Lombardy

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Template:Infobox RegionIT

Lombardy (in Italian Lombardia) is a region in northern Italy between the Alps and the Po Valley. Lombardy borders the regions of Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, and the country of Switzerland. Lombardy's capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy, and its capital (Milan) is the fourth largest conurbation in Europe with more than 6.5 million inhabitants. The current governor of Lombardy is Roberto Formigoni.

Lombardy is one of the three richest regions in Europe, with a GDP per capita 30% higher than the rest of Italy. Many foreign and national companies have their headquarters in Milan. Lombardy seems to be very active in sports with many top-rated clubs in football, rugby, ice hockey and basketball (hoops).

Pirelli Tower, the highest skyscraper in Italy (127 m), is the seat of Lombardy's regional government.

Lombardy is candidate, with the city of Milan, for XXXI Summer Olympic Games (Milan-Lombardy 2016).

History

The region is named for the Lombards or Longobardi, who came after the fall of the (western) Roman Empire. The Lombards spoke a Germanic language akin to Anglo-Saxon. There was a close relationship between the Frankish, Bavarian and Lombard nobility for many centuries. The name "Lombardy" applied to the whole of Northern Italy until the 15th century.

Lombardy's motto

The Region of Lombardy's motto is "Una regione per fare" (in English, "A region to act"). A motto in the local language is "Se lavora di stell ai stell", meaning "One works from the stars to the stars", ie from dawn to evening.

Provinces

The region is divided into the following provinces, all named after their capital cities:

Its twelve provinces are subdivided into a total of 1,562 communes, ranging in population from Milan (1,256,211) to Morterone, near Lake Como, with only 33 inhabitants (2001 census).


File:Logo.Regione.gif
Lombardy's official logo.

Main cities

File:Pirellone.JPG
Pirelli Tower, Milan

Transportation

Airports

There are four main airports in Lombardy:

Milan's two airports are considered the most crowded Italian hub with more than 30 million passengers a year.

Railway service

The Suburban Railway Service (called "S" Lines, the service is similar to the French RER and German S-Bahn), composed of 8 commuter rail lines (10 as of 2008), connects the Milan Metropolitan Area ("Great Milan"), and other important cities, like Como or Varese.

The Regional Railway Service (called "R"), on the other hand, links the cities of Lombardy and connects the region with the national railway system.

File:SFS-Milano.PNG
S Lines map.

Tourism information

Famous Lombards

  • Virgil
  • Pliny the Elder
  • Pliny the Younger
  • Archbishop Ambrose
  • Archbishop Ariberto
  • Cesare Beccaria
  • The Verri Brothers
  • Alessandro Volta
  • Carlo Cattaneo
  • Alessandro Manzoni
  • Gianni Brera
  • Carlo Emilio Gadda
  • Silvio Berlusconi
  • Dario Fo
  • Giorgio Gaber
  • Adriano Celentano

Food

  • Risotto alla milanese
  • Cotoletta alla milanese
  • Osso buco
  • Cassoeula
  • Panettone
  • Missoltini
  • Polenta
  • Torrone
  • Bresaola
  • Rane fritte
  • Lumache in guazzetto
  • Polenta taragna
  • Pizzoccheri
  • Gorgonzola
  • Granone lodigiano
  • Brasato
  • Tapelucco
  • Involtini di verza
  • Trippa alla milanese
  • Risotto alla vogherese
  • Rostisciada
  • Ravioli di brasato
  • Pesce d'acqua dolce in carpione
  • Olio d'oliva del Garda


Wines

  • Inferno
  • Sassella
  • Sfursat
  • Franciacorta Brut
  • Franciacorta rosso
  • Lugana
  • Bonarda dell'Oltrepò
  • Barbera dell'Oltrepò
  • Moscato dell'Oltrepò
  • San Colombano

Local language

External links

General information

Provinces

Universities



Regions of Italy
Abruzzo • Aosta Valley • Apulia • Basilicata • Calabria • Campania • Emilia-Romagna • Friuli-Venezia Giulia • Lazio • Liguria • Lombardy • Marche • Molise • Piedmont • Sardinia • Sicily • Trentino-South Tyrol • Tuscany • Umbria • Veneto
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