Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PIEDMONT
POP 4.36 MILLION
Italy's second-largest region is arguably its most elegant: a purveyor of Slow Food and fine
wine, regal
palazzi
and an atmosphere that is superficially more
français
than
italiano
. But
dig deeper and you'll discover that Piedmont has 'Made in Italy' stamped all over it. Emer-
ging from the chaos of the Austrian wars, the unification movement first exploded here in
the 1850s, when the noble House of Savoy provided the nascent nation with its first prime
minister and its dynastic royal family.
Most Piedmont journeys start in grandiose Turin, famous for football and Fiats. But bey-
ond the car factories, Piedmont is also notable for its food - everything from Arborio rice
to white truffles - and pastoral landscapes not unlike nearby Tuscany.
The region's smaller towns were once feuding fiefdoms that bickered over trade and reli-
gion. Today the biggest skirmishes are more likely to be over cheese recipes and wine vin-
tages. Traditionally, Asti and Alba stand tallest in the culinary stakes, while understated
Cuneo uses its long-standing chocolate obsession to help fuel outdoor adventures in the
nearby Maritime Alps.
