For centuries, Italy has consistently ranked among the world’s leading coun-tries in the arts, economy, literature, phi-losophy, politics, religion, science, and trade. However, there are some unique peculiarities that many can learn about offshore. For those interested in develop-mental studies, one of the first fascinat-ing facts to note about Italy is how it has built upon its pre-Italian past, influences, and achievements to shape its present and future. What we know today as the Republic of Italy was established in 1946, following a referendum that rejected the monarchy which had ruled Italy since 1861. Before that, the land now known as Italy consist-ed of a loose collection of city-states, each with similar yet distinct political struc-tures, languages, outlooks, and aspirations, many of which were even under the rule of non-Italian governments such as Austria and France. The unification of 1861 was achieved through wars and political ma-noeuvrings, aided by trade and marriages. Centuries before the Italy we know to-day, the inspirations that led the bard to write the classic stories of “Julius Caesar,” “The Merchant of Venice,” “Romeo and Juliet,” and others did not originate from the country of Italy, as many might think today. They were tales that unfolded in the city-states of Rome, Venice, and Verona. The writings of Niccolò Machiavelli came from Florence, not Italy, just as the findings of Galileo Galilei and Alessandro Volta, along with the designs of Pirro Ligorio, were not from Italy but instead from Pisa, Como, and Naples. However, after its uni-fication into a single kingdom and subse-quent transformation into a republic, Italy has managed to safely and productively conserve its diversity, transfer its past to its present, and build its future without losing or leaving anything behind. The history of a diverse territory re-mains alive and relevant in contempo-rary Italy; each former city-state, with its unique history, cuisine, services, and architecture, continues to attract tourists, generating revenue and prestige for the en-tire country today. If you listen carefully, you would hear sophisticated travellers say, ‘I am visiting Florence, Naples, Rome, Venice, Verona, etc., not Italy.’ The produc-tive and diverse identities of these cities generate approximately 215 billion euros annually through tourism, and the sector creates about 25% of the country’s jobs. The country is politically structured into well-known cities managed by mayors and lesser-known regions led by governors referred to as presidents. Each region is primarily identified by its production rath-er than by its consumption or expectations from the national government. Lombardy (Lombardia to Italians), lo-cated in the north, is the country’s most populous and economically robust region, serving as its economic powerhouse and accounting for approximately 23% of the national GDP. It hosts cities such as Brescia, Bergamo, Cremona, Pavia, Como, Mantua, Monza, and its capital, Milan. Al-though all these cities speak Italian- albeit with varying accents- each has its distinct dialect and culture. The region’s GDP ex-ceeds €439.9 billion, with about $148 bil-lion in exports, and the residents of Lom-bardy enjoy a per capita GDP that is nearly double the national average. It serves as a global hub for finance, with Milan acting as an international financial centre that hosts major banks and financial institutions, alongside leading luxury fashion brands, design companies, and innovation centres. Another region located in northern Italy is Piedmont (known as Piemonte to Italians) in the northwest. It is home to major cities such as Turin, Novara, Asti, Cuneo, Alba, Vercelli, and Biella. Piedmont is the Italian centre of mass production for automobiles, auto parts suppliers, design firms, and engineering companies. Think of the FIAT brand, which is an acronym for “Fabbrica Italiana di Automobili, Torino”: Italian Automobile Factory, Turin. Pied-mont is also a centre for the aerospace and defence industry, hosting major aerospace firms such as Leonardo S.p.a., along with related supply chains that encompass the production of aircraft components, satel-lites, and defence systems. Additionally, Piedmont is renowned for producing pre-mier wines, including Barolo, Barbaresco, Asti Spumante, and Dolcetto. A region worth mentioning in central Italy is Tuscany (Italians call it Tuscana); it is home to major cities such as Florence, Prato, Livorno, Arezzo, Pisa, Pistoia, Luc-ca, and Grosseto. Tuscany contributes sig-nificantly to Italy’s GDP through tourism and agriculture, which attract millions of tourists annually and produce wine, olive oil, and cereal grains. It is also the design and production hub for luxury fashion leather brands like Gucci, Ferragamo, and Prada. Many will not forgive me if I don’t add that part of Tuscany’s nearly 150 billion USD is attributable to its industries in jewellery, gold, and biotechnological and pharmaceutical products. Still in central Italy, we find the region of Lazio, which is home to a city like Rome, the heart of the Vatican, the seat of popes, the arts, Cinecittà, and politics. Offshore, it is worth noting that Rome, the political capital of Italy, is not merely a consump-tion or cost centre; instead, it leads other minor cities in its region, contributing nearly $ 115 billion to the national econo-my by being a significant player in tourism and culture, the film industry, and high-tech innovation. In the south, two regions stand out: Cam-pagna and Apulia, which Italians insist on calling Puglia. Campania is home to major cities such as Naples, Salerno, Caserta, Benevento, and Avellino. These cities, along with other towns in the region, generate over 130 billion USD for the national economy. Campagna is recognised for its travel and tourism industry, as well as its agriculture and agri-food production, which includes fruits, vegetables, olive oil, wine, and buffa-lo mozzarella. The region also participates in the aerospace and manufacturing sec-tors, with Naples and Caserta hosting aero-space companies and industrial plants, in-cluding Leonardo and Avio Aero. Apulia is the region that hosts popular cities such as Bari, Taranto, Foggia, An-dria, Lecce, Barletta, Brindisi, and Altamu-ra. The region is traditionally renowned for its tourism and agriculture, being home to quality olive oil, wine, durum wheat, al-monds, and tomatoes. The nearly 100 bil-lion USD generated in Apulia now extends beyond tourism and agriculture; the region is a significant player in the energy and renewable industries (solar and wind ener-gy) as well as in manufacturing (mechanics and shipbuilding). “We have made Italy. Now we must make Italians” is a statement credited to Massi-mo d’Azeglio, an Italian patriot, statesman, and novelist who, after the unification of 1861, recognised how deep the differences that separated the people of Italy were. One hundred sixty-four years after that unifi-cation, Italy remains a diverse country, with each part preserving its identity. This diversity is, however, neither a source of acrimony, division, suspicion, nor poverty; rather, it has been used to create greater prosperity for all. Join me, @anthonykila, if you can, to continue these conversations. Anthony Kila is a Jean Monnet Professor of Strategy and Development at the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies