Located in northern Italy and in the heart of Europe, Lombardy occupies a strategic position, a bridge to the Mediterranean and a crossroads between East and West. With its almost 10 million inhabitants, distributed on a surface of about 24,000 km, it is a reality that, besides being a symbol of modernity and development, presents natural beauties and an artistic heritage of extraordinary value. It should be noted that out of about 200 national DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) or IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) products, 22 come partly or exclusively from Lombardy.