Editing Village (section)

===Italy===
{{See also|Frazione|Town#Italy}}
[[File:Montefioralle - narrow street (2661134628).jpg|thumb|[[Montefioralle]] in [[Tuscany]] is one of "[[I Borghi più belli d'Italia|The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy]]".]]
[[File:Monte isola, durante l'installazione floating piers, 2016, 04.jpg|thumb|right|[[Monte Isola]] in [[Lombardy]] is one of "[[I Borghi più belli d'Italia|The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy]]".]]

In Italy, villages are spread throughout the country. No legal definition of village exists in Italian law; nonetheless, a settlement inhabited by less than 2000 people is usually described as "village". More often, Italian villages that are a part of a [[municipality]] are called ''[[frazione]]'', whereas the village that hosts the municipal seat is called ''paese'' (town) or ''[[capoluogo]]''.

A non-profit private association of small Italian towns of strong historical and artistic interest<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.repubblica.it/viaggi/2023/01/16/news/borghi_piu_belli_italia_14_nuovi_2023-383794441/|title=Borghi più belli d'Italia. Le 14 novità 2023, dal Trentino alla Calabria|date=16 January 2023 |access-date=28 July 2023|language=it}}</ref> named ''[[I Borghi più belli d'Italia]]'' ({{langx|en|The most beautiful Villages of Italy}}) and affiliated to the international association [[The Most Beautiful Villages in the World]], was created in 2001 on the initiative of the Tourism Council of the National Association of Italian Municipalities<ref name="borghipiubelliditalia.it">{{Cite web |url = http://borghipiubelliditalia.it/ |title = I Borghi più belli d'Italia, la guida online ai piccoli centri dell'Italia nascosta|access-date=3 May 2018|language=it}}</ref> with the aim of preserving and maintaining villages of quality heritage.<ref name="borghipiubelliditalia.it"/> Founded to contribute to safeguarding, conserving and revitalizing small villages and municipalities, but sometimes even individual hamlets, which, being outside the main tourist circuits, they risk, despite their great value, being forgotten with consequent degradation, depopulation and abandonment.<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.travelnostop.com/news/territori/borghi-piu-belli-italia_400333 |website=Travelnostop |date=4 July 2017 |title= I borghi più belli d'Italia si confermano tappa obbligata per conoscere l'altra Italia |access-date= 3 May 2018 |language=it}}</ref> Its [[motto]] is {{lang|it|Il fascino dell'Italia nascosta}} ("The charm of hidden Italy").<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.araldicacivica.it/ricerca/i-borghi-piu-belli-ditalia/ |website=Araldicacivica |title=I "Borghi più belli d'Italia"|access-date=3 August 2023 |language=it |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230803211209/https://www.araldicacivica.it/ricerca/i-borghi-piu-belli-ditalia/ |archive-date=3 August 2023 }}</ref> As of November 2023, 361 villages in Italy have been listed in "The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy".<ref name="borghi">{{cite web|url=https://borghipiubelliditalia.it/2023/11/09/7-i-nuovi-borghi-ammessi-nell-associazioneo-2/ |date=9 Nov 2023 |website=I Borghi Più Belli D'Italia |title=7 nuovi borghi ammessi nell'Associazione |access-date=13 December 2023|language=it |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130115325/https://borghipiubelliditalia.it/2023/11/09/7-i-nuovi-borghi-ammessi-nell-associazioneo-2/ |archive-date= Nov 30, 2023 }}</ref>

The criteria for admission to the association meet the following requirements: integrity of the urban fabric, architectural harmony, livability of the village, artistic-historical quality of the public and private building heritage, services to the citizen as well as the payment of an annual membership fee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://borghipiubelliditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/regolamento-borghi.pdf|title=Regolamento|access-date=28 July 2023|language=it}}</ref>

The association organizes initiatives within the villages, such as festivals, exhibitions, [[fete]]s, conferences and concerts that highlight the cultural, historical, gastronomic and linguistic heritage, involving residents, schools, and local artists.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://borghipiubelliditalia.it/eventi-borghi/|title=Scopri tutti gli Eventi dei Borghi|date=24 December 2019 |access-date=28 December 2021|language=it}}</ref> The club promotes numerous initiatives on the international market.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.iicmonaco.esteri.it/iic_monaco/it/gli_eventi/calendario/2017/11/i-borghi-piu-belli-d-italia.html|title = Ministero degli Affari Esteri/Istituto italiano di cultura|access-date = 2 March 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180303105732/http://www.iicmonaco.esteri.it/iic_monaco/it/gli_eventi/calendario/2017/11/i-borghi-piu-belli-d-italia.html|archive-date = 3 March 2018|url-status = live|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.enit.it/it/sediestere/europa/stoccolma/comunicati/1836-borghi-piu-belli-ditalia-si-presenta-ai-tour-operator-svedesi-presso-la-sede-enit-di-stoccolma.html|title = ENIT, sito ufficiale/Borghi più belli d'Italia a Stoccolma|access-date = 2 March 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180303050738/http://www.enit.it/it/sediestere/europa/stoccolma/comunicati/1836-borghi-piu-belli-ditalia-si-presenta-ai-tour-operator-svedesi-presso-la-sede-enit-di-stoccolma.html|archive-date = 3 March 2018|url-status = live|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.enit.it/it/sediestere/europa/londra/comunicati/2850-educational-i-borghi-piu-belli-d-italia-nov-2016.html|title = ENIT, sito ufficiale/Borghi più belli d'Italia a Londra|access-date = 2 March 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180303050732/http://www.enit.it/it/sediestere/europa/londra/comunicati/2850-educational-i-borghi-piu-belli-d-italia-nov-2016.html|archive-date = 3 March 2018|url-status = live|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.ilikepuglia.it/ilike/i-like-russia/bari/12/01/2014/presentata-a-mosca-la-rete-dei-borghi-piu-belli-ditalia.html|title = Borghi più belli d'Italia a Mosca/12/01/2014 da Centro Economia e Sviluppo Italo Russo|access-date = 2 March 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180303051110/http://www.ilikepuglia.it/ilike/i-like-russia/bari/12/01/2014/presentata-a-mosca-la-rete-dei-borghi-piu-belli-ditalia.html|archive-date = 3 March 2018|url-status = live|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.lavocedinewyork.com/travel/italia/2016/01/15/new-york-borghi-piu-belli-d-italia-222/|title = Borghi più belli d'Italia a New York/VNY| date=15 January 2016 |access-date = 2 March 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180303110038/http://www.lavocedinewyork.com/travel/italia/2016/01/15/new-york-borghi-piu-belli-d-italia-222/|archive-date = 3 March 2018|url-status = live|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.italcamara-es.com/it/2017/03/24/presentata-a-madrid-lassociazione-i-borghi-piu-belli-ditalia/|title = Associazione Borghi più belli d'Italia presentata a Madrid/Camera Commercio Italiana per la Spagna|access-date = 2 March 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180303050622/http://www.italcamara-es.com/it/2017/03/24/presentata-a-madrid-lassociazione-i-borghi-piu-belli-ditalia/|archive-date = 3 March 2018|url-status = live|language=it}}</ref> In 2016, the association signed a global agreement with [[ENIT]],<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.restipica.net/scenari/articoli/i-borghi-piu-belli-ditalia-in-giappone/|title = Res Tipica, Italia da conoscere, associazione costituita da ANCI e Associazioni Nazionali delle Città di Identità|access-date = 2 March 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180303105613/http://www.restipica.net/scenari/articoli/i-borghi-piu-belli-ditalia-in-giappone/|archive-date = 3 March 2018|url-status = dead|language=it}}</ref> to promote tourism in the most beautiful villages in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://stream24.ilsole24ore.com/video/mondo/in-giappone-i-borghi-piu-belli-d-italia/ADOuNdHB|title = In Giappone "I Borghi più belli d'Italia"/Il sole24ore|access-date = 2 March 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180303105612/http://stream24.ilsole24ore.com/video/mondo/in-giappone-i-borghi-piu-belli-d-italia/ADOuNdHB|archive-date = 3 March 2018|url-status = dead|language=it}}</ref> In 2017, the club signed an agreement with [[Costa Cruises]]<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.costacrociere.it/B2C/I/Info/Pages/borghi.aspx|title = Sito ufficiale Costa Crociere|access-date = 2 March 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180303110040/https://www.costacrociere.it/B2C/I/Info/Pages/borghi.aspx|archive-date = 3 March 2018|url-status = live|language=it}}</ref> for the enhancement of some villages, which are offered to cruise passengers arriving in Italian ports aboard the operator's ships.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.guidaviaggi.it/notizie/187775/costa-crociere-partnership-con-l-associazione-de-i-borghi-pi%C3%B9-belli-d%E2%80%99italia|title = Costa Crociere: partnership con l'associazione dei Borghi più belli d'Italia/GV|access-date = 2 March 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180303050814/http://www.guidaviaggi.it/notizie/187775/costa-crociere-partnership-con-l-associazione-de-i-borghi-pi%C3%B9-belli-d%E2%80%99italia|archive-date = 3 March 2018|url-status = live|language=it}}</ref>