The Best Things to Do in Piedmont Italy

What are the best things to do in Piedmont Italy?

What?

Oh.

You don’t know where Piedmont is?

Where have you been?

Lonely Planet chose Piedmont as its number 1 region in its best of travel for 2019.

And for several good reasons that we’ll delve into below.

Piedmont, Piemonte in Italiano, has been on my radar for at least 6 years and this is the year I’m making the dream a reality.

So let’s dive into the best things about Piedmont and why you should travel to this incredible region in Italy.

But first…

 

 

Where is Piedmont Italy?

If you’re a fan of the Olympics, you may recall that Turin, Torino in Italiano, was the home to the Winter Olympics in 2006.

Turin is the capital of Piedmont.

This region is in the northwest part of the boot.

It borders Switzerland and France and has a diverse landscape.

You’ll find the Italian Alps in the northern part of the region, rolling hills to the south, rice paddies East of Turin and flat plains around the Po River.

 

A brief history of Piedmont

I won’t go into much detail here.

As with so many regions of European countries, Piedmont was part of different kingdoms. So it was once part of Burgundy, Lombardy and the Holy Roman Empire, just to name a few.

But it was in 1046 that Piedmont fell under the rule of the House of Savoy and this is the main influence you still see today.

Piedmont has always been a progressive region with industrialization taking root here early.

It’s the birthplace of the Fiat automobile, the classic Italian car.

 

Now the good stuff….

 

The best things to do in Piedmont Italy

See where and how wine is made — and drink it, of course

The absolute best thing to do in Piedmont, Italy is to drink wine.

Okay.

This holds true for all of Italy, in my opinion.

I’ll always say that I haven’t met an Italian wine that I don’t like.

But Piedmont is the home to the king and queen of wines — Barolo and Barbaresco.

Everyone goes to Tuscany for wine.

But Piedmont is the place to go if you’re really and truly a wine afficianado.

Barbera, Dolcetto and Nebbiolo are some of the other tasty red wines you’ll find in Piedmont.

There are lots of vineyards to visit near the towns of Alba, Asti, La Morra, Neive and Barolo.

Just be sure to check ahead as most wineries will require appointments for visits and tastings.

 

Eat amazingly delicious local food

The town of Bra is the home of the slow food movement.

This movement, started by Carlo Petrini, focuses on local food and traditional cooking with an emphasis on local farmers and businesses and sustainability.

It’s in direct contrast to the mass production of food.

I can get behind this 100%.

So here in Piedmont, there is a strong focus on LOCAL and what some may call the farm to table trend.

Every Italian region has its pasta and in Piedmont you’ll find, tajarin, — a long, thin ribbon-like pasta that is a lot like tagliatelle.

It gets its golden yellow color from the farmhouse eggs that are more orange than yellow.

Veal also is found on the menus.

Brasato al Barolo or Brasato al Barbaresco is one of the best, as the veal is marinated in the wine of your choice overnight then braised until tender.

It’s served with herbs and veggies and yes, a glass of Barolo or Barbaresco.

And for dessert?

Well the Torta di Nocciola  — Hazelnut Cake — is the most traditional dessert.

Made with hazelnuts that are abundant in Piedmont, this sweet cake is quite tasty.

You’ll also find some really good chocolate in the region especially in Turin.

 

Go truffle hunting

One of the best things to do in Piedmont to really get into the food is to go truffle hunting.

Huh?

What are truffles?

Well truffles are a fungus, like mushrooms, only they grow underground so are more difficult to find.

And they come in many varieties but I’m just going to break it down into black or white for this post.

Black truffles can be found in Piedmont and other regions of Italy such as Tuscany, Umbria and Le Marche.

I’ve had them on pasta and they have a definite earthy taste and are quite good.

The white truffle is quite rare and only found in Piedmont.

These too have some earthiness to their aroma and taste but also have a hint of honey and butter.

And they’re very expensive.

There are dogs that are specifically trained to find these fungi under the ground.

The pup starts digging when he has found something and the human then takes over, checking to see what the dog has uncovered.

You, as a traveler, can go out hunting for truffles.

Guides are available to take you out into the forest for this unique experience.

Late spring, summer and autumn are the best times.

 

Visit Forte di Fenestrelle

Visiting the Great Wall of Piedmont is one of the best things to do in Piedmont.

Fenestrelle Fort has a wall that is about 3km long that is part of a greater fortified complex  — hence the nickname.

It’s a must site for those into military history.

This large and impressive fort was built in the early 1700’s so while it’s old, it’s not that old — at least by European standards.

The views from the wall walk are stunning as you’ll gaze out to the Chisone Valley and the Alps.

Reservations to visit are mandatory and there are a few choices for guided tours — from 1 hour tours up to an all day 7 hour visit.

Check out the Forte di Fenestrelle website for more information.

But don’t miss this spectacular site!

 

Gran Paradiso National Park

I am so hoping to spend at least a day at this national park, which lies between Piedmont and the Aosta Valley region.

Gran Paradiso is definitely one the best things to do in Piedmont, Italy for those who love the great outdoors.

Ummm…me!

The mountains are stunning with Gran Paradiso being the highest peak at 4061m.

There are valleys, forests, alpine meadows and 57 glaciers.

You’ll find trails of varying levels, an abundance of wildlife and gorgeous flowers in summer.

And this was the first national park established in Italy back in 1922.

You can’t miss it!

 

Castles, monasteries and abbeys

As I mentioned above, the House of Savoy ruled Piedmont for a long time.

So as a result, there are quite a few castles and royal houses around the region.

Castello di Camino, Castello di Belveglio, Castello di Rocca Grimalda as well as a few in Turin such as La Venaria Reale — the Versailles of Turin — are musts for lovers of royalty.

Monasteries and abbeys also dot the landscape.

Sacra di San Michele is one of the most dramatic in the Susa Valley but you’ll also find Sant’Antonio di Ranverso Abbey, Lucedio Abbey and Staffarda Abbey scattered about Piedmont.

There’s definitely no shortage of religious and royal buildings in Piedmont Italy.

 

Valle di Susa and Valle di Chisone

These parallel valleys lie west of Turin and each is equally beautiful.

Valle di Susa is where you’ll find Sacra di San Michele, the Celtic town of Susa and other charming mountain villages.

Valle di Chisone is south of Valle di Susa and this is where you’ll find loads of ski resorts.

So if skiing and snowboarding are your jam, then a visit to Valle di Chisone is the best thing to do in Piedmont for you.

Both valleys hosted a lot of the Olympic events back in 2006 so you may want to spend a bit of time in both.

And even if you’re not an outdoor adventurer but still want to see some breath taking scenery, then be sure to at least make the drive.

The scenery is fab!

 

Turin/Torino

What to do in Piedmont?

Well, you can’t travel to Piedmont without spending at least a wee bit of time in the capital of Turin.

Known as Torino in Italiano, this city will take you by surprise.

Beautiful tree-lined boulevards, a mix of historic and modern set against the backdrop of the Alps will make your draw drop.

There are museums, art galleries, castles, churches and the gorgeous Piazza Castello —Torino’s central square.

Turin is also home to Fiat — the iconic Italian car company — and chocolate.

The first hard chocolates were sold here.

As a result, there are some delicious artisan chocolate shops in Turin. Yum!

And yes, the slow food movement is alive and well in Turin so you’ll have a plethora of choices when it comes restaurants.

 

Charming towns

As with any country or region I visit, I find that the best thing to do is visit the charming towns and villages.

And the towns of Piedmont are fabulous.

Towns such as La Morra, Barolo and Neive in the Langhe wine region are beautiful as are other towns such as Saluzzo, Chianale, Domodossola, Garessio and Orta San Giulio.

You’ll be spoiled for choices for sure — and you won’t go wrong with any of them.

These towns and villages are wonderful places to slow down and enjoy every day life of Piedmont.

 

Monte Rosa

This is a stunning peak that sits on the border between Piedmont, Aosta Valley and Switzerland.

Monte Rosa is the second highest mountain in the Alps and western Europe, after Mont Blanc — Monte Bianco in Italiano.

There are some impressive glaciers on this massif and there is a ski area for you snow bunnies.

And you’ll find trails for hiking although many are pretty challenging.

Feeling a bit lazy?

Well, you’re in luck as there are a couple of cable cars to take you up the nearby peaks.

 

Lago d’Orta

Lake Orta is the final item on the list, but certainly not the least.

One of the lakes of northern Italy, Lake Orta is one of the best things to do in Piedmont.

And this is due to the fact that unlike its neighbors to the East — Maggiore, Como and Garda — this lake doesn’t see nearly as many travelers.

It’s a small lake, but it’s stunning with Isola San Giulio sitting in the center of it.

The above mentioned, Orta San Giulio is the medieval village that captures the imagination and is a delight to wander about.

But there are outdoor activities too such as boating, swimming, walking and biking.

While it does get busy in summer, outside of that, it’s tranquil and serene.

 

Whew! This is quite the list.

There are loads of things to do in Piedmont.

It is the second largest region in Italy so you shouldn’t be surprised.

I’m planning on just 1 week here so I know I won’t experience all that I want to.

But I know I’ll get a good taste of this amazing region in northern Italy.

What would you put on your top 3 list of things to do in Piedmont?

And what do you think I should see?

Drop those comments below, find me on Facebook or Pinterest or send me an email.

And if you’re looking for more inspiration on where to go in Italy, then why not check out Location Inspiration Guide: A Journey Through Italy by yours truly.

 

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