Myrtle Claus
Looking for an Italian region that has not yet been discovered by mass tourism? Where you can still really experience the changing of the seasons? What you can indulge in slow food, culture and good wine? Then it's time to discover the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy!
Piedmont (Piedmont in Italian) means 'at the foot of the mountain'. And that's the perfect description: the region is surrounded on 3 sides by the Alps with the highest peaks and the largest glaciers in Italy.
In the plain at the bottom of the mountains, innovative companies such as Ferrero, Fiat and Olivetti, but you will also find the rice fields for Arborio rice.
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The cradle of slow food
The hills of the Roero, Monferrato and the Langhe in the south are the regions of truffles, hazelnuts and wines such as Barolo and Barbaresco. It is probably not surprising that the cradle of the slow food-movement lies!
As if this isn't enough in itself, Piedmont is also one of the richest regions of Italy in history, culture and art.
In short: more than enough to see and experience in this relatively unknown part of Italy! To help you on your way to discovering it, we have listed the 10 most beautiful Piedmontese places for you.
1. Turin
Turin is anything but the gray industrial city you might expect. It was once the capital of Italy and home to the Italian royal family. And that is reflected in the elegant historic palaces and buildings such as the Palazzo Madama and the Royal Palace.
The city has beautiful long avenues and grand squares such as Piazza Castello and Piazza San Carlo, also known as the 'salon of Turin'.
There is plenty to do in the city! Visit the Mole Antonelliana, the symbol of the city. It was designed as a synagogue but is now used as a film museum.
Take a walk along the Po and through the Parco Valentino with the medieval village. And in the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, you'll find the largest collection of excavated statues of pharaohs, sarcophagi and tombstones outside of Egypt.
Tip: make one here virtual tour of the Egyptian Museum.
In the cathedral you can view the Sacro Sindone, the Holy Shroud. And if you want to enjoy a beautiful view of the city and the Alps, a tram ride to Superga is a must.
In the cellars of the Basilica of Superga on the top of the hill, you can also visit the tombs of the kings of Piedmont and Italy.
Do you have time left? Then visit the Reggia of Venaria north of Turin or the royal hunting palace in Rococo style in Stupinigi 10 kilometers south.
Beautiful moving images of Turin:
2. Val di Susa and the Sacra di San Michele
The Val di Susa is one of the most beautiful valleys of Piedmont, where there is always something to do in summer and winter. For example, take a 468-meter walk at a height of 30 meters over the longest Tibetan bridge in the world – the Ponte nel Cielo – at Cesana Claviere.
Or swim in one of the lakes, such as the Black Lake at 2.070 meters above sea level or the Goja del Pis, a small lake between rock walls from which a waterfall gently falls.
And for lovers of walks and hikes, there are among others the Sentiero Balcone, the Sentiero degli Orridi or the Sentiero dei Gufi, which is very suitable for families.
In winter, Via Lattea, or the Milky Way, is the place for winter sports enthusiasts. It includes 249 interconnected slopes and 70 ski lifts with elevations ranging from 1.380 meters in Cesana to 2.800 meters at the top of Monte Motta.
What you should not miss in Val di Susa is the Sacra di San Michele. The very old abbey, which was built between 983 and 987 on top of the Pirchiriano mountain, is the symbol of Piedmont.
The magic of the place inspired Umberto Eco to his novel The Name of the Rose.
Beautiful drone images of this magical place:
3. Saluzzo
Saluzzo is built on top of a hill and faces the Monviso, which at 3.841 meters is the highest massif in the Cottian Alps.
It is a typical 14th century hill town with narrow cobbled streets, red brick churches, elegant noble palaces with gardens, sundials on the walls and long staircases.
Also visit the Castiglia, the fortified residence of the Marquesses of Saluzzo. In the 19th century it served as a prison and now houses a museum.
The town has been declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, because it is the perfect destination for those looking for relaxation, nature, sports, good food and above all mountains in a holiday!
4. Sunrise
Alba is one of the most famous towns in Piedmont. Although this 'city of 100 towers' on the river Tanaro is not very big, you will find a whole range of sights.
The most important structure is the red-brick Gothic San Lorenzo Cathedral. But the recently restored 18th century Church of the Magdalena in Piedmontese Baroque is also worth a visit.
See the 4 surviving towers of the city, such as the Bonino Tower dating from the 12th century. Or discover the underground Alba with an archaeologist and take a tour of the remains of an ancient temple, a theater and the forum from the Roman era and the first baptismal font.
But Alba is not just history. Nestled between hills full of vineyards, the town has an enormous gastronomic and wine tradition. Several types of red and white wine are produced in the region, of which the Barolo and Barbaresco are the best known.
Alba is also the city of the white truffle. The Fiera del tartufo bianco which is held from October, attracts thousands of interested people every year. Highly recommended for foodies So!
The sights of Alba at a glance:
5. Acqui Terme
Around 200 BC. the Romans already built a spa there. And to this day in Acqui Terme you can enjoy the springs with the warm thermal water.
Don't feel like relaxing in one of the many spas that you can find there? Then you can discover the historic center of the city, with the Torre Civica, the cathedrals of San Pietro and Santa Maria Assunta and the Castello Paleologi where the archaeological museum is located.
And don't miss the marble fountain La Bollente by Giovanni Ceruti. But beware: the temperature of the thermal water flowing from the fountain is 74,5°C!
Acqui Terme and La Bollente on video:
Just outside the city, you can get a good look at the remains of a Roman aqueduct from the Carlo Bridge. The structure was originally 13 kilometers long and was largely underground.
6. Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands
Lake Maggiore in northern Piedmont is perfect for a drive on a sunny day. Along the banks there are numerous villages to discover with their beautiful villas and parks.
And don't forget to visit the Borromean Islands that lie in the lake. In the 16th century, the Borromeo family bought this small archipelago as a country residence and it is still in their possession today.
It consists of the only inhabited Isola dei Pescatori, the smaller San Giovanni and the Malghera rock.
On the two larger islands, Isola Madre and Isola Bella, you can wander around the rooms of the two palaces built by the Borromeos. And from the beautiful gardens that belong to it, you have an enchanting view over the Lake Maggiore.
Tip: the most beautiful campsites on Lake Maggiore you can find here.
View the high-resolution images:
7. Verbania
Verbania is located on the western shore of Lake Maggiore. The historic center of the city is worth exploring.
Characteristic, nicely cobbled alleys lead you to the lake. You will pass the neoclassical Basilica of San Vittore, the Renaissance Church of the Madonna di Campagna and elegant villas such as Villa Giulia and Villa San Remigio.
Villa Taranto is the reason why Verbania is also called 'the garden by the lake'. It has a beautiful 16-acre English garden, which the Scottish Captain Neil McEacharn created in 1931 with wild flora from his native land.
Beautiful images of Verbania:
8. Stress
On the bank opposite Verbania is the elegant Stresa. It has been one of Italy's most popular tourist destinations since the 19th century, hosting English intellectuals such as Lord Byron, Stendhall and Charles Dickens on their Grand Tour. And you understand that when you walk through the center.
See the church of Sant'Ambrogio and the famous Villa Ducale next door, built in the same neoclassical style at the end of the 18th century.
Go to the 19th-century Villa Pallavicino with its famous animal park and take a look at the bustling squares of Piazza dell'Imbardadero and Piazza Marconi.
And a visit to Stresa is not complete without a stroll along the lake along the promenade lined with luxurious Art Nouveau hotels.
Drone footage of elegant Stresa:
9. Orta San Giulio
On the shore of the Lago d'Orta is part of the medieval village of Orta San Giulio. The center is car-free and through the narrow streets you can walk to Piazza Motta.
From the square you have a view of the lake and the other part of the village, which is located on the island of San Giulio. The square is lined with the most important historic buildings with their porticos, including the 16th-century Palazzo della Comunità della Riviera di San Giulio.
See the small church of Santa Maria Assunta, and don't miss the Palazzo Gemelli and the neoclassical Palazzo Penotti Ubertini with a ballroom with a beautiful Venetian floor.
Of course you will sail to the island of San Giulio, which is known as 'the island of silence'. You can see the former seminary, which was built at the end of the 19th century on the ruins of the former castle. Now it is a monastery of Benedictine nuns.
A short film about the Lago d'Orta:
10. Gran Paradise National Park
In 1919, King Vittoria Emanuele III decided to donate 2100 hectares of his hunting grounds to the Italian State. The condition was that it would become a national nature park. And so arose between the Valle d'Aosta and Piedmont the oldest reserve in Italy: Gran Paradise National Park.
The park has a typical Alpine landscape, with wide valleys, forests and plains, as well as rocks and glaciers. In both summer and winter, the park offers activities suitable for everyone: from high altitude excursions to photographic trekking in the valleys and from snowshoe hikes to skiing.
The park's mascot is the ibex, which you may spot on walks. But there is also a good chance that you will encounter chamois, foxes and reptiles, amphibians and birds of all kinds.
Images of the Gran Paradiso National Park:
Your most beautiful places in Piedmont
They were, our 10 most beautiful places in Piedmont. Hopefully we have been able to provide you with inspiration for your next trip to Italy. Do you know Piedmont yourself well and do you think we missed a place? Please let us know by commenting below this article or by sending a message to our digital mailbox.
Also watch: the most beautiful places in Italy.
the town of Biella with the historic center above which can be reached by a rack railway. The 15th century cathedral and its 8th century baptistery are also worth a visit. The pilgrimage town of Oropa, located in the mountains and very authentic, without too many shops. From there you can make beautiful mountain trips or take the cable car to the mountain lake lago del Mucrone.
The photo of Stresa is again not of Stresa, but the monastery of Santa Caterina del Sasso, which is not in Piedmont, but near Ispra in Lombardy.
Thanks for the correction!