How is a region similar to a place?

A place is specific. If you have a pain in your knee, for example: 

The place of the pain is the knee. 
The pain is in the leg region. 

I used to live in Boston. That's the PLACE that I lived. That PLACE was in the New England REGION. 

Place = specific and defined. You know the exact location. 
Region= vague and undefined. You know the general area, but not the exact location.