Europe is scattered with autonomous communities and states located inside bigger countries but which have distinctive identities.
Perhaps the first such place that would pop into the minds of many is Catalonia, the populated section of Spain whose inhabitants see themselves as Catalan and not Spanish.
But there are lesser-known and in a sense more complicated autonomous regions that few will have heard of.
One such state sits between Italy and Austria, high in the Dolomites and Italian Alps.
South Tyrol, as it is known, straddles the Italian and Germaphone world, and while its inhabitants say they feel closer to all things German, the place has a distinct Italian feel which combines to create something entirely unique.
The province has a considerable level of self-government compared to the rest of Italy, of which it is technically a part.
It consists of a large range of exclusive legislative and executive powers and a fiscal regime that allows it to retain 90 percent of its revenue.
Despite this, it remains a net contributor to the Italian budget, and as of 2016, it is the wealthiest province in Italy and among the wealthiest in the European Union.
In the context of the EU, the autonomous region — autonomy which it gained in 1972 — is one of the three members of the Tyrol–South Tyrol–Trentino Euroregion, which relates to the historical regions of South Tyrol that have since been divided.
The 2011 census found that 62.3 percent of the population used German as their first language, which is a mix of standard German in written form and the South Tyrolean dialect of Austro-Bavarian in the spoken form, while 23.4 percent spoke Italian, mainly around the two largest cities of Bolzano, with an Italian-speaking majority, and Meran, with a slight German-speaking majority.
There are other, historical languages spoken throughout the region, including Ladin, a Rhaeto-Romance language, a tongue native to the region and almost lost to time.
Given its location at the cross-section of Central and Southern Europe, South Tyrol is steeped in history for anyone wanting to find it.
Before the early 20th century, when Italy was handed South Tyrol by the Allies after World War 1, it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and boasts much in the way of Hapsburg architecture to prove it.
Not only this but the place is often described as one of Italy and Europe’s “best-kept secrets” because of its wealth of nature and wilderness.
Peaks and valleys mark the landscape like crinkles on a piece of paper, and hidden across these ravines sit crumbing castles, cliff-clinging vineyards, and unspoiled lakes.
Each is dwarfed by the mighty Dolomites, which offer those who are disposed to mountain climbing and hiking an adventurous getaway.
Alto Adige, just outside the beautiful autonomous capital of Bolzano, is perhaps one of the region’s must-see sites.
Its attractions are opposites in that spas for relaxation counterbalance the snow-covered hills and craggy peaks perfect for extreme sports.
Alpine lakes can be swum in and boated across, and a state-of-the-art ski facility caters for all ages and experiences. Alto Adige also boasts the sought-after status of UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A truly hidden gem in one of Europe’s most geographically insulated regions, South Tyrol, with its history, natural beauty, architecture and things to do all year round is not one to be missed.
