Italian region

Earth, Europe

Introduction

The Italian region refers to a broad zone in Southern Europe, naturally enclosed to the north by the towering Alps. It encompasses three major components: the mainland, the peninsula, and the surrounding islands, forming a prominent landmass that extends deep into the Mediterranean Sea. Positioned between the Balkans and the Iberian Peninsula, this region opens onto several seas as well as key maritime routes like the Stretto di Sicilia (Strait of Sicily) and the Canale di Sardegna (Sardinian Channel). The region’s definition goes beyond current political borders. In its traditional sense, the Italian geo-cultural region spans nearly 324,000 km², surpassing the territory of the modern Italian Republic.

Area (km² / sq mi)

324,000 / 125,097.1

History of Italian region

In ancient geography, the notion of Italy as a distinct landform dates back to Strabo, who described it as a peninsula extending from the Strait of Messina to the Alps, absorbing nearby regions such as Liguria and parts of Istria. His work remained a reference well into the Middle Ages, when authors like Dante and Petrarch echoed the idea of a unified Italy, bounded by natural features. Despite this continuity in geographical thought, the political reality of Italy was far more fragmented, especially after the fall of Rome and during the Lombard and Carolingian periods. The Byzantines maintained their own vision of “Italy,” focusing on Southern Italy, while the north fractured into city-states and foreign dominions.

By the 19th century, a more technical and measurable definition of Italy emerged. In his writings from exile on Saint Helena, Napoleon Bonaparte described Italy as a land precisely bounded by the Alps and the seas, resembling an island in its isolation. He divided the region into mainland, peninsula, and islands, assigning approximate surface areas and geographical extents to each. His scheme excluded regions like Dalmatia or Savoy, emphasizing the idea of Italy as a natural geographic entity, independent of political borders.

Geography of Italian region

The natural limits of the Italian region, defined by the Alpine watershed and the sea, are generally well-defined, except at the western and eastern extremes of the Alps. The eastern boundary has long been a subject of debate. While the Julian Alps and the Kvarner Gulf are widely accepted as markers, alternative interpretations exist. For instance, the Isonzo River was once considered the frontier by the Austrian Empire, and the Arsa River was used in Roman administrative divisions.

The continuity of the mountain chain, even through areas like Mount Nevoso, justifies considering the Bay of Buccari as the easternmost point of the Italian geo-cultrual region. However, due to the region’s complex orography and limited hydrography in certain areas, the border is difficult to define with precision. Islands such as Cherso and Lussino, due to their proximity and geological continuity with Istria, are generally included as well.

To the west, the frontier is more clearly defined, aligning closely with the Alpine divide between Piedmont and regions like Valais and Savoy. The Maritime Alps, particularly around Monte Clapier and the Authion Massif, form a natural partition. The Roia, Varo, and Paglione basins help delineate these areas, although interpretations diverge on the inclusion of zones like Menton or even Nice, which Petrarch once claimed for Italy. Some theories, based on linguistic geography or ethnic ties, push the western border as far as the Varo River, though political developments, notably during World War II, have led others, like Charles de Gaulle, to argue against such inclusions.

Political division of the Italian region

The following nations fall entirely within the Italian geo-cultural region:

• Malta 🇲🇹
• Monaco 🇲🇨
• San Marino 🇸🇲
• Vatican City 🇻🇦

The following nations are not entirely included within the Italian geo-cultural region:

• Italy 🇮🇹, although the majority of the country lies within the geo-cultural region, some areas are excluded, such as the Alpine valleys that drain into the Rhine and Danube rivers, and the Pelagie Islands (including Lampedusa and Lampione), which are situated on the African continental shelf.

Additionally, several areas outside the mainland also belong to the broader Italian geo-cultural region:

• In Croatia 🇭🇷, regions including Istria, the city of Fiume, the Pelagosa Archipelago, and possibly Cherso and Lussino islands.
• In France 🇫🇷, territories such as Corsica, the Roia Valley (including Briga Marittima and Tenda, transferred under the 1947 Treaty of Paris), and several Alpine areas, including Colle del Monginevro, Valle Stretta, and Mont Chaberton near the Montgenevre Pass. Also included are the Mont Cenis area, along with Lake Mont Cenis, and the Mentone Basin extending to Turbìa.
• In Slovenia 🇸🇮, the Julian Alps, Slovenian Gorizia, western parts of Carniola, and the Slovene Littoral.
• In Switzerland 🇨🇭, regions such as the upper Val Divedro in Valais, the Canton of Ticino (excluding the upper valley of Reuss and Val Cadlimo with Piz Blas), and parts of the Canton of Grisons, including the Val Mesolcina, Val Calanca, Val Bregaglia, Val Poschiavo, and Val Monastero (the latter representing Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland).