Piedmont

Piedmont is an astoundingly beautiful region located on the north west of Italy, bordering with Aosta Valley, Liguria and Lombardy and surrounded by the highest mountains of the Alps; its name translates to “the foot of the mountains”. Piedmont or Piemonte in Italian, is a perfect region for mountains lovers, whether skiing during the winter or just climbing and walking during the summer.

The capital of this region is Turin, and until 1864 the first Italian capital during the Savoy reign, that still preserves some of the architecture and buildings of the period, including the very grand Residences of the Royal House of Savoy or the Mole Antonelliana, a monumental building started during the Savoy era, and originally conceived as a synagogue, now a museum and considered to be the tallest museum in the world.

Turin has a rich culture and history, and it is well known for its renaissance, baroque and neo classical architecture. But Piedmont is not just Turin, it is also Vercelli, with its cathedral and synagogue, Asti with is Roman remains and Verbania, located on the shore of the Lake Maggiore. Piedmont is also food, the slow food movement was conceived here, and the Salone del Gusto, a popular and very famous food and wine fair, are held here every year. Piedmont is also known for its truffles, Alba is its centre, with its white truffles being the most expensive in the world.

Piedmont is also one of the main Italian wine producing regions, with around 40% of DOC and DOCG wines being made here. From Barolo to Barbaresco, from Barbera, Alba and Asti, to Dolcetto or Gavi di Gavi and Arneis only to mention a few, Piedmont produces some of the most famous Italian wines. Piedmont’s food delicacies include Piedmont hazelnuts that have received the IGP classification and are widely appreciated. Piedmont IGP hazelnuts are used in local sweets and desserts, often found in artisan chocolate creams and more generally in cuisine.

If visiting the city of Asti, we suggest a visit to Tacabanda, a delightful restaurant with a great heart, they help disabled people by offering them a job, they give them an opportunity, and it is a joy to see them working and feeling part of something, and the food is some of the best we have eaten in Asti with an equally impressive cellar. We really recommend a visit and if you are not planning to visit Asti but you love what they are doing, there is an option to donate to their cause on their website.