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Sondrio Province
The Sondrio province in the Lombardia Region of north-central
Italy forms part of the Italian-Swiss border. As such,
the province is rather mountainous, with deep valleys.
Like much of Lombardy, the area has been inhabited
since pre-historic times, likely back to the Bronze
Age, due to the pass that is cut through the Alps by
its principal rivers.
Today, Sondrio province is famous for its white wines
that are not found anywhere else in Italy. Winter tourism
is also a major part of the local economy.
The namesake capital city, Sondrio, was founded in
the 5th century by the Lombards and named for the free
landowners of the area (which was uncommon at the time
in Europe). The city is located in the centre of the
geographic region known as the Voltellina.
Known for its pastoral, Alpine beauty, this area includes
several towns in the southern watershed of the Alps,
characterized by green, vineyard-strewn valleys.
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