Piedmont is a region where Italian tradition meets French flair. Once the seat of the House of Savoy and the birthplace of modern Italy, this north-western region - long a gateway into Italy - has been criss-crossed by empires for millennia, from the Romans and Austrians to Napoleon. This rich historical and cultural legacy lives on in Piedmont’s aristocratic charm, Baroque architecture, and world-renowned cuisine and wine.
Turin, Italy’s first capital and affectionately known as “Little Paris,” offers visitors an experience of regal elegance: grand boulevards, Belle Époque cafés, and world-class museums and opera houses. The city is one of fascinating contrasts - home to the Italian automotive industry and the birthplace of vermouth, yet also boasting a booming natural wine and small-plate dining scene, moody wine bars, and some of Italy’s best dance music. Highlights include the centuries-old Museo Egizio, housing the most important collection of Egyptian artefacts outside Cairo, and the Reggia di Venaria Reale, a palace that rivals Versailles in both scale and grandeur.
Beyond the city, the landscape unfolds into the vine-covered hills of Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato - home to celebrated wines such as Barolo, Barbaresco, Dolcetto, and Moscato d’Asti. Visit the quaint Enoteca Regionale del Barbaresco, explore medieval hilltop villages and castles, or sample the treasures of Alba’s open-air white truffle fairs, where the region’s prized fungi are freshly shaved over handmade tagliatelle.
The town of Bra - birthplace of the global Slow Food movement - offers a true taste of Piedmontese gastronomy. From salty robiola di Roccaverano goat’s cheese and snail pasta with Cervere leeks, to braised Piemontese beef, the region is a haven for culinary connoisseurs. Chocolate lovers will also feel at home: Piedmont is the birthplace of modern chocolate-making.
