Next up in our tour of Italy’s 20 regions: Sicily 🇮🇹
The largest island in the Mediterranean.
Known for ancient ruins, coastal towns, strong traditions, and a mix of cultural influences.
Let’s take a tour 🧵
Sicily has been shaped by many civilizations: Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Spanish, and more.
Its position in the Mediterranean made it a strategic crossroads for trade and conquest.
You’ll see the history in its cities, food, language, and architecture.
Today it’s known for:
• Mt. Etna
• Historic cities and archaeological sites
• Distinct cuisine with layered influences
• Long stretches of coastline
📍Palermo
The capital of Sicily.
It combines Arab-Norman churches, street markets, and 19th-century theatres.
Notable spots include the Palatine Chapel, Ballarò Market, and the Teatro Massimo opera house.
📍Catania
Catania sits at the base of Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano.
The city has wide boulevards, Baroque churches, and a lively street food scene.
📍Syracuse
Syracuse, once a major Greek city, is full of archaeological remains.
You can visit the Greek theater, try great food, and explore its winding streets.
📍The Valley of the Temples
The Valley of the Temples, near Agrigento, features some of the best-preserved Greek temples outside of Greece.
It’s a large archaeological park with temples, olive trees, and walking trails.
📍The Baroque Towns
After a major earthquake in 1693, towns like Noto, Modica, and Ragusa were rebuilt in Baroque style.
They’re known for ornate facades, quiet alleyways, and historic churches.
📍Taormina
A well-known coastal town with a Roman-Greek theater overlooking the sea.
It’s a popular spot with a walkable historic center and access to nearby beaches.
📍The Aeolian Islands
North of Sicily are these volcanic islands.
Lipari is the busiest, Salina is green and relaxed, and Stromboli is known for its active volcano.
You can travel between them by boat.
Sicilian cuisine reflects the island’s history and geography:
• Arancini (stuffed rice balls), caponata, and fried snacks
• Pasta with sardines, pistachio, or eggplant
• Desserts: cannoli, cassata, granita
• Wines: Nero d’Avola, Etna Rosso, Moscato di Pantelleria
Sicily is a region with a long memory and a strong sense of place.
Its towns, landscapes, and food all reflect its complex history.
Next up: Sardinia 🇮🇹
Follow along as we explore all 20 regions of Italy 🧵
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
Sardinia has a long, separate history from the Italian mainland.
Its early civilizations built nuraghi—stone towers that still dot the landscape.
Over centuries, it was contested by many civilizations and peoples.
Today it’s known for:
• Rugged coastlines and clear waters
• Unique prehistoric sites
• Strong local identity, with its own language and traditions
• Wide open spaces, grazing land, and isolated mountain villages
📍Cagliari
The capital and largest city, located on the southern coast.
Built on a hill with views of the sea, it has a medieval core, Roman amphitheater, and lively cafés.
Also home to Poetto Beach, just minutes from the center.
The only region in central Italy with no coastline, Umbria is often overlooked—but it’s full of medieval towns, green hills, and is well worth visiting.
Here an overview of one of Italys most underrated regions 🧵
Umbria sits between Tuscany, Lazio, and Le Marche.
In ancient times it was home to Umbrians and Etruscans, later absorbed by Rome.
In the Middle Ages, it became a land of hilltop communes, saints, and art.
Today it’s known for:
• Medieval hill towns
• Saint Francis of Assisi
• Olive oil and black truffles
• Rolling green landscapes
• A slower pace, far from the tourist crowds
📍Perugia
The regional capital, known for its steep lanes, Etruscan gates, and Gothic churches.
It’s a university town with a lively student scene, and hosts both the Umbria Jazz Festival and Eurochocolate.
Next up on our tour of Italy’s 20 regions: Aosta Valley 🇮🇹
Italy’s smallest region, tucked in the Alps where it borders France and Switzerland.
Let’s take a look at this unique mountain region 🧵
Aosta Valley (Valle d’Aosta) is Italy’s smallest and least populated region.
It borders France and Switzerland, and French is an official language along with Italian.
Historically part of the Kingdom of Savoy, it has long been a crossroads of Alpine trade and culture.
Today it’s known for:
• Mont Blanc & the Matterhorn
• Ski resorts like Courmayeur
• Roman ruins in Aosta
• Stone castles and mountain trails
• A mix of Italian and French influences
📍Aosta
The regional capital was founded by the Romans in 25 BC.
You can still walk through its ancient city gate and see a Roman theatre, forum, and walls.
Nicknamed the “Rome of the Alps,” it combines ancient history with Alpine scenery.
Have you ever wondered what the symbol is in Mexico’s flag?
An eagle, a serpent, and a cactus — it looks mythical, and it is.
It marks the site where one of the greatest cities in the Americas was founded: Tenochtitlan.
This is the founding myth of Tenochtitlan 🧵
The Mexica people (later called Aztecs) began as nomads in northern Mexico.
According to legend, they were guided by Huitzilopochtli, the god of the sun and war, who promised them greatness,but only if they found the sign he had chosen.
The prophecy was clear:
“You must settle where you see an eagle, perched on a nopal cactus, devouring a serpent. There, you will build your city and rise to power.”
But there was a problem: no one knew where the sign would appear.