Laives

Laives
Leifers
Comune di Laives
Panorama of Laives.
Laives
Location of Laives in Italy
Laives
Laives (Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol)
Coordinates: 46°26′N 11°20′E / 46.433°N 11.333°E / 46.433; 11.333
CountryItaly
RegionTrentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
ProvinceSouth Tyrol (BZ)
FrazioniPineta (Steinmannwald), La Costa (Seit), San Giacomo (St. Jakob)
Government
 • MayorGiovanni Seppi (SVP)
Area
 • Total
24.3 km2 (9.4 sq mi)
Elevation
258 m (846 ft)
Population
 (Nov. 2010)
 • Total
17,168
 • Density707/km2 (1,830/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Italian: Laivesotti
German: Leiferer
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
39055
Dialing code0471
WebsiteOfficial website

Laives (Italian: [ˈlaives]), also known as Leifers (German: [ˈlaɪfɐs]), is a town and a comune (municipality) in the province of South Tyrol in northern Italy. It is located about 8 kilometres (5 mi) south of the city of Bolzano. Laives is one of only six mainly Italian-speaking municipalities in South Tyrol, and is the fourth-largest municipality in the province.

The town's main language fluctuated severely in the 19th and 20th centuries as part of Austria-Hungary and then the Kingdom of Italy. Laives' population is noted as being especially proficient in both Italian and German linguistic codes.