Piemonte, often called Tuscany without tourists, with its picturesque hills and vineyards can be an excellent alternative to its southern brother in the summer, although most tourists are stubbornly filling the region in winter, because here are some of the best ski resorts in Italy.
Gourmets know the taste of Piedmont well: its truffles, hazelnuts, chocolate and vintage wines like Barberesco, Barolo and sparkling Asti. They brought glory to the region as well as the Slow Food movement that originated here, which is based on the simplest pleasures in life, where food, of course, is not the last place.
Olympic Games of 2006, held in the capital of Piedmont Turin and the surrounding slopes of the resorts "Milky Way", also forced to attract the attention of the international community. Fortunately, this almost did not affect the charming seclusion and picturesqueness of this region.
Capital - Torino.
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Piedmont Wines
Geographically Piedmont also includes the Langhe region, Monferrato and the Roero (Roero) hills ), which today are considered the main wine-growing regions of the country.
Lange is located in the province of Cuneo to the south and west of the Tanaro River, whose valley is famous for its truffles and vineyards. In the hills of Langhe, grape varieties such as nebbiolo, dolcetto and barbera grow. From nebbiolo traditionally produce the famous red wines Barolo and Barbaresco. In addition, there are the charming old towns of Barolo, La Morra, Monforte and Barbaresco
Monferrato, stretching from Turin to the east to the border with the Alessandria region, is washed by the waters of the Po River in the north and is adjacent to Langhe in the south. Monferrato is divided into two parts lying in the middle of the city of Asti. It is here that the popular wine Barbera d'Asti is produced, as well as the lesser known (but no less deserving) Fresia, Grignolino, Brachetto, Malavasia and Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato. In autumn, every Sunday, local people celebrate the ancient feast of the White Truffles, which grow at this time of the year and are considered dizzy.
Roero Hills are on the western bank of the Tanaro, between Alba and Asti. Here, the best grades of light white wine are produced in the whole of Piedmont. In addition, local honey deserves special mention (and even beekeepers have special paths for tourists) and peaches (take the time to look at one of the local markets in late summer or fall).
How to get to Piedmont
Piedmont is easily accessible by air - its international Caselle airport is near Turin, as well as the airports of Milan: Malpensa, Linate and Orio al Serio, which serves the company's low-cost. Directly in Piemonte there is another airport - Levaldigi, which does not accept so many flights.
The area also has good rail links with France via the Frejus tunnel, which connects Turin with Lyon. Switzerland can be reached via Domodossola
Search for tickets to the city of Turin (the nearest airport to Piemonte )
Cuisine and Restaurants
Piedmont's culinary masterpieces are truffles, chocolate and wine. The first are the most expensive mushrooms in the world, which grow underground, and they are looked for with the help of dogs. Every year in autumn, from October 1 to November 7, an auction of white truffles takes place in Alba, where gourmets are given up to two thousand dollars for 1 kg of this delicacy.
A separate item of expenses of a tourist in Piedmont is a fault. The best not only in the region, but throughout the country are the red Barolo and Barbaresco, as well as the white sparkling Moscato d'Asti and Asti Spumante. Which is best for wine? Of course, cheese! In Piedmont it is castelmagno and gorgonzola. The first, semi-soft castelmagno, is known since the 13th century and is distinguished by its sharp taste, made from cow's milk and perfectly suited to honey or fortified wine. Gorgonzola is young (with a delicate taste) and aged (with spicy notes)
Resting in Piemonte is definitely worth trying something like our "pelmeni" - Agnolotti, served with various fillings (meat, spinach, cottage cheese ricotta). Also, no Piedmontese meal begins without snacks Antipasti piemontesi. Lovers of meat dishes certainly will like Brasato al Barolo - meat on the bone stewed in red wine "Barolo."
Another traditional dish - Bollito misto alla Piemontese - assorted boiled meat of several varieties (it happens that their number comes as much up to 7). You can also taste potato gnocchi Gnocchi di patate alla piemontese with cheese sauce. And finally, a hit on any table is Fritto misto: a sweetish assortment of lamb on the bone, sausages, liver, brains, cutlets in Milan, artichokes and carrots, which (attention!) Are served with almond biscuits and apples.
Hotels Piemonte
In Piemonte a huge selection of accommodation: from budget bed & breakfast to luxury boutique hotels. A great place to stay in the region of Verbania is Lake Maggiore. In Stresa is the largest number in the area of expensive hotels. Also without problems you can find campsites. And the best way to get to know the cuisine, life and way of life of the Piemontese is to stop at the real farm (the so-called agriturismo).
Shopping and shopping
Piedmont, like any other region of Northern Italy, is famous for its outlet. Most of which is, of course, near the capital - Turin. The most popular outlets in the region are: Mondovicino Outlet Village, where you can find both Italian brands and international brands of the middle class: Mariella Burani, Bialetti Casa, Alviero Martini, Parah, Datch, Massimo Rebecchi, Nike.
- Address: Strada Vicinale Cassanio - Cascina Viotto - 12084 Mondovì (CN)
- www.mondovicino.it
- Opening Hours: Tue-Sun 10: 00-22: 00 in the summer and Mon-Sun 10: 00-20: 00 in the winter
Serravalle Designer Outlet also offers brands for the average budget and luxury collections at attractive prices. Here you can find: Diesel, Guess, Dolce & Gabbana, Ferré, Etro, La Perla, Cavalli, Trussardi, Furla, Prada, Armani, Gucci, Moncler, Pollini, Versace, Aspesi, Cacherel, Lacoste, Fratelli Rossetti, Timberland
- Address: Via della Moda, 1 - 15069 Serravalle Scrivia (AL)
- www.mcarthurglen.it/serravalle
- Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 10: 00-20: 00
The Place - Luxury Outlet offers clothes and shoes of expensive Italian brands: Ermenegildo Zegna, Agnona, Sergio Rossi, La Perla, Gucci, Vogart
- Address: Strada Trossi - 13876 Sandigliano (BI)
- www.theplaceoutlet.com
- Opening Hours: Mon 15 : 00-19: 00, Tue-Sun 10: 00-19: 00
Vicolungo Outlets is one of the largest outlet outlets in Europe, therefore, you can find almost any brand of clothing, shoes or products for the home. A res: Casello Biandrate - Vicolungo autostrada A4
- www.vicolungooutlets.com
- Opening hours: Mon-Sun 10: 00-20: 00
- The Alessi offers shops with goods for the house
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- Address: Via Privata Alessi, 6 - Crusinallo (VB)
- www.alessi.it
- Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9: 30-18: 00
Ski resorts in Piedmont
The most popular skiing areas in Piedmont are Val di Susa, which combines the resort towns of Sestriere, Cesana, Sauze d'Oulx, Sansicario and Claviere (Claviere).
Some of them are included in the popular area "Milky Way", which, together with Bardonecchia, hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics. The resort, which is usually chosen by tourists, carefully monitoring the state of their wallet - it's Limone Piemonte.
Medical resorts and thermae Piemonte
Terme di Acqui is 34 km from Alessandria and is famous for its mud and thermal waters. The pride of the resort - the pavilion "Bollente", which was built in 1870. From there, they beat the unique temperature of +75 degrees according to their healing properties.
Terme di Agliano Terme is located 17 km from Asti. Here on the surface, one of the richest waters in Italy is beaten. Terme di Bognanco was opened in 1863. Water from three local sources - San Lorenzo, Ausonia and Gaudenziana - treats diseases of the digestive tract, liver, biliary tract and chronic stomach diseases.
Terme di Crodo from the three sources Valle d'Oro, Lisiel, Montecistella (+ 9 ... + 11, 5 ° C) are used as table water for the treatment of the digestive system, the genitourinary system. Terme di Garessio is the ideal place for a relaxing holiday, 73 km from Cuneo. The local source Fonti San Bernardo is located at an altitude of 600 m, in the Tanaro River basin and surrounded by the picturesque Fonti Park.
Terme Lurisia (Terme di Lurisia) - a favorite vacation spot for bohemians and nobles - was founded in the 1940s. Here, just 18 km from Cuneo, all kinds of massages, restorative procedures, a Turkish bath in the thermal grotto, mud baths, thermal baths and much more are offered. Other popular Termas: Terme di Premia, Terme di Valdieri and Terme di Vinadio.
Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Piedmont
There are so many cultural and natural beauties on the territory of Piedmont that they do not even have to be looked for - they themselves will constantly "look into the eyes" .Starting from charming chapels and majestic abbeys, ending with picturesque vineyards and ancient castles .For example, in Ivrea, the Duomo cathedral trembles with its greatness, in the city of Vercelli - the St. Andrew's temple .And the ancient abbey in the town of Vecstolano near Asti, according to legend, was built in 773 by Charles the Great himself .In addition, in this region there are a lot of national parks and reserves, here are the most beautiful lakes Maggiore and Orta .
Cities of Piedmont
Alba (Alba) - the gateway to the wine region of Langhe. Founded by the Romans many centuries ago, the historical center of the city still preserves the ruins of ancient fortress walls. But the main glory of the city brought elegant wine, exotic truffles and chocolate paste "Nutella", which is produced exactly here.
Alessandria (Alessandria) - a city 90 km from Turin, the capital of the province of the same name.
Asti is the center of the wine production of Piedmont, an important cultural and commercial center of the Middle Ages, known as the "city of 100 towers", of which only 15 have survived to date.
Bardonecchia is a ski resort and an Italian gate to the Frejus tunnel, which connects Italy and France.
Barolo is a small town south of Alba, world famous for its red wine.
Biella (Biella) is another miniature and unique city in the region, where ancient crafts in the production of wool and clothing are still strong. Next to it is a fortified fortress-village of the 13th century Candelo.
Bra (Bra) is located between the Cuneo and Turin, on the border of the Langhe area, near the Tanaro river. This is one of the main centers of the so-called "Piedmontese barocco", as many churches and palaces of the 17th and 18th centuries are preserved here. Sconce is also the heart of the "food valley", where the University of Gastronomic Science is located.
Cuneo (Cuneo) - the capital of the largest province of Piedmont, one of the main centers of Italian resistance during the Second World War.
Stresa is a charming small town on the western shore of Lake Maggiore. Wellness and health resort, which is famous for its climate and surrounding scenery.
Finally, Verbania is the main city on Lake Maggiore. Photo of Piedmont (55)