Piedmont Italy travel guide

Basic information

The region Piedmont (Piemonte) is located in northern Italy and borders Switzerland and France. The region has an area of 25399 km² by approximately 4.3 million inhabitants. Piedmont (Piemonte) consists of 8 provinces, the capital Turin, Cuneo, Asti, Alessandria, Novara, Vercelli, Biella and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola.

Geographically seen, the region Piedmont (Piemonte) consists of 3 parts, the Alpine region, the hills and the Po Valley. The highest mountain in Piedmont (Piemonte) is the Gran Paradiso, with its 4061 meters. The region borders on the north to Switzerland and the Valle d'Aosta which geographically belongs to Piedmont (Piemonte), however its autonomous. On the West, the region borders to France, in the south to the Liguria and on the East to Lombardy (Lombardia).

Agriculture - Wine & Rice

Also the western shore of the Lake Maggiore belongs to the region Piedmont (Piemonte). The hills in the southern part is predominantly agricultural used and there is a well known growing area for wine. The area in the province of Cuneo where mainly wine grows is called Langhe e Roero. In the Po Valley precisely in the provinces of Vercelli and Novara are growing areas for rice, about 1/3 of the European rice production comes from this region.

Winter Sports and Ski Vacation

The region Piedmont (Piemonte) is best suited for various winter sports activities, there are hundreds of downhill and cross-country skiing slopes offered. The ski area in the outskirts of Turin was the venue of the Olympic Winter Games 2006. The Olympic ski resorts due to its modern structure are best suited for a skiing holiday.

Bathing Lakes

A part of the tourism concentrates more in the northern area of the region where the Lago Maggiore and the Orta Lake is located. Here were offered all kinds of water sports like sailing, surfing or water skiing.

Sightseeing

For people who are interested in culture the capital Turin in the region of Piedmont offer a lot. Many sights, attractions and castles can be visited in the surroundings. Among the special attractions belongs the Caccia Stupinigi and the Palazzo Madama. In addition to the fantastic buildings there are slso many beautiful landscapes to enjoy.

UNESCO World Heritage Site in Piedmont

In addition the Caccia Stupinigi and also the so-called Sacri Monti are included and protected by the UNESCO World Heritage. The Sacri Monti are nine sacred mountains in the region of Piedmont (Piemonte) and Lombardy (Lombardia) on which are built pilgrimage churches.

Truffle season and truffle markets

Particularly popular in this region is the autumn and winter season because of the beginning of the the truffle season. Truffles can be found in this time of the year on the markets of Asti and Alba.

The fair called Fiera del Tartufo Bianco d'Alba usually takes place from the 30th September to the 5th November and this is a celebration fair of the white truffle.

The towns Alba and Bra from the area of the Langhe and Roero participate also at the fair Fiera Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco d'Alba.

The samucana sheep

A Piedmontese speciality is the Samucana sheep which is only farmed in the Alta Valle Stura in the rpvince of Cuneo in the little town called Sambuco.