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They are currently represented in Croatia and Montenegro by the ''Italian National Community'' ([[Italian language|Italian]]: ''Comunita Nazionale Italiana'') (CNI). The Italo-Croatian minorities treaty recognizes the ''Italian Union'' (Unione Italiana) as the political party officially representing the CNI in Croatia.<ref>[http://www.unione-italiana.hr Unione Italiana - Talijanska unija - Italijanska Unija]</ref> The number of Dalmatian Italians in Croatia has fallen to 300, and the Italian Union concentrates on the [[Istria]]n region and the city of [[Rijeka]] (Fiume), which are home to the vast majority of the Italian minority in Croatia (numbering around 30,000 citizens).

They are currently represented in Croatia and Montenegro by the ''Italian National Community'' ([[Italian language|Italian]]: ''Comunita Nazionale Italiana'') (CNI). The Italo-Croatian minorities treaty recognizes the ''Italian Union'' (Unione Italiana) as the political party officially representing the CNI in Croatia.<ref>[http://www.unione-italiana.hr Unione Italiana - Talijanska unija - Italijanska Unija]</ref> The number of Dalmatian Italians in Croatia has fallen to 300, and the Italian Union concentrates on the [[Istria]]n region and the city of [[Rijeka]] (Fiume), which are home to the vast majority of the Italian minority in Croatia (numbering around 30,000 citizens).

In Dalmatia the most important centers of the CNI are in [[Split]] (Spalato), [[Zadar]] (Zara), and [[Kotor]] (Cattaro). <ref>[[http://www.unione-italiana.hr/le_comunita_degli_italiani.htm Main CNI centers]</ref> They have their own newspapers<ref>[http://www.anvgd.it/da/200601.pdf  Dalmatian Italian Media]</ref>.

In Dalmatia the most important centers of the CNI are in [[Split]] (Spalato), [[Zadar]] (Zara), and [[Kotor]] (Cattaro). <ref>[http://www.unione-italiana.hr/le_comunita_degli_italiani.htm Main CNI centers]</ref> They have their own newspapers<ref>[http://www.anvgd.it/da/200601.pdf  Dalmatian Italian Media]</ref>.

===History===

===History===

The Dalmatian cities retained their Romanic culture and [[Latin language|language]] in cities such as [[Zadar|Jadera]] (Zadar, Zara), [[Split|Spalatum]] (Split, Spalato) and [[Dubrovnik|Ragusa]] (Dubrovnik). Their own [[vulgar Latin]], developed in the [[Dalmatian language]], a now extinct [[Romance languages|Romance language]]. <br />

The Dalmatian cities retained their Romanic culture and [[Latin language|language]] in cities such as [[Zadar|Jadera]] (Zadar, Zara), [[Split|Spalatum]] (Split, Spalato) and [[Dubrovnik|Ragusa]] (Dubrovnik). Their own [[vulgar Latin]], developed in the [[Dalmatian language]], a now extinct [[Romance languages|Romance language]]. <br />

These coastal cities (politically part of the [[Byzantine Empire]]) maintained political, cultural and economic links with Italy, through the [[Adriatic sea]]. On the other side communications with the mainland were difficult because of the [[Dinaric Alps]]. Due to the sharp [[orography]] of Dalmatia, even communications between the different Dalmatian cities, occurred mainly trough the sea.

These coastal cities (politically part of the [[Byzantine Empire]]) maintained political, cultural and economic links with Italy, through the [[Adriatic sea]]. On the other side communications with the mainland were difficult because of the [[Dinaric Alps]]. Due to the sharp [[orography]] of Dalmatia, even communications between the different Dalmatian cities, occurred mainly trough the sea.

This helped Dalmatian cities to develop a unique Romance culture, despite the mostly Slavicized mainland.}}

This helped Dalmatian cities to develop a unique Romance culture, despite the mostly Slavicized mainland. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dalmatian_Italians&diff=397706099&oldid=397701647=Wikipedia: Dalmatian Italians}}</ref>}}

 

== See also ==

== See also ==