People have lived amid the Alp's soaring peaks since prehistoric times, and the range is also home to some 13,000 types of plants, myriad minerals and crystals, and about 30,000 wildlife species that range from marmots to brown bears to snow fleas.

One significant fact about the Italian Alps is that they are home to the Dolomites, a unique mountain range that is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its distinct pale-colored limestone and jagged, vertical peaks. Unlike the "Grey Alps," the Dolomites turn a stunning pink or violet hue at sunset, a phenomenon known as enrosadira. A second fact is that the Italian Alps contain the highest peak in the European Union, Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco), which sits directly on the border between Italy and France. While the summit's exact ownership has been a point of diplomatic "gentle dispute" for centuries, the mountain serves as a major hub for mountaineering and features the Skyway Monte Bianco, a rotating cable car that offers 360-degree views of the surrounding glaciers. Additionally, the region is famous for "Otzi the Iceman," a 5,300-year-old mummy discovered in the Otztal Alps on the border of Italy and Austria, providing invaluable insights into Copper Age European life.