Kiens
Comune
Gemeinde Kiens Comune di Chienes
Coat of arms
Location of Kiens
Kiens Location of Kiens in Italy Show map of Italy Kiens Kiens (Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol) Show map of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
Coordinates: 46°49′N 11°50′E / 46.817°N 11.833°E / 46.817; 11.833
Country	Italy
Region	Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
Province	South Tyrol (BZ)
Frazioni	Ehrenburg (Casteldarne), Getzenberg (Monghezzo), Hofern (Corti), St. Sigmund (San Sigismondo)
Government
• Mayor	Andreas Falkensteiner
Area [1]
• Total	33.9 km2 (13.1 sq mi)
Population  (Nov. 2010)[2]
• Total	2,726
• Density	80/km2 (210/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	German: Kiener Italian: di Chienes
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	39030
Dialing code	0474
Website	Official website

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

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]7">edit

St. Sigmundedit

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 Ilstern thermal baths (German: Bad 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.

Referencesedit

External linksedit

• Official website of the municipality (in German and Italian)
• Official website of the frazione of St. Sigmund^{[permanent dead link]}.

Media related to Kiens at Wikimedia Commons