This is the most northerly region in Italy; spreading over the southern side of the Alpine chain, it borders with Switzerland to the north-west, with Austria to the north and with the Italian regions of Lombardy to the south-west and Venetia to the east and south-east. Alto Adige, known as Südtyrol, is a Germanic speaking region of Italy, as it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of World War I. Trentino is more Italian; the largest town is Trento.

One of the few Italian region not touched by the sea, its territory is mountainous and includes the majestically beautiful Dolomite group, and a great number of small lakes.