Since when has South Tyrol been part of Italy?

South Tyrol has officially been part of Italy since 1919, a consequence of the reorganization of Europe after the end of the First World War. Until then, the region was part of the Habsburg Empire of Austria-Hungary, a multi-ethnic state that united a great diversity of nationalities and languages under one roof. In the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, signed in September 1919, Austria had to cede a number of territories, including South Tyrol, which came under Italian sovereignty despite its predominantly German-speaking population. This turning point marked the beginning of a complex and often tension-filled relationship between the local population and the Italian state, characterized by autonomy efforts, assimilation policies, and ultimately the struggle for peaceful coexistence. The linguistic and cultural identity of South Tyrol remained strongly pronounced over the years, accompanied by an autonomy process that gradually developed and eventually granted the region extensive self-governing status within Italy.