A map of the 2006 referendum on constitutional reforms. Obviously defeated, it would have given more powers to the PM and to the regions. It was openly supported by the Lega Nord, and only reluctantly supported by most FI/AN MPs, because Bossi had made his continued support of Berlusconi's government dependent on a referendum on the thing. However, the referendum was held after Berlusconi's defeat in 2006.
5 regions have a special status: they keep a majority of taxes, but they finance healthcare, infrastructure, and education. These 5 regions are the two islands, the Francophone Aoste, the German Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, and Friuli-Venezia-Giulia (with a Slovene, German, and Venetian-Friulian linguistic minority).
The other regions have held regional elections since 1970. It looks like the current system of regional elections with a vote for President, a vote for regional council, and the presence of electoral coalitions dates back to 1995. Before that, the President was elected when the legislature met. Therefore, from '70 to '95, in some cases, the President is from a different party than the top vote getter. Wikipedia has a list of regional presidents if anyone is interested.