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Piedmont is in the north-west of Italy and borders Switzerland and France. True to the meaning of its name (foot of the mountain), Piedmont is a land of mountains. It is surrounded on three sides by the Alps, with the highest peaks and largest glaciers in Italy.
Monviso, the Piedmont side of Mount Rosa and the other spectacular mountains in the region, create incredibly beautiful landscapes; there are many ski resorts as well, such as Via Lattea and Sestriere, which welcome winter sports enthusiasts with their state of the art facilities.
The Alps form the background for great picturesque valleys, for example, the Val di Susa, Valsesia and Val d'Ossola.
The hilly landscape of the Langhe and Monferrato is different, but still beautiful: a succession of cultivated hills and vineyards, dotted with small towns and castles.
Expanses of water and rice-fields, long rows of poplars and old farmhouses make up the typical scenery of the plains around Novara and Vercelli. Lake Maggiore is the most sought-after tourist resort, with Stresa and the Borromean Islands, charming landscapes with ancient villas surrounded by beautiful lawns.
Yet, nature is only one of the many attractions in Piedmont. This region has many other facets: from Turin – the Italian car manufacturing capital – with its history and remarkable cultural heritage, to other cities such as Cherasco, Alba and Ivrea.
Next we come to charming medieval castles, including the imposing castle of Ivrea, and prized works of architecture, for example the famous Residences of the Royal House of Savoy and the Sacri Monti (Sacred Mountains). The famous spa resorts of Acqui Terme and Vinadio offer treatments and therapy for a relaxing, reviving holiday. Discoveries and surprises of all kinds are in store for visitors to the region, including a wide range of food and wine for all tastes.
The region’s provinces are: Turin (regional capital), Alessandria, Asti, Biella, Cuneo, Novara, Verbano Cusio Ossola and Vercelli.
Your first stop on your voyage of discovery in this region should be Turin, with its Egyptian Museum, one of the largest in the world, the Turin Shroud, one of the most precious relics of Christianity, the famous Mole Antonelliana which dominates the city skyline and houses the National Cinema Museum, and finally the Automobile Museum.
The Reggia di Venaria Palace is a splendid and extremely charming architectural structure, listed as a World Heritage site by Unesco together with the other Residences of the Royal House of Savoy. From the Royal Palace and the Carignano Palace of Turin to the hunting lodge at Stupinigi , and from the royal Castle at Racconigi to Turin’s Palazzo Madama, your visit to the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy starts from Turin and ends in the surrounding area.
The Sacri Monti (Sacred Mountains) are richly decorated masterpieces of religious architecture spread all over the region: Varallo Sesia, Serralunga di Crea and Ponzano Monferrato, Orta San Giulio, Ghiffa and Domodossola.
Other unmissable destinations are historical towns like Cherasco, “the town with star-shaped walls”, Savigliano, rich in monuments, Alba and Ivrea.
The most famous abbeys are at Staffarda, an impressive example of gothic architecture, and Novalesa, near Susa.
The Sacra di San Michele is particularly important, too, a very ancient sanctuary whose religious aspects are in perfect harmony with its architecture and natural environment.
The Piedmont shore of Lake Maggiore is full of famous resorts, such as Arona with its 17th-century colossal statue of Saint Carlo, Stresa and the Borromean Islands, with accommodation facilities, villas and gardens.
The ski resort of Sestriere - Via Lattea is one of the most important winter sports complexes in Europe.
There are many reserves and nature reserves as well, for example the Gran Paradiso National Park with its glaciers, natural lakes and protected flora and fauna.
Rich in natural resources and landscapes, Piedmont offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy sport, unwind and be entertained , mixing leisure and culture.
Against the unique setting of the Alps, internationally renowned locations such as Sestriere, Susa Valley and others offer a wide range of slopes suitable for all kinds of sporting activity from steep slopes to cross-country skiing and ice-skating to snowboarding, while those who love the thrill of adventure can go climbing on rocky mountains or rafting on rushing rivers.
In summer, the mountains and valleys offer trekking routes at different levels of difficulty, including some tracts of the “Via Alpina” with paths and well-equipped huts, from Monviso to the mountains around Verbania.
You can choose from many more outdoor activities: cycling along the River Po and around Vercelli, mountain biking along the banks of the River Sesia, playing golf in one of the area’s various centres and sailing, windsurfing and canoeing on the shores of Lake Maggiore.
Nature also offers other routes to discover the local culture and other facets of the region: in the Germanasca Valley, for example, you can go on a guided tour to the talc mines that made the history of this valley, while you can follow a spiritual pathway through the magnificent protected areas of the Sacred Mountains.
Piedmont excels in its wine production, from Monferrato to the Langhe, from Astigiano to the Tortonesi Hills: the numerous wine trails lead to charming landscapes with several stops at farms and wineries to taste wines and typical local produce, like the scented Alba truffle.
If you are looking for wellbeing and health on your holiday, you can choose one of the renowned spas of the region, such as Acqui Terme, surrounded by the striking remains of a Roman aqueduct.
Finally, you must not miss internationally acclaimed cultural events and festivals, like the Book Fair and the famous chocolate fair “Ciccolatò” that take place every year in Turin, as well as food festivals and cultural events like the famous Ivrea Carnival, the Palio horse race of Asti and many more.
The most typical specialties of the regional food are fondue and bagna cauda: two dips which celebrate the Alba white truffle and raw vegetables. Some of the many excellent dishes include the great mixed fry, braised beef in Barolo wine, civet of hare and a wide array of cheeses: toma, robiola, bruss from the Langhe, gorgonzola from Novara, and sernium from Biella.
The typical desserts of the region can be found in every town: the chocolates of Turin (how can you forget the exquisite gianduiotti chocolates made with hazelnuts from Langhe and Monferrato), Novara biscuits, the bicciolani of Vercelli, the crumiri of Casale, the Cuneo chocolate sweets with rum and candied chestnuts, nougat from Alba, the baci di dama biscuits of Alessandria and Asti and the amaretti almond biscuits from Novi.
Finally, some internationally renowned products like breadsticks and vermouth are from Turin.
Piedmont produces some of the finest red wines in Italy: Barolo, Barbaresco, Gattinara, Ghemme, Nebbiolo, Freisa, Grignolino, Barbera, and Dolcetto.
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