Piedmont (Piemonte) Overview

More than just the source of the Po River, Piedmont (pee-yeh-MON-tay) is a fountainhead of nobility and fine cuisine. The area rose to prominence in 1861 when the Savoys selected Turin as capital of their reunified Italy in 1861. The capital relocated only four years later, and Piedmont fell back into obscurity. Today, European tourists escape whirlwind urban pace on the banks of Lake Maggiore, while outdoor enthusiasts and expert skiers conquer Alpine mountains to the northeast. Sometimes called the “Prussia of Italy,” Piedmont is renowned for its high standard of living and modern, well-organized infrastructure. Since Turin hosted the Winter Olympics in 2006, the region’s profile has only continued to rise.

Eat at Turin’s enormous Eataly, a combination between a restaurant, a cooking school, a museum, and a fresh food market .
Sip Barbera, Barbaresco, and Asti Spumante in Piedmont’s wine country .
Jump into the icy blue waters of the streams of the Gesso Valley .
Conquer the glacial slopes beneath the great Matterhorn .

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