Sexten

Comune and village in South Tyrol in northern Italy From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sexten (German pronunciation: [ˈsɛkstn̩]; Italian: Sesto [ˈsɛsto]) is a comune and a village in South Tyrol in northern Italy. The village is famous as a summer and winter sport resort in the mountains.

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Sexten
Gemeinde Sexten
Comune di Sesto
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Sexten
Location of Sexten in Italy
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Sexten
Sexten (Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol)
Coordinates: 46°42′N 12°21′E
CountryItaly
RegionTrentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
ProvinceSouth Tyrol (BZ)
FrazioniKiniger (Quiniga), Mitterberg (Monte di Mezzo), Schmieden (Ferrara), St. Veit (San Vito), Moos (Moso)
Government
  MayorThomas Summerer (SVP)
Area
  Total
80 km2 (31 sq mi)
Elevation
1,310 m (4,300 ft)
Population
 (31-07-2025)[2]
  Total
1,817
  Density23/km2 (59/sq mi)
Demonym(s)German: Sextner
Italian: di Sesto
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
39030
Dialing code0474
WebsiteOfficial website
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Linguistic distribution

According to the 2024 census, 92.37% of the population speak German, 7.38% Italian and 0.25% Ladin as first language.[3]

Geography

The town sits in a branch of the Puster Valley, near Innichen and Toblach, where the Drava rises. The district borders East Tyrol, Austria, to the north and the border is formed by the Carnic Alps. To the south lie the eponymous Sexten Dolomites and nature park, which includes the famous Drei Zinnen (Tre Cime di Lavaredo).

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Sexten Dolomites seen from Mount Elmo

The municipality is bordered, clockwise from the west, by Toblach, Innichen, Sillian (Austria), Kartitsch (Austria), Comelico Superiore (Belluno) and Auronzo di Cadore, (Belluno).

History

The village's name is of Latin origin: ad horam sextam, meaning "at the sixth hour", referring to its location south of Innichen. Sexta is documented starting from 965 AD, due to its connections to the Bavarian Prince-Bishopric of Freising.[4] During World War I, Sexten was on the front line between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and suffered much damage.

It was conquered by Italy in November 1918, descending from the Monte Croce di Comelico pass. However, if the terms of the Paris peace conference had been applied to the letter, the town would have remained Austrian, as it was located east of the Toblach Saddle, a physical border and watershed; however, this did not happen and by 1920 Sexten had passed under Italian sovereignty.[5] Later it received further fortifications during the Fascist Era.

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Historical view of Sexten and the "Sexten Sundial" (Sexten Dolomites) in an oil painting by Konrad Petrides around 1900

Coat-of-arms

The emblem is azure and represents three argent peaks with a sable chamois standing in the centre; the three peaks symbolize the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. The emblem was granted in 1972 but was in use before World War I.[6]

However, this symbol pre-existed its formal adoption: it had been affixed above the entrance to the town hall since the end of the First World War. The design is attributed to the painter Albert Stolz.[7]

The gonfalon is a flag divided into white and red.

Twin towns

Sexten is twinned with:

Notable people

See also

References

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