Piedmont is the region where Italy meets the Alps, a land of snow-capped mountains, rolling vineyard hills, and one of the country's most sophisticated cities. Tucked into the northwest corner of the peninsula, bordering France and Switzerland, it feels distinctly different from the Italy of popular imagination -- quieter, more refined, and seriously devoted to the pleasures of eating and drinking well.
Turin, the regional capital, is a grand Baroque city that served as Italy's first capital and today offers world-class museums, legendary cafes, and an aperitivo culture that puts most Italian cities to shame. South of Turin, the hills of the Langhe and Monferrato produce some of the world's finest wines -- Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera -- along with white truffles that draw gourmets every autumn to Alba's famous truffle fair.
The lakes along Piedmont's eastern edge are among Italy's most beautiful. Stresa is the gateway to the Borromean Islands on Lake Maggiore, while the smaller Lago d'Orta offers a quieter, more intimate alternative. To the north and west, the Alpine valleys -- Val di Susa, Valle d'Aosta's doorstep, and the ski resorts of Sestriere and Bardonecchia -- draw winter sports enthusiasts and summer hikers alike.
Piedmont rewards the traveler who takes their time. This is not a region for ticking off sights at speed; it is one for lingering over a long lunch, driving the back roads between hilltop villages, and discovering that some of Italy's best experiences are in the places most visitors never think to go.
