In the north-eastern part of Italy you find the region of DISCOVERING FOOD & WINE IN PIEMONTE Piedmont, in the north-eastern part of Italy, was introduced to most people during the Olympic Winter Games in 2006 with Turin as the capital city. The region is characterized by its varying nature, high hills and Alps in the north and to the west bordering with France. The flat landscape around the city of Turin is crossed by the river Po finding its way through the Po plain and ending in the Adriatic Sea. In the southern part of the Region is characterized by the beautiful billowing hills; in the provinces of Alessandria, Asti and Cuneo, and some of the most famous wine districts in Italy producing wines of world wide fame: Barbera, Dolcetto, Barbaresco, Barolo, Spumante Metodo Classico and the sweet dessert wines Moscato d Asti and Brachetto d Acqui. The territory was included in the UNESCO Heritage List in June 2014. The local gastronomy is considered to be one of the best and its population greets tourists with great pleasure and genuine, cordial warmth.
Highlights Discover the unspoilt flavours of the Piedmont territory, part of the UNESCO heritage Turin Asti in the Monferrato hills Barbera d Asti wines in Nizza Monferrato Canelli & the famous spumante producers Spa experience in Acqui Terme The Langhe home of the Barolo & Barbaresco wines and land of the castles Alba the city of the 100 towers», Ferrero chocolate and truffle hunting
Turin Turin is the main city of the Region of Piedmont with about 900.000 inhabitants. Rich of ancient history from the time of the Romans, founders of the City in year 25 a.c., the Middle Ages, the periods of Baroque and Liberty. It was the first Capital of Italy when the country became a nation in 1861 and it was from this city that the Family Savoya reigned during their 900 years of dynasty. Very rich in culture, monuments & fine art. It s the capital of not only the FIAT car production industry but also the city where the Italian film industry started and where you find a great number of unique museums, such as The Egyptian Museum, The National Film Museum, The FIAT Car Museum, The Gallery of the Savoy Family. Fabulous shopping, big outdoor markets (Porta Palazzo etc), historical Cafès and bars, typical restaurants and a vivid night life. A green city with many parks and crossed by three rivers. On the outskirts of Turin is the Venaria Reale, a grandiose estate which comprises of 80,000 square meters of floor surface in the Reggia (castle) and 60 hectars of Park of La Mandria. It is a natural and architectural materpiece which was declared part of the World Heritage by UNESCO in 1997. It reopened to the public in 2007 after having completed the largest cultural restoration project ever effected to date in the EU.
THE MONFERRATO HILLS South of Turin lies the Monferrato territory with beautiful billowing hills. District of the famous wines, such as Barbera d Asti, Spumante Metodo Classico and Moscato. Here is the city of ASTI with ab. 75.000 inhabitants; founded in the Roman times 89 B.C. Today it is a modern city with many historical monuments and a very nice old town centre from the Middle Ages. Perfect for a cultural stroll.
A characteristic shopping street, once part of one of the Roman commercial roads, cuts the city in two, with lots of bars and restaurants with typical local food. The city is quite lively with festivals, especially during spring, summer and autumn and scene of the famed Palio horse race every September.
NIZZA MONFERRATO - The heart of the production of the Barbera d Asti wines, an ancient town founded in 1225. Today a cosy, small town hosting a variety of street fairs & festivals throughout the year.
The town of CANELLI, just a few kms from Nizza Monferrato, is a haven for food & wine lovers; visits, the so called Underground Cathedrals, wine cellars dug out from the underground limestone which the famous Spumante producers use for the perfect conservation of the aging of their wines.
The town also offers wonderful food experiences in an old wine cellar, where, during the truffle season, it is possible to taste the much famed local truffle, together with other sumptious, local specialities