Kiens

Kiens (German pronunciation: [ˈkiɛns]; Italian: Chienes [ˈkjɛːnes]) is a comune (municipality) in South Tyrol in northern Italy, located about 50 kilometres (31 mi) northeast of Bolzano.

Kiens
Comune
Gemeinde Kiens
Comune di Chienes
Coat of arms
Location of Kiens
Kiens
Location of Kiens in Italy
Kiens
Kiens (Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol)
Coordinates: 46°49′N 11°50′E
CountryItaly
RegionTrentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
ProvinceSouth Tyrol (BZ)
FrazioniEhrenburg (Casteldarne), Getzenberg (Monghezzo), Hofern (Corti), St. Sigmund (San Sigismondo)
Government
 • MayorAndreas Falkensteiner
Area
 • Total33.9 km2 (13.1 sq mi)
Population
 (Nov. 2010)[2]
 • Total2,726
 • Density80/km2 (210/sq mi)
Demonym(s)German: Kiener
Italian: di Chienes
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
39030
Dialing code0474
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography

As of 30 November 2010, it had a population of 2,726 and an area of 33.9 square kilometres (13.1 sq mi).[3]

Kiens borders the following municipalities: Pfalzen, Rodeneck, St. Lorenzen, Mühlwald, Terenten and Vintl.

Frazioni

The municipality of Kiens contains the frazioni (subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Ehrenburg (Casteldarne), Getzenberg (Monghezzo), Hofern (Corti) and St. Sigmund (San Sigismondo).

History

The hamlet appears for the first time in the Freising book of traditions (Traditionsbuch) in a deed issued in the years 1005—39 as ″locus Kiehna″.[4]

Coat-of-arms

The emblem is based on that of the family Schöneck; on gules a curved pile argent. In the right corner take place a five-pointed argent star, symbolizing the five villages in the municipality. The emblem was adopted in 1961.[5]

Society

Linguistic distribution

According to the 2011 census, 96.73% of the population speak German, 2.32% Italian and 0.95% Ladin as first language.[6]

Demographic evolution

Demographic evolution[7]

St. Sigmund
St. Sigmund parish church

St. Sigmund is a frazione of Kiens, its origins date back to 1050, when first it was called Burin and after Peuren, in 1317.

The town is located where the valley widens into a large flat area, for that reason it enjoys excellent weather conditions throughout the year.

From an architectural point of view, the buildings in the area are based on original South Tyrolean farmsteads style. Especially is notable the parish church (1449–89), where is present the oldest and best preserved altar in Tyrol, dated around 1430. Another point of interest is the Church of Our Lady (German: Stöcklkapelle) dating back to 1621 and built in Baroque style. Behind the railway station, in the river Rienz, there are the Ilistra thermal baths (German: Ilstern), which once featured facilities for cures. Also in this area is the church of St. Ulrich that dates back to 1491 and is well preserved.

References
  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. Overall demographics and other statistics: Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT).
  4. Martin Bitschnau; Hannes Obermair (2009). Tiroler Urkundenbuch, II. Abteilung: Die Urkunden zur Geschichte des Inn-, Eisack- und Pustertals. Vol. 1: Bis zum Jahr 1140. Innsbruck: Universitätsverlag Wagner. pp. 153, no. 182. ISBN 978-3-7030-0469-8.
  5. Heraldry of the World: Kiens
  6. "Volkszählung 2011/Censimento della popolazione 2011". astat info. Provincial Statistics Institute of the Autonomous Province of South Tyrol (38): 6–7. June 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-14.
  7. Data from the Municipality of Kiens.

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