0.9%), [[Morocco]] (450 – 0.6%).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-01 |title= Resident population by sex, municipality and individual citizenship or country of birth from year 2002 |url=https://demo.istat.it/app/?i=RCS&a=&l=en |website=demo.istat.it |publisher=[[Italian National Institute of Statistics|ISTAT]] |access-date=2025-02-27}} (Click on 'View by country of birth', and on the search form, choose the statistical region of the municipality in the Area section, the Region, the Province, and the name of the Municipality)</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-01 |title= Resident population by sex, municipality and individual citizenship or country of birth from year 2002 |url= https://demo.istat.it/data/rcs/Dati_RCS_nascita_2025.zip |website=demo.istat.it |publisher=[[Italian National Institute of Statistics|ISTAT]] |access-date=2025-02-27}}The file URL linking on technical dataset.</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://www.provincia.isernia.it/ Official website]
{{Molise}} {{Province of Isernia|nocat=yes}} {{Authority control}} {{coord|41|39|N|14|16|E|region:IT_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}
[[Category:Province of Isernia| ]] [[Category:Provinces of Italy|Isernia]] [[Category:1970 establishments in Italy]] [[Category:States and territories established in 1970]]