Sondrio

Sondrio
Comune
Città di Sondrio
Panoramic view Sondrio
Coat of arms
Sondrio within the Province of Sondrio
Sondrio Location of Sondrio in Italy
Coordinates: 46°10′N 09°52′E / 46.167°N 9.867°E / 46.167; 9.867
Country	Italy
Region	Lombardy
Province / Metropolitan city	Sondrio (SO)
Frazioni	Arquino, Colda, Gualtieri, Ligari, Moroni, Mossini, Ponchiera, Sant'Anna, Sassella, Triangia, Triasso
Government
• Mayor	Alcide Molteni (PD)
Area
• Total	20.88 km2 (8.06 sq mi)
Elevation	360 m (1,180 ft)
Population (31 December 2013)
• Total	22,095
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,700/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Sondriesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	23100
Dialing code	0342
Patron saint	Sts. Gervasius and Protasius
Saint day	June 19
Website	Official website

Sondrio [ˈsondrjo]  listen  (archaic German: Sünders or Sonders, Latin: Sundrium, Italian: Sondrio, Lombard: Sùndri, Romansh: Sunder) is an Italian town and comune located in the heart of the Valtellina. As of 2012^[update], Sondrio counts approximately 21,876 inhabitants (2015) and it is the administrative centre for the province of Sondrio. In 2007, Sondrio was given the Alpine Town of the Year award.

Formerly an Ancient Roman military camp, today's Sondrio was founded by the Lombards: in their language Sundrium meant "Exclusive property", referring to the status of free men (arimanni) of the holders of the city and the surrounding land.

After the fall of the Lombard Kingdom in Italy, Sondrio became part of the Holy Roman Empire. The Capitanei of Vizzola, who controlled much of the Valtellina, had it in 1040 from the emperor Henry II. From 1310 to 1335 the city was involved in the war between the Guelph and Ghibelline factions of the nearby Como, and its war against Milan. After having resisted several attacks by the Comaschi, in 1335 Sondrio and Valtellina became part of the Visconti Milanese dominions.