24 facts about Lombardy

Lombardy is a region in northern Italy. It is the most populous region of the country with almost 9.4 million inhabitants. The main city of the region is Milan.

Facts and little-known information about Lombardy.

1. For winter sports enthusiasts, Lombardy offers modern facilities and equipment in popular destinations such as Tonale, Bormio, Livigno and Madesimo. 2. Milan is the second largest city in Italy and the capital of Lombardy. The city itself is home to about 1.35 million people, and its urban area is the fifth largest in the EU and the largest in Italy, with a population of about 5.2 million. 3. Most of the major Italian fashion brands including Versace, Prada, Armani and Dolce & Gabbana are currently based in Milan. 4. Milan’s urban area is the largest in Italy and the third most populous functional urban area in the EU. 5. Numerous lakes of Lombardy (all of glacial origin) lie in the northern highlands. From west to east, these are Italy’s largest lakes Maggiore, Lugano, Como, Iseo, Idro and Garda. 6. Lake Garda: like other pre-alpine lakes, it has an elongated shape, reminiscent of its most distant glacial origin. Today, the mild climate and natural vegetation suggest a Mediterranean coastline. Olive trees, magnolias, agaves and palm trees grow there. 7. Lombardy is a mix of dense cities and vast natural landscapes, so there’s a reason you can find many different accommodation options throughout the region depending on where you’re staying. 8. Lombard cuisine has roots in many different cultures, resulting in extravagant dishes. Lombard cuisine traditionally uses large amounts of butter, cream and lard. 9. Milan has a famous opera house. The Alla Skala Theater can accommodate two thousand spectators and is one of the best opera and ballet theaters in the world. It is the seat of the La Scala theater choir, the La Scala theater ballet and the La Scala theater orchestra. However, don’t expect great breathtaking views from the street.

  10. Lombardy has always been an important center for the production of silk and textiles, especially in the cities of Pavia, Vigevano and Cremona, but Milan is the most important fashion center in the region. In 2009, Milan was recognized as the world capital of fashion, overtaking even New York, Paris, Rome and London. 11. Milan is the city that boasts the most Michelin stars in Italy (along with Rome). Bergamo and the surroundings of Lago di Garda are also some of the best places to drink wine in Italy. 12. Leonardo da Vinci invented the first water gate for the Milan Canal. The first water lock “Conca” – “Mitra Gate” was built in Milan in 1496 to compensate for the difference in water levels between the Naviglio di Martesana and the round channel. 13. Lombardy is also the Italian region with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Italy, on the other hand, is the first country in terms of the number of objects in the world. 14. The climate of Lombardy varies greatly depending on where we are – for example, it is much colder in the mountains than in the low plains. The region has a classic continental climate – warm in summer and cool in winter. 15. Classical music lovers know Cremona as home to the best stringed instruments in the world. The world famous Cremonen violin achieved its greatest achievement through the work of Stradivarius Cremonensis and continues to be in demand.

  16. About 36% of the population speaks the local Lombard language, of which 9% do not speak any other language. 17. The region is famous for such historical figures as Virgil, Pliny the Elder, Ambrose, Caravaggio, Claudio Monteverdi, Antonio Stradivari, Cesare Beccaria, Alessandro Volta, Pope John XXIII and Paul VI. 18. Lake Como is impressive. The lower half of the lake is divided into two arms: the western branch, called Lake Como, and the eastern branch, called Lake Lecco, surrounded by high cliffs that give the area its beauty.