It is not easy to describe to a tourist who wants to visit Piedmont, the main feature of this territory. The name seems to speak for itself, our region lies at the foot of the mountains, yet a few kilometres away one can find very different landscapes

The Alpine Piedmont is where mountains like the Monviso or the Monte Rosa stand out. For mountain lovers, both for winter and summer seasons, there’s a wide variety of options. But Piedmont is also the territory of the hills like Langhe and Monferrato, where food and wine tourism is growing drastically.
Accomplices are the wines produced there, among which barolo, barbaresco and spumante; or excellent products like the white truffle, which in the months of October and November brings gourmets from all over the world to the Alba truffle fair.

In the northeast we have the Piedmont of the Lakes. Who would give up a romantic weekend on the lakes of Orta and Maggiore, true pearls of our land? Piedmont has also made the history of our country, the city of Turin, the first capital of Italy, bears witness to this. Nonetheless, Piedmont is rich in art and culture too.

• Turin and province
• Cuneo and province
• Asti and province
• Sacro Monte of Varallo
• The Lakes region

Those coming to Turin will have to spend more than a day discovering the city. The classic tour includes a visit to the exterior of the Roman remains, such as the Porta Palatina and the theatre. Furthermore, with ‘the capital Turin’ and its monuments such as the Royal Palace, Piazza San Carlo, Palazzo Carignano, the church of San Lorenzo and the Basilica of Superga..

There are many important museums in the city. The Egyptian museum is second in the world after the one in Cairo. The Cinema Museum is located inside the Mole Antonelliana, and the symbol of the city. The civic museum of Palazzo Madama, and the only example of the Renaissance, is the cathedral of St. John the Baptist, where the Holy Shroud is kept inside.

There is a post-industrial and post-Olympic Turin, represented above all by Lingotto, a former FIAT plant, today a cultural and commercial centre.

For those who will be able to spend more time exploring the Province, trips are offered to discover the Savoy residences such as the palace of Venaria, a UNESCO heritage site; or the hunting lodge of Stupinigi. Unexpected treasures are found in the Canavese area, with Ivrea, known for its historic carnival, Olivetti's historical factory and the marvelous 15th century frescoes of the church of San Bernardino. In the Canavese it will be possible to visit castles like the one in Masino or that of Agliè; the last one belonging to the Savoy family.

In Valle di Susa, you can go back in time, with the Roman and medieval remains of Susa, the Sacra di San Michele on Mount Pirchiriano, symbol of Piedmont, and the Gothic church of San Antonio di Ranverso, frescoed in the XV century by Giacomo Jaquerio.

In Turin and the Province there will be opportunities to try good food, chocolate in particular, the real black gold of the territory.

Called the "Provincia Granda", due to its size, it is a land rich in art, culture and history. Forming part of the collective of Savoy residences, the Racconigi castle is one of the most loved Savoy residences by its visitors. Frequented by the king and his family until the 1940s, it is rich in furnishings and decorations both from the eighteenth-century and carlo-albertini. In 2010 the park surrounding the Castle has been awarded "The most beautiful park in Italy".

Not too far from Racconigi, there is one of the most famous abbeys of Piedmont: Staffarda. The complex, founded in the 12th century, has been extended several times. Today it represents a symbol of Piedmontese Gothic. There are many cities full of history. From Saluzzo, with its Cathedral and the church of San Giovanni, to the triangular-shaped Cuneo, now capital of the province, and to Mondovì and the sanctuary of Vicoforte.

The province of Cuneo is also known for its fifteenth-century frescoes, such as those in the baronial hall of the Manta castle, or those in the chapels of Elva or Macrà.

The landscape of the Langhe is splendid, with the hills and vineyards of Nebbiolo wine. In addition to visiting wineries, you can walk in the cities of Alba and Cherasco, with their medieval and baroque remains. The castle of Grinzane Cavour is both an historical monument and home to the regional wine house. The neo-gothic Pollenzo is where are located the headquarters of the University of Taste and of the Wine Bank.

Asti, known all over the world for its sparkling wine, is a rich city in art and culture. Birthplace of Vittorio Alfieri, it boasts one of the most important terracotta buildings in Piedmontese Gothic: The Cathedral. It is dedicated to Maria Assunta and San Gottardo. Similar to the facade of the cathedral, the collegiate church of San Secondo, is a Romanesque-Gothic building in Lombard style. In September, the most ancient Palio in Italy takes place in Asti, with a historical procession of over 1200 participants.

The superb hilly landscapes of the Monferrato, which are rich in vines, are candidates to be part of the UNESCO heritage. For religious tourism, the fundamental milestone is the Don Bosco hill, whose hamlet Castelnuovo was the birthplace of the social saint.

The most famous Romanesque monument of the Asti Province is the Abbey of Vezzolano, a few kilometres from Turin.

In the heart of Valsesia, in 1493 Father Bernardino Caimi began to build the sites of the Holy Land, reproducing its architecture and decorations. The construction of the 44 chapels, with paintings and sculptures, took two centuries and has involved artists such as Gaudenzio Ferrari, the Morazzone, Giovanni d´Enrico and his brother Antonio, known as Tanzio da Varallo.

As the holiday destination for European elites of the past, Lake Maggiore is one of the jewels of the area. The three Borromean Islands still represent the symbol of the lake today: Isola Bella, with its baroque gardens commissioned by Carlo III Borromeo for his beloved wife; Isola Madre, which houses a palace and a botanical garden; and the Island dei Pescatori.

In Arona you can climb inside the statue of San Carlo Borromeo, known as San Carlone, and enjoy the view at 24 metres high. Don't miss a visit to Stresa, destination of the Grand Tour and mentioned by authors such as Stendhal, Charles Dickens, Lord Byron and Ernest Hemingway.

Lake Orta is characterized by the island of San Giulio. The most beautiful village on the lake is Orta San Giulio.