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This large, north centrally located region, Lombardia,
is Italy’s most populous, with nearly 10 million residents,
about three-quarters of them in the Milan metropolitan
area.
Because of its proximity to the Alps on Italy’s northern
border, the area of Lombardia has seen much tumult in
its 4,500-year history.
To this day residents speak a few unique dialects that
combine French, German and Italian.
Lombardia is landlocked, but several large lakes provide
recreation and fishing. Lombardia is also a region of
relative economic prosperity, with nearly one-quarter
of all the country’s GDP coming from the local economy.
The northern provinces in Lombardia are mountainous.
Milan is the largest city, with about half as many residents
as Rome and a great deal of industry.
Of the over 1500 towns in the region, 13 have more
than 50,000 people.
Milan is famous for high fashion and fabrics as well
as being one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the
world.
A great many artists and thinkers have called the area
home for thousands of years.
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