Last on our tour of Italy’s 20 regions: Sardinia 🇮🇹

Italy’s second-largest island, known for turquoise seas, beautiful beaches, ancient ruins, and a culture that feels distinct from the rest of Italy.

Lets explore this region together 🧵

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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

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

Next on our tour of Italy’s 20 regions: Umbria 🇮🇹

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

Next on our tour of Italy’s 20 regions: Trentino–Alto Adige 🇮🇹

Tucked up against the Austrian border, this is a land of Alpine peaks, castles, and Italian and German influences.

Here’s a tour of this unique region 🧵 Trentino–Alto Adige is made up of two autonomous provinces:

• Trentino, centered around Trento, and is Italian-speaking
• Alto Adige / Südtirol, where most people speak German

Both were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1919.

Today, they’re known for:
• The Dolomites 🏔️
• Skiing & mountain hiking
• Castles & Alpine lakes
• Multilingual culture (Italian, German, Ladin)
• A mix of Tyrolean and Italian cuisine

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

🇮🇹 Italy has 20 regions, and each has its own story.

Let’s start in the northwest: Piedmont.

Bordering France and Switzerland, it’s a region shaped by mountains, royalty, and some of Italy’s best food and wine.

Here’s why it’s worth visiting 🧵 Piedmont (Piemonte) was home to the House of Savoy, the dynasty that unified Italy in the 1800s.

It borders France and has long been a link between Italy and the rest of Europe.

Today it’s known for:
• Barolo wine
• White truffles
• The Alps
• The city of Torino
• The Slow Food movement

It mixes French influence with Italian tradition.

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.
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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 Normans arrived in southern Italy in the 11th century—not just as conquerors, but as builders.

They merged Romanesque forms with Arab and Byzantine influences, especially in Sicily, creating a unique architectural style.

Here are 10 of their most iconic buildings 🧵 1. Palatine Chapel – Palermo

Built by Roger II inside the royal palace in the 1130s.

It fuses Latin, Byzantine, and Islamic art: golden mosaics, Arabic muqarnas ceilings, and a basilica floor plan—all in one chapel.

Norman Sicily at its peak.

The Great Man Theory says history is shaped by influential individuals.

It got me thinking who in history best fits that description.

So I picked the most influential Western figure from each century of the past 1,000 years.

Here’s my list 🧵 11th century – William the Conqueror

In 1066, William crossed the English Channel and permanently changed English history.

He replaced the Anglo-Saxon elite, introduced feudalism, reshaped the English language, and kicked off centuries of continental entanglement.

Without William England would have been a much different place.

Have you ever wondered why this statue in the Louvre is so famous?

Because it’s not a Roman copy, it’s one of the few surviving originals from ancient Greece.

Most Greek statues were lost to time.

These are 10 that somehow made it through🧵 1. Winged Victory of Samothrace (c. 190 BC)

Hellenistic marble statue of Nike, goddess of victory.

Found in 1863 on the island of Samothrace, likely part of a naval monument.

It’s now in the Louvre and is one of the museums most famous pieces.

They say the Palazzo Dario in Venice is cursed.

For centuries its owners have faced bankruptcy, scandal, murder, and suicide.

Locals call it “the house that kills.”

Here’s the chilling story of one of Venice’s most beautiful…and deadly buildings: 🧵 The Palazzo Dario—known as Ca’ Dario—sits quietly on the Grand Canal.

Built in the late 1400s for a wealthy merchant named Giovanni Dario, its pink marble façade masks a sinister history.

It didn’t take long for tragedy to begin.

They hung in museums.

They sold for millions.

And they were all fake.

Here are 10 of the most famous art forgeries ever discovered—and their stories: 🎨🧵 🖼️ “The Supper at Emmaus” (Van Meegeren, forged as Vermeer)

This painting was sold as a lost Vermeer to the Boymans Museum in Rotterdam in 1937.

Critics praised it as a masterpiece—until the forger, Han van Meegeren, confessed after WWII.

It’s now one of the most famous fakes in art history.

Vienna is one of the most timeless cities in the world.

Baroque palaces, grand cafés, and imperial streets—this place has become my favourite city i’ve ever visited.

Here’s a tour of Vienna through my camera lens, showing the places you can see when you visit 📸🇦🇹🧵 📍Belvedere Palace

A masterpiece of Baroque architecture, the Belvedere was once the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy.

Today it’s home to a world-class art collection, including Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss.

On October 26, 1958, white smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel.

The world believed a new pope had been elected.

But no pope appeared.

The Vatican said it was a “mistake.”

What happened inside the conclave remains one of the great Catholic mysteries

A 🧵 After the death of Pope Pius XII, the Church stood at a crossroads.

The Cold War was escalating. Communism was on the rise. And many inside the Vatican wanted a strong, traditional pope to preserve order.

One of the favourites was Cardinal Giuseppe Siri — a conservative archbishop from Genoa.

Otto von Bismarck didn’t just change Germany—he created it.

He unified a fractured land through blood and brilliance.

And then, at the peak of his power, he was thrown aside by the very empire he built.

Here’s the story of one of the most influential European figures. Bismarck was born in 1815 to Prussian nobility. He studied law, tried out farming, and lived a wild youth.

No one thought much of him—until he entered politics.

By 1851, he was Prussia’s ambassador to the German Confederation.

And he had one goal: Prussian dominance.

For centuries, monarchs ruled over nearly every corner of Europe.

Here are the official residences of every monarch from a now-abolished European monarchy — and what became of them 🧵 When putting together the list, I only considered former monarchs of modern(ish) day states that once had a monarchy and now does not.

If i missed any let me know.

Europe once had hundreds of kings. Now, only 12 monarchies remain.

Here are the official residences of every monarchy still standing in Europe: United Kingdom — Buckingham Palace

Located in London, Buckingham Palace has been the official residence of British monarchs since 1837.

With 775 rooms, it’s still used for state events and receptions. The King lives there part-time, with Windsor Castle and Balmoral also in use.

One of the best parts of visiting Italy is exploring its small towns. 🇮🇹

They’re slower, friendlier, and have a charm you just can’t find in the big cities.

Here are some of the best ones I’ve been to—plus my photos, and why each one is worth a visit: 📍Tropea, Calabria

Tropea is perched on cliffs overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea in Calabria, southern Italy.

It’s known for dramatic views, sandy beaches, and bright red onions (which are famous across Italy). The town itself is small but lively, especially in summer.

If you want a beach town with fewer tourists than the Amalfi Coast, Tropea is a great alternative.

Bologna was one of the highlights of my trip to Italy last summer.

It’s beautiful, authentic, and has the best food I had anywhere in the country.

Here’s a thread of my photos, and the places you can see in Italy’s most underrated city 🇮🇹 🧵 1. Due Torri (The Two Towers)

The Asinelli and Garisenda towers are part of Bologna’s iconic skyline.

Built in the 12th century, they were once part of nearly 100 towers that symbolized family power.

Just off the coast of Venice lies an island so feared, locals refuse to set foot on it.

Fishermen won’t sail near it.
Tourists aren’t allowed.
And for good reason.

This is the terrifying story of Poveglia Island—one of Italy’s most haunted places: From a distance, Poveglia looks peaceful.

Overgrown trees. Crumbling buildings. A bell tower rising out of the ruins.

But this tiny island has a horrifying past.

And it’s considered one of the most haunted places on Earth.

Palermo surprised me.

It’s loud, historic, chaotic—and completely unforgettable.

Here’s a thread of my photos, including details of the most interesting places I saw while exploring Sicily’s capital: 🇮🇹 📍Palermo Cathedral Exterior

Founded in 1185 by Archbishop Walter of the Mill, Palermo Cathedral reflects Sicily’s history.

It combines Arab-Norman, Gothic, and Baroque elements, with domes, arches, and towers added across centuries.

Originally built on the site of a mosque, the façade still bears traces of Islamic influence.