"it might be possible to have 253 provinces in all" WhoaaaAa!!
Now that sounds good also note like certain provinces don't allow you to go on. For Example: What is suppose to be Malat ( malta ) and Corsica in game you cannot walk your troops on becouse the Grey Hills/Mountians you see. If you can make them so the troops can walk on by some way adding some greens to it instead of grey I think you will be able to put units on them and even cities.