Lombardy (Italian: Lombardia) is a region in northern Italy between the Alps and the Po river valley. It borders the Italian regions of Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto and Trentino-South Tyrol, as well as Switzerland.
One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy. Its capital is Milan, the largest city in Northern Italy. The current governor of Lombardy is Roberto Formigoni. Pirelli Tower, the highest skyscraper in Italy (127 m), is the seat of Lombardy's regional government.
Lombardy is one of the three richest regions in Europe, with a per capita gross domestic product that is 30 percent higher than the rest of Italy. Many foreign and national companies have their headquarters in Milan, and Lombardy is home to many top-rated clubs in football, rugby, ice hockey and basketball.
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, which may or may not have been its own language at all. 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).
Lombardy's official logo.
Main cities
- Milan 1,256,211
- Brescia 187,567
- Monza 120,204
- Bergamo 113,143
- Varese 80,511
- Sesto San Giovanni 78,850
- Como 78,680
- Busto Arsizio 75,916
- Cinisello Balsamo 72,050
- Pavia 71,214
- Cremona 70,887
- Vigevano 57,450
- Legnano 53,797
- Rho 50,246
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.
Tourism information
Famous Lombards
Food
- Risotto alla milanese
- Cotoletta alla milanese
- Osso buco
- Cassoeula
- Panettone
- Missoltini
- Polenta
- Torrone
- Bresaola
- Rane fritte
- Lumache in guazzetto
- Polenta taragna
- Pizzoccheri
- Sciat
- 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
The content of this page is retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lombardy under GFDL
