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WHY PIEMONTE? One of the most important wine-producing areas in Italy Spend a day exploring the many castles and palaces Shop at Serravalle, the largest designer outlet mall in Italy Visit Turins automobile and archaeological museums See the Shroud of Turin at the citys Duomo de San Giovanni (pictured right: Sesia River)

This northwest corner of Italy has an identity quite different from the rest of the country. Bordered by Switzerland on the north and France along its western flank, Piemonte is heavily influenced by both nations. The tidy mountain villages of the north could easily be a part of Switzerland, while prior to the last century French was spoken in Piemonte, and it influences the various dialects spoken today. The French House of Savoy began its rule of Piemonte in the 11th century, and as capital of the French province, Turin became one of the grand cities of Europe. Today the French legacy is seen in the layout of the city center with its wide boulevards, expansive squares and beautiful gardens and parks, in the Baroque architecture of its churches and palaces, and in its sidewalk cafes and sophisticated shops.

Mountains cover almost forty percent of Piemonte, which literally means “at the foot of the mountains.” Its Alpine valleys are magnets for winter sports and its Alpine lakes are popular with summer vacationers. Lake Orta, a relatively small lake with an island in the center, is encircled by mountains and punctuated by small towns along its shoreline. Beginning in Switzerland, the northern part of Lake Maggiore resembles a fiord, and as one travels south the landscape has a distinct Mediterranean feeling: mountains give way to rolling hills, palm trees, and gardens filled with orange trees and exotic flowers. One of the main outdoor attractions of Piemonte is the Grande Traversata delle Alpi, a walk of more than 200 km through the Alps from Lake Maggiore to the Ligurian border.

Piemonte is one of Italy’s wealthiest regions, with a strong industrial core and an extensive agricultural base. Known for its magnificent wines, Piemonte also produces two thirds of Italy’s rice and a host of superb fruits and vegetables. Its exquisite white truffles are world famous. Turin, the capital, is Italy’s second industrial city after Milan and is headquarters for the Fiat automobile company and Olivetti Corporation. Turin’s automobile museum is a fascinating look into the development of that industry, and its archaeological museum has one of the best collections of ancient Egyptian art outside of Egypt. Thousands flock to the city’s Duomo di San Giovanni to see the famous Shroud of Turin.

Because Piemonte is responsible for so much of Italy’s rice production, rice dishes such as paniscia, made with sausage and vegetables, figure prominently in its cuisine. Two soups stand out: cisra, with chickpeas and vegetables, and tofeja canavesana, with pork rind and white beans. Bagna cauda, a sauce based on anchovies and garlic, is served with vegetables for dipping. Tajarin and agnolotti are typical pastas, the first long and thin, the second stuffed with meat. Don’t miss the cheese-based fondua, made with Fontina from Val d’Aosta and the precious white truffles for which the area is famous. Traditional meat dishes are bollito misto, various cuts of beef, veal and pork cooked in a savory broth and served with a sauce; roston, braised veal with truffles; rostida, pork accompanied by polenta; and cassola, a stew of cabbage and meat. Salamm d’la duja is a typical salami. Turin produces excellent hazelnut-flavored chocolates called gianduiotti, and delicious pastries abound, many also based on the local hazelnuts. Piemonte is known for its great wines, mostly reds like Barolo, Barbera, Barbaresco, Ghemme, Gattinara, Dolcetto, Grignolino, Freisa and Brachetto. Whites, such as Roero Arneis, Erbaluce di Caluso, Cortese and Gavi are outstanding, as are the sparkling wines of Asti.