as one nation until just abt 150 years ago, and for centuries it was a nation-less battle ground with huge sections being ruled from Austria, France, Spain - and even when it wasn't, existing of sometimes dozens of independent states each with their own character who would rather ally with foreign powers against each other than join up in being something called "Italian."

A lot of those differences persist in spite of the political unity. Northern Italians generally will tell you they more in common with Switzerland and Austria than they do with Sicily or Naples.