Italian Regions

In spite of antiquities left by the Etruscans and other early Italic tribes, the Romans, ancient Greeks and others, Italy is one of the youngest countries in Europe; its republics, kingdoms, duchies and papal states were only united in 1870—hence the deeply-felt differences between Italy's regions in many aspects of daily life, from language and pronunciation to cuisine.

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NORTHERN ITALY

This is the wealthiest third of the republic, the land of Alps and lakes, butter and cream, pasta all’uovo, polenta and risotti. It includes Lombardy (Lombardia), Piedmont (Piemonte), and the tiny autonomous alpine region of Valle d'Aosta, and the rainbow-shaped riviera region of Liguria.