{{Infobox Italian comune | name = Sgonico | official_name = Comune di Sgonico<br/>Občina Zgonik | native_name = {{native name|sl|Zgonik}} | image_skyline = Sgonico 2.jpg | imagesize = | image_alt = | image_caption = Parish church in Sgonico | image_shield = | shield_alt = | image_map = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | mapframe = yes | coordinates = {{coord|45|44|N|13|45|E|type:city(2,130)_region:IT|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | region = Friuli-Venezia Giulia | province = Trieste (TS) | frazioni = Bristie (Brišče), Borgo Grotta Gigante (Briščiki), Campo Sacro (Božje Polje), Colludrozza (Koludrovica), Devincina (Devinščina), Gabrovizza San Primo (Gabrovec), Rupinpiccolo (Repnič), Sagrado di Sgonico (Zagradec), Sales (Salež), Samatorza (Samatorca), Sgonico (Zgonik) | mayor_party = | mayor = Monica Hrovatin | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 31.3 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 1956 | population_as_of = July 2025 | pop_density_footnotes = | population_demonym = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | twin1 = | twin1_country = | saint = | day = | postal_code = 34010 | area_code = 040 | website = {{official website|https://www.comune.sgonico.ts.it/}} | footnotes = }}
'''Sgonico''' ({{langx|sl|Zgonik}}; {{langx|vec|label=Triestine|Sgonico}}) is a {{lang|it|comune}} (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Trieste in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about {{convert|12|km|mi|0}} northwest of Trieste, on the border with Slovenia. {{as of|2025|7|31}}, it had a population of 1,956 and an area of {{convert|31.3|km2|mi2}}.<ref name="istat">All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.</ref> According to the 1971 census, 81.6% of the population are Slovenes.
Sgonico borders these municipalities: Duino-Aurisina, Monrupino, Sežana (Slovenia), and Trieste.
==Name== The name of the settlement was first attested in 1309 as ''Swonich'' (and as ''de Svonicho'' in 1348, ''de Vonicho'' in 1373, ''de Champanilo'' in 1374, ''de villa Svonich'' in 1421, ''Suonich'' and ''de Suonigo'' in 1525, and ''Sgonico'' in 1819). The name is of Slovene origin, derived from the Slovene common noun ''zvonik'', "belfry", (in reference to the church of Saint Michael). The phonological change ''zvonik'' to ''zgonik'' is characteristic of the local Slovene dialect; cf. also dialect ''zgon'', "bell", from ''zvon''.<ref>Snoj, Marko. 2009. ''Etimološki slovar slovenskih zemljepisnih imen.'' Ljubljana: Modrijan and Založba ZRC, p. 480.</ref>
== Geography == === Territory === The municipality occupies a central portion of the Trieste Karst, and both its flora and fauna are typically karst. Roughly rectangular in shape, it is bordered to the east by a row of low-lying hills that mark the border with Slovenia. The highest point is Mount Lanaro (544 m). The western part of the territory is flat, but dotted with numerous sinkholes, some of which are large. The only surface water bodies are a few small ponds.<ref>[https://sgonicozgonik.it/en/businesses-and-the-local-area/ Businesses and the local area] sgonicozgonik.it/</ref>
=== Climate === Based on the 30-year reference average from 1961 to 1990, the average temperature of the coldest month, January, is {{cvt|3.0|°C}}, while that of the warmest month, July, is {{cvt|21.4|°C}}.<ref>[https://meteoatlas.it/italia/sgonico-43759 Sgonico (Italia)] meteoatlas.it</ref>
Precipitation exceeds {{cvt|1,200|mm}}, distributed over an average of 100 days, with peaks in autumn and spring and relative lows in winter and summer.<ref>[https://www.meteo.fvg.it/dovesei.php?ln=-en Sgonico] meteo.fvg.it</ref>
== History == After the First World War the territory passed to Italy and, in 1923, was included in the province of Trieste, that was restored on 2019 in the form of a regional decentralization entity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arpebur.regione.fvg.it/newbur/visionaBUR?bnum=2019/12/04/36|title=BOLLETTINO UFFICIALE DELLA REGIONE FVG - I SUPPLEMENTO ORDINARIO N. 36|website=arpebur.regione.fvg.it|date=4 December 2019|language=it}}</ref>
== Monuments and places of interest == === Religious Architecture === *Parish Church of San Michele Arcangelo in Sgonico *Church of Sant'Ulderico in Samatorza *Church of San Massimiliano Kolbe (privately owned) in Borgo Grotta Gigante-Girandole *Chapel of San Primo in Gabrovizza === Other places === * Grotta Gigante * Giardino Botanico Carsiana * Gabrovizza / Gabrovec * Mount Lanaro Nature Reserve * Riselce Trail * Castelliere di Rupinpiccolo * The Osmize
== Demographic evolution == {{historical populations |align=none|cols=3 |graph-pos=bottom |1921|1522 |1931|1387 |1936|1392 |1951|1316 |1961|1318 |1971|1394 |1981|2085 |1991|2207 |2001|2185 |2011|2077 |2021|1999 | source=Data from ISTAT }}
=== Languages and dialects === The municipal statute guarantees equal status to the Slovenian language and its use alongside Italian in official documents and in relations with municipal institutions. Sgonico is included in the list of municipalities in which measures for the protection of the Slovenian-speaking minority apply, pursuant to Article 4 of Law No. 38 of 23 February 2001, "Regulations for the Protection of the Slovenian Linguistic Minority in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region." In 1971, the population was overwhelmingly Slovenian-speaking: *Linguistic Distribution (Main Groups)<ref>[http://www.liceopetrarcats.it/sperimentazione/sitocarso/comune.htm#LA%20POPOLAZIONE%20SLOVENA%20DEL%20CARSO Censimento Istat 1971 Censimento Istat 1971] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120222807/http://www.liceopetrarcats.it/sperimentazione/sitocarso/comune.htm#LA%20POPOLAZIONE%20SLOVENA%20DEL%20CARSO |date=2012-11-20 }} liceopetrarcats.it</ref> 18.40% Italian-speaking, 81.60% Slovenian-speaking. According to a 1983 government estimate, 54% of the population in the municipality of Sgonico was Slovenian-speaking.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Milan Bufon|title=Lo spazio con/diviso|publisher=Aracne|series=Geografia economica-politica|year=2019}}</ref>
== Economy == The local economy was based on agriculture (primarily livestock farming), a fact hampered by the harsh environmental conditions of the Karst. During the 19th century, mining activity developed, with the opening of numerous marble quarries.
Two big Hi-Tech Companies have their EMEA global or national headquarters located in Sgonico: Telit and ex U-blox, both of them located near Stazione di Prosecco, the biggest and more important area of manufacturing and services companies in Sgonico. Other small realities are mainly working in the crafts and freight forwarders (transportation) area close to Stazione di Prosecco and Industrial Zone (Zona Artigianale - Sgonico/Zgonik).<ref>[https://sgonicozgonik.it/en/businesses-and-the-local-area/ Businesses and the local area] sgonicozgonik.it</ref>
=== Tourism === *Giant Cave with its amphitheater of stalactites and stalagmites (the tallest stalagmite in the cave is 12 m and it is called Roger column), place of interest in caving and paleontological discovery in 1840. *Botanical Garden "Carsiana": it's a split in different geo-climatic habitat that exemplifies the entire biodiversity of the flora of the Carso, which are about 600 species of cultivated plants. *Natural Reserve of Monte Lanaro and suggestive osmize where you can buy and consume wine and typical products.<ref>[https://www.turismofvg.it/locality/sgonico?LangSetCMS=en Sgonico] turismofvg.it</ref>
== Infrastructure and transport == thumb|The stretch of the motorway 13 just before the Sgonico exit The stretch of highway 13 just before the Sgonico exit, which connects Trieste to the A4 motorway, passes through the municipality. There is an exit near Gabrovizza. The municipality is well connected to the rest of the province by a dense network of secondary roads.
The Trieste Centrale-Villa Opicina railway line passes through the municipality, which once housed the Prosecco station, which was closed in 2012.
== See also == *Karst Plateau *Gorizia and Gradisca *Julian March *Slovene Lands
==References== <references/>
{{Province of Trieste}} {{authority control}}
Category:Cities and towns in Friuli-Venezia Giulia Category:Italy–Slovenia border crossings
{{FriuliVeneziaGiulia-geo-stub}}