Lombardy is one of the largest and most densely-populated regions in Italy, if not Europe (376 inhabitants per square kilometre). The most significant thing about it is that the per capita GDP of those living in Lombardy exceeds Italy's national GDP by 30 per cent and surpasses even the European average by over 25 per cent.
Prime ministers and presidents of European nations, on official visits to Italy, often call on Lombardy before they visit Rome. Lombardy has signed almost as many MoUs with foreign nations as the central government in Italy has