Lombardy

Lombardy (Italian Lombardia) is a region in northern Italy between the Alps and the Po Valley. Lombardy's capital is Milan, and the region is divided into the following provinces, all named after their capital cities:

Bergamo
Brescia (weapon industries)
Como (silk industries)
Cremona
Lecco
Lodi
Mantova
Milano
Pavia (one of the most ancient universities)
Sondrio
Varese (shoe industries)

Another important town is Monza (the Formula One circuit).

Lombardy borders the regions of Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, and the country of Switzerland.

The region is named for the Lombards or Langobardi, who came to this region after the fall of the (western) Roman Empire. There was a close relationship between the Frankish, Bavarian and Lombard nobility for many centuries.

The current (October 2002) president of Lombardy is Roberto Formigoni