You would think Austrians have enough mountains to keep them occupied for a lifetime. Yet, many have a special fondness for Italy's German-speaking region of Süd Tirol or South Tyrol, which Italians prefer to call Alto Adige. There they enjoy many of the same things they have at home: tasty Knödels, good wine, and beautiful Alpine scenery. Of course, the region does have a few differences, such as a surprising number of palm trees and a darker roast of coffee, but overall it must feel like a home away from home. One reason for the similarity is that until the end of World War I, this piece of the Alps belonged to Austria, forming the southern portion of the Austrian province of Tyrol.

So, why would Austrians travel abroad to see things they already have and eat food they can find at home? The main reason is the differences, which stand out even more among the similarities. The weather is warmer and drier on this side of the Alps, giving the jagged mountain peaks an unexpected Mediterranean character. It is why during Habsburg times, South Tyrol was considered Austria's "balcony to the sun." The craggy landscape also provides a dramatic setting for numerous castles and ruins that attest to it's long history as a contested borderland and trade route.

South Tyrol also has a fascinating, contradictory nature. During Habsburg days, it was one of the monarchy's largest producers of wines. Given it's southerly climate and attachment to a white wine producing country, Tyrol became known for it's warm weather and fine red wines. Then after the First World War, the situation was reversed. Suddenly it was a northerly region attached to a red and white wine-producing nation and began to emphasize it's cooler weather and fine white wines. So, while Austrians see it as far south, and Italians as far north, the Tyroleans consider themselves to be right in the center.