Piemonte

This northwest corner of Italy has an identity quite different from the rest of the country and its regins. Bordered by Switzerland on the north and France along its western flank, both nations have influenced the region of Piedmont (Italian Piemonte) heavily throughout its history. The tidy mountain villages seem to be part of a typical Swiss scenario, while prior to the last century French was spoken in Piedmont, and it has influenced the various dialects spoken today. The Royal French House of Savoy began its rule of Piedmont in the 11th century, and as capital of the French province, Turin became one of the grand cities of Europe. Today the French legacy is seen in the layout of the city centre with its wide boulevards, expansive squares and beautiful gardens and parks, in the Baroque architecture of its churches and palaces, and in its sidewalk cafes and sophisticated shops.

More than 40% of the region is covered by mountains. Its Alpine valleys are main destination for winter sports tourism and its Alpine lakes are popular with summer and leisure travellers. Lake Orta, a relatively small lake with an island in the centre, is encircled by mountains and punctuated by small towns along its shoreline. Beginning in Switzerland, the northern part of Lake Maggiore looks hardly like a fiord, and as one heads south the landscape has a distinct Mediterranean feeling: mountains give way to rolling hills, palm trees, and gardens filled with orange trees and exotic flowers. One of the main outdoor attractions in Piedmont is the “Grande Traversata delle Alpi”, a walk of more than 200 km through the Alps from Lake Maggiore to the Ligurian border.

As a matter of fact, Piedmont is one of Italy’s wealthiest regions, with a strong industrial core and an extensive agricultural base. Known for its magnificent wines, Piedmont is one of the main producers in the country, covering more than two thirds of the rice production and a host of superb fruits and vegetables. Its exquisite white truffles are world famous. Turin, the capital, is industrially second only to Milan and is headquarters for the Fiat automobile company and Olivetti Corporation. Turin’s automobile museum is a fascinating look into the development of that glorious industry, and its archaeological museum has one of the best collections of ancient Egyptian art outside of Egypt. Thousands flock to the city’s Duomo di San Giovanni to see the famous Shroud of Turin.

Because Piedmont is responsible for so much of Italy’s rice production, as a result, rice dishes such as “Paniscia”, made with sausage and vegetables, figure prominently in its cuisine. Two soups stand out: “Cisra”, with chickpeas and vegetables, and “Tofeja Canavesana”, with pork rind and white beans. The city of Turin produces excellent hazelnut-flavored chocolates called “Gianduiotti”, and delicious pastries abound, many also based on the local hazelnuts. Piemonte is known for its great wines, mostly reds like Barolo, Barbera, Barbaresco, Ghemme, Gattinara, Dolcetto, Grignolino, Freisa and Brachetto. Whites, such as Roero Arneis, Erbaluce di Caluso, Cortese and Gavi are outstanding, as are the sparkling wines of Asti.

The region of Piedmont offers endless options for recreation, tourism, culinary delights and wine tasting. Whether hiking the trails of scenic Lake Maggiore, skiing, admiring the artistic works of the region, or sampling the delightful meats, truffles and wines of Piedmont. Every visitor is certain to experience the “vacation of a lifetime” in this beautiful land.