Italy's 107 provinces serve as the intermediate administrative tier between the national government and municipal authorities. Provinces coordinate area-wide services that exceed individual municipal capacity, including maintenance of provincial roads and highways, environmental protection programs, transport planning, and management of secondary education facilities. They also handle civil protection services, labor market services, and spatial planning across multiple municipalities. Historically more prominent in Italian governance, provinces saw their powers reduced following constitutional reforms in the 2010s, with some regions eliminating them entirely in favor of metropolitan cities or direct regional administration. Despite these changes, provinces continue to function in most of Italy as essential coordinating bodies that bridge local and regional governance, particularly in rural and less densely populated areas where intermunicipal cooperation remains necessary for efficient service delivery.