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TheSette Comuni (Cimbrian:Siben Komoin,German:Sieben Gemeinden) are sevencomuni that formed aCimbrian enclave in theVeneto region of north-east Italy. The area is also known as theAltopiano dei Sette Comuni orAsiago Plateau, and it was the site of amajor battle between Austrian and Italian forces on theAlpine Front ofWorld War I. The most importantcomune is that ofAsiago, for which Asiago cheese is named.Cimbrian, a variety ofUpper German, was the native language, and the area was ethnically and culturally distinct from the surrounding comuni.[1] The Sette Comuni are located in mountainous territory, ranging from 500 to 2300 metres above sea level.
| Comune | Cimbrian | German | Inhabitants | Altitude (m) | Notes |
| Asiago | Sléghe/Schlège | Schlägen | 6533 | 1001 | |
| Enego | Ghenébe/Jenève | Jeneve | 1927 | 800 | |
| Foza | Vüsche/Vütsche | Fütze | 731 | 1083 | |
| Gallio | Gell(e)/Ghèl | Gelle | 2331 | 1093 | |
| Lusiana | Lusaan | Lusian | 2833 | 752 | |
| Roana | Robàan | Rovan orRain | 4245 | 994 | |
| Rotzo | Rotz | Ross | 620 | 938 | |
| Conco | Kunken | 2252 | 830 | the "eighth comune", afrazione of Lusiana until 1796 |
The seven comuni formed into a loose commonwealth in 1310. They were historically under the suzerainty of the MilaneseHouse of Visconti and then under theRepublic of Venice. Under both they enjoyed wide cultural and political autonomy in exchange for their loyalty. This autonomous status came to an end with theNapoleonic Wars and the demise of theSerenìsima in 1807.
During theFirst World War the territory was located along the border between theKingdom of Italy and theAustro-Hungarian Empire. Many battles took place here between 1915 and 1918 (the most important one was thebattle of Asiago). Almost all the towns were completely destroyed by the war.
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Cimbrian has gone extinct in most of the comuni. Only inRobàan and its district ofMittebald/Toballe (Mittewald,Mezzaselva), Cimbrian has survived.
Robàan is home to the Agustin Prunner Cultural Institute, which is a repository of the Cimbrian culture and cooperates with other linguistic enclaves inLusern,Fersental, Sappada, Sauris, theThirteen Communities and Timau. Vestiges of the language are found in family and place names, which are mostly still Cimbrian.
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