Piemonte allows its visitors to see unique scenery and alpine, hill and flatland territories within it’s 160,000 hectares of protected area.  Its cities offer a slice of a unique history that spans from the Roman era to today.

 

Despite these natural gifts, Piemonte is proudest of its extraordinary food and wine traditions which shine brightly in the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato areas.  The hills are covered in grapevines that produce some of the most famous wines in all of Italy: the great reds Barolo, Barbaresco, Nebbiolo and whites, Asti Spumante being the most famous.

 

Asti is the city of the “palio” traditional horse race.  Alba is the city of a hundred towers, and Bra has a lovely historical city center.  All three of these cities host prestigious food and wine events that alone are worth the trip.  They include the Truffle Fair, multiple wine courses and the Cheese Fair organized by the Slow Food movement.

 

The biggest wonder that you must experience in this region is a trip through the picturesque streets to discover the small villages perched among the hills and visit some of the vineyards and wineries.

 

Torino, the first capital of Italy, is an extraordinary art city that has been off international tourists’ radar for decades while it became an industrial center.  Fiat and Juventus, based in Torino, have represented the city to the world for years.  The 2006 Winter Olympics and the investments that were made, however, have launched tourism in Torino on a global level, and many people are re-discovering the various cultural riches the city has.  These include the Egyptian Museum at the Royal Palace, the Madama Palace, the multimedia exhibits at the Cinema Museum and the Automobile Museum, and the splendid Reggia di Venaria.  “Little Paris”, as Torino was called in the beginning of the 1900’s, is framed by the Po river and hills.  Take a stroll under the porticos and admire the architecture of this baroque and neo-classical capital.

 

The Reggia di Venaria can be a starting point on a high level art itinerary.  The Royal Sabaudian Residences housed there became a UNESCO heritage site in 2007.  Visiting them gives you an opportunity to discover an inedited and fascinating Piemonte.

 

Piemonte’s lakes are a classic tourist stop in this region, with their mild climate and incomparable natural scenery.  Arona, Stresa, Baveno are a elegant places to stay as a home-base for visiting the islands in Lake Maggiore, Bella Island and Pescatore Island.  Visiting Orta San Giulio offers you an opportunity to discover a lesser known but equally beautiful area, Orta Lake.