Finest Things to Do in Piedmont, Italy in 2023 

Are you trying to find a genuine and stunning Italian vacation location far from the masses? Piedmont, among the most stunning and culturally wealthiest areas, is a real and rather unidentified gem in northwest Italy. The 2nd biggest area of the nation, there are a lot of things to do in Piedmont, you’ll be amazed you didn’t think about it quicker. Piedmont has an alpine border to the north with Switzerland and to the west with France

Leading Things to Do in Piedmont, Italy

In the middle of the area lies the flat Po plain real estate Piedmont’s most significant cities. The capital Turin, and Novara the area’s second-largest city, are both situated here. Novara is simply 100km northeast of Turin and is surrounded by big rice fields which is not a surprise as Piedmont is the biggest rice provider in Europe.

Equated from Latin, Piedmont indicates “at the foot of the mountains”. With its rolling hills, magnificent Alps, and a wide range of captivating towns and towns, its name fits its stunning setting.

From vineyards and truffle plantations (for premiums and sluggish food motion fans) to traditionally substantial castles and fortresses for culture fans, to spectacular natural appeal for outside lovers, Piedmont has something for everybody.

In the hill nation, southeast of the area, there is primarily farming and viticulture. To name a few, the world-famous Barolo red wine is produced in this UNESCO-recognized cultural area. The river Po, Italy’s longest river, increases underneath the Monviso mountain (3841m) and streams 652km up until reaching the Adriatic Sea. It is no surprise this area is understood for its red wine culture and tasty food.

Being still a surprise gem as a vacation location, you can anticipate to take pleasure in great deals of appeal and sights without the common traveler masses, understood from other Italian locations. Here are simply a few of the very best things to do and see in the unidentified area of Piedmont.

1. Turin

Turin is the biggest city and capital of Piedmont. In 1861, when the Republic of Italy was established, Turin was even the capital of the whole nation. Today, with a population of almost one million individuals, it is the 4th biggest city in Italy and the most essential financial and cultural center in Italy’s northwest.

A landmark of the city and among the most popular structures of Turin is the Mole Antonelliana. Initially developed as a synagogue, the intriguing monolith now houses the National Museum of Movie theater and provides a spectacular view of the city from the observation deck at the top.

Another essential sight is the cathedral, the Duomo of Turin. It was integrated in the 15th century and is primarily understood for saving the questionable Shroud of Jesus.

Around the stunning Piazza Castello, among the main squares of the city, there are splendid baroque structures and palaces. For instance, the royal palace, Palazzo Reale, the previous house of the kings of Savoy. Visitors can walk through the splendid spaces, provided with stunning paintings, furnishings, and artworks, and get a glance into the life of the royal household. The surrounding Palazzo Madama now houses an art museum.

The popular Egyptian Museum is among the world’s biggest museums of Egyptian art and history with over 32000 artifacts. In the nationwide automobile museum, you can appreciate over 200 automobiles from 85 makers from 13 nations.

Every Saturday, Turin’s Piazza della Repubblica hosts the biggest outdoor market in Europe. There truly is whatever in a sales location of over 50,000 m ², from home items and regional vegetables and fruit to watches and fashion jewelry.

2. Houses of the Savoy Household

Your House of Savoy is a dynasty from the French high nobility that ruled over the areas of Savoy and Piedmont from the 14th century and offered the kings of Italy from 1861 to 1946. Sometimes, the judgment dynasty likewise ruled over parts of western Switzerland, the county of Nice, and Sardinia.

Considering That 1997, 22 castles and palazzi of your home of Savoy have actually been acknowledged as “Houses of the Royal Home of Savoy” UNESCO World Heritage Website. 14 structures lie within the city of Turin, consisting of the Palazzo Reale, and 9 others are tactically placed around the capital.

The most popular Savoy house in Piedmont is the Reggia di Venaria Reale, simply 5km northwest of Turin.

Italy’s 2nd biggest castle consists of the splendid 17th-century palace, a 60-hectare castle park, the historical town (borgo) previously set out for the castle’s servants, and the 3000-hectare Parco della Mandria, when the royal searching premises, now a fenced-in nature and wildlife park.

Another gem of Savoy houses is the Castello di Rivoli, set down on a hill ignoring the town of Rivoli. The palace was integrated in the 17th century and now houses a museum of modern art.

The Palazzina di Stupinigi is another example of the excellent architecture of Savoy houses. The palace was integrated in the 18th century and was when the preferred castle of King Victor Amadeus II. Visitors here can explore the splendid interiors of the palace and walk through the stunning gardens and parks.

3. Lago Maggiore

Lake Maggiore is among the biggest lakes in Italy. It extends throughout the areas of Piedmont in the west, Lombardy in the east, and surrounding Switzerland, to which the northern coast belongs. The Piedmont side of the lake has lots of captivating locations and landscapes to find.

Among the most stunning towns is certainly Stresa, understood for its spectacular gardens and architectural treasures. The overseas Borromean Islands in Lake Maggiore are a really wonderful location. Visitors can explore the excellent Borromeo Palace and stunning gardens on Isola Bella, appreciate a remarkable collection of unique plants on Isola Madre, or take pleasure in regional specializeds, primarily fish, on Isola dei Pescatori.

On Lake Maggiore, there is likewise Cannobio, understood for its narrow streets, historical structures, and a weekly market on Sundays.

The Rocca di Angera is another popular landmark on the Piedmont coast of Lake Maggiore. This middle ages castle sits wonderfully on a hill and provides a spectacular view of the lake and the surrounding mountains.

Simply behind the attractive seaside towns starts the nature reserve of Val Grande. It is among the biggest unblemished forest locations in Europe and provides a great deal of pristine nature.

Lake Maggiore provides lots of chances for activities such as boating, treking, or biking along the lakefront. The view of the Alps increasing wonderfully above the lake is likewise especially excellent.

4. Langhe, Monferrato, Roero

The rolling hills of Piedmont are understood not just for their spectacular surroundings however likewise for their cooking specializeds. Here you will discover a few of Italy’s finest red wines, consisting of Barolo, Barbaresco, and Dolcetto, along with a range of cheeses such as Castelmagno and Robiola.

The area is likewise popular for its truffles, specifically the valuable white truffle, which is among the most pricey components worldwide. We would recommend attempting your hand at truffle searching, it is a great deal of enjoyable and you get to make some excellent meals with your efforts.

Together, the Langhe-Roero and Monferrato red wine areas were called UNESCO World Heritage websites in 2014.

In addition to the popular truffle market, the stunning town of Alba is likewise house to various archaeological sites, consisting of the 15th-century Cathedral of San Lorenzo and the 13th-century Church of San Domenico. The town is likewise an excellent base for checking out the surrounding vineyards and red wine tasting.

The little town of Barolo is the center of the eponymous red wine and houses the prominent red wine museum, the Museo del Vino. In addition, Barolo is house to an attractive castle, Castello Falletti di Barolo, which today is a museum and provides spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.

The town of La Morra is understood for its incredible views of the vineyards and the Alps. The town is likewise an excellent location to sample regional Piedmont food such as hazelnuts and the popular Barolo red wine.

Bra, another little city within this location is the capital of the slow-food motion and the location where the worldwide motion when was established.

Other captivating towns consist of the middle ages town of Monforte d’Alba and the town of Dogliani, understood for its outstanding red wines. Another emphasize is Grinzane Cavour Castle, an enforcing 13th-century castle that is now a museum offering insights into 19th-century life in Piedmont.

5. Sacra di San Michele

30km west of Turin, the excellent Abbey Sacra di San Michele is set down on a rocky spur. The abbey is not just the symbolic monolith of the Piedmont area and among the most essential spiritual architectures of the whole Alps, however likewise among the most essential monoliths in Italy. It was established as early as the 10th century and had enormous significance as a location of expedition in the Middle Ages. Those who went on expedition to Rome by means of the Western Alps remained over night in this abbey.

Set down on its rock at 960 meters above water level, the previous Benedictine abbey provides a magnificent scenic view of the surrounding countryside, the Susa Valley, the Alps, and, on a clear day, even as far as Turin. The enforcing Sacra di San Michele likewise motivated the world-famous author Umberto Eco to compose his unique “The Name of the Rose”.

The excellent complex consists of a range of structures, such as the popular “Staircase of Death” and the basilica with the sarcophagi of the royal household of Savoy. Its unique place and architecture make the Sacra di San Michele a must-see for Piedmont visitors even if it is just for the wonderful view.

6. Limone Piemonte and Colle di Tenda

The little mountain town of Limone Piemonte and the surrounding location is absolutely a surprise gem, even for Italians. Limone Piemonte provides excellent snowboarding in winter season and is a hiker’s paradise in summertime. The town lies in the south of the Piedmont area, about 120km south of Turin.

Nestled in the Maritime Alps, the little town pushes the border with France and is linked to the Ligurian Riviera and the Côte d’Azur by the worldwide tunnel of Colle di Tenda. Limone belongs to the alpine pearls, an association of little towns in the Alps, devoted to soft tourist which ought to be supported.

Winter season sports fans will discover 15 lifts and gondolas for 80km of slopes in the “Riserva Bianca” ski resort. In summertime there is a big network of routes for hikers and mountain bicycle riders. Particularly along the mountain pass Colle di Tenda, 14km south of the town center, in between Italy and France, there are lots of stunning routes.

Along the scenic border ridge, there are 6 excellent military fortress ruins from the 19th century, easily available for treking and occupied just by chamois. Mountain bicycle riders can even reach the Mediterranean Sea on the “Via del Sale”, the old salt roadway, through incredible previous military roadways along the watershed.

7. Specialty di Fenestrelle

85km west of Turin, you will discover the definitely excellent Fenestrelle Fortress. It covers a location of 1.3 square kilometers, conquers a height distinction of 635m, and is therefore the biggest stronghold in Europe. Furthermore, it is the 2nd biggest masonry complex worldwide after the Great Wall of China. The complex in fact includes 3 independent fortresses: San Carlo, Tre Denti, and Delle Valli. These 3 fortresses are linked to each other by a tunnel, which has in its interior the longest covered staircase in Europe. In overall, there are nearly 4000 actions that wind through the fortress complex.

The Fenestrelle Fortress can be checked out on a brief independent trip or with an (Italian) directed day trip which then covers all parts of the excellent complex.

8. Gran Paradiso National Forest

The stunning Gran Paradiso National forest lies northwest of Piedmont and in the surrounding area of Valle d’Aosta. It is the earliest national forest in Italy, established in 1922 for the defense of ibex. With a location of about 70000 hectares and 5 valleys, the park is a real paradise for nature fans.

The mountain Gran Paradiso, the greatest peak of the park with 4061m, provides its name. It is, by the method, the greatest peak in Italy, which stands totally, even with the base, in the nation.

More than 60% of the national forest lies above 2200 meters of elevation and offers environment for a range of animal and plant types. To name a few things, visitors can observe uncommon types of animals such as golden eagles, chamois, marmots, and alpine ibex.

The Nivolet plateau at 2600 m is the park’s focal point and beginning point for lots of popular and spectacular walkings. In summertime, the beautiful mountain town of Ceresole Reale provides a totally free shuttle bus service for all hikers who want to reach the plateau by means of winding mountain passes. Checking Out Gran Paradiso and Val Grande National Forest is an extraordinary experience for nature lovers, using incredible views of the Alps and their spectacular appeal.

How To Get To Piedmont

The only worldwide airport in the area is Torino Caselle, north of Turin. However even this one, is not an especially big airport. Much better and frequently less expensive is the journey by means of among the 3 airports of surrounding Milan There are trains every 30 Minutes in between the 2 cities and the trip takes less than an hour. Furthermore, there are routine direct buses from Milano Malpensa airport to Turin town hall.

Navigating Piedmont

The bigger cities of Piedmont are quickly available by train or bus, however as quickly as you wish to check out something in the countryside or far from larger locations, utilizing mass transit is getting challenging. To truly check out Piedmont, after having actually found what Turin needs to use, you must lease a vehicle A fantastic trip is a loop through Val di Susa and Val Chisone. Other wonderful drives will lead you through the attractive vineyards of the Langhe Hills.

Finest Time To Go To Piedmont

The stunning Piedmont deserves a journey at any time of the year. In spring the weather condition is really enjoyable and frequently currently truly warm, when somewhere else in Europe, still deep winter season dominates. Likewise, lots of alpine flowers bloom in the mountains and lavender fields flower in the southeast. The summertime is frequently really hot and ideal for trips, walkings, and mountain bicycle trips into the Alps.

In fall it is grape harvest in Piedmont and the landscape shines in stunning reddish tones. Winter season fans can check out a lot of ski slopes in the winter season. Particularly the ski location around the mountain resort of Sestrière is popular. The so-called “Via Lattea” Ski resort is among the biggest worldwide.

Where to remain in Piedmont

Where to remain in Piedmont depends upon your interests as the area is rather big. Turin is typically an excellent beginning point for sightseeing in the city and trips to the north and west. Nevertheless, you will constantly need to go through the city traffic.

If you wish to go treking or for trips to the red wine area, the town of Cuneo, 100km south of Turin, is an excellent beginning point. It is preferably situated to check out a number of stunning alpine valleys in Piedmont’s west and likewise the red wine area around Alba and Asti is within an hour’s drive.

Why Ought To You Go To Piedmont, Italy

No matter if you are trying to find a cultural vacation or an amazing outside experience, you require to take a look at the north Italian area of Piedmont if you wish to prevent the masses however not wish to lose out on wonderful cities and excellent landscapes, integrated with a few of the world’s finest food.