Sgonico

Sgonico (Slovene: Zgonik) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Trieste in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 12 kilometres (7 mi) northwest of Trieste, on the border with Slovenia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,130 and an area of 31.3 square kilometres (12.1 sq mi). According to the 1971 census, 81.6% of the population are Slovenes. Sgonico borders these municipalities: Duino-Aurisina, Monrupino, Sežana (Slovenia), and Trieste. Name The name of the settlement was first attested in 1309 as Swonich (and as de Svonicho in 1348, de Vonicho in 1373, de Champanilo in 1374, de villa Svonich in 1421, Suonich and de Suonigo in 1525, and Sgonico in 1819). The name is of Slovene origin, derived from the Slovene common noun zvonik, "belfry", (in reference to the church of Saint Michael). The phonological change zvonik to zgonik is characteristic of the local Slovene dialect; cf. also dialect zgon, "bell", from zvon. Points of interest Grotta Gigante Giardino Botanico Carsiana Demographic evolution References ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat. ^ Snoj, Marko. 2009. Etimološki slovar slovenskih zemljepisnih imen. Ljubljana: Modrijan and Založba ZRC, p. 480. See also Kras Gorizia and Gradisca Julian March Slovene Lands