Piemonte is the region where the members of the Savoia royal family (who were instrumental in the Unification of Italy in 1861) were born. Turin, once the capital of the Italic Kingdom and today the Italian capital of the car industry, is - from a historical, architectonic and cultural point of view - the most interesting town of Piemonte; it lodges the second most important Egyptian museum in the world (after the museum of Cairo).
We suggest you should visit the Cathedral with the Chapel of Guarini, which lodges the sacred sindon, Palazzo Carignano, the Royal Palace and Palazzo Madama.
In nearby Turin, visit Superga, Moncalieri, Stupinigi and Rivoli , the latter is considered the little Versailles of Savoia's court.
Over on the western coast of Lake Maggiore you will find Stresa , with its villas and parks, perfect for walks; Stresa is a starting point to reach the Borromee Islands, situated at the centre of the lake: on the "Isola Bella" you will find the seventeenth-century Palazzo Borromeo, with its gardens, fountains and caves; the "isola Madre" can be considered as a large botanic garden, while Saint John Island is the smallest and the most exclusive of the Borromee Islands.
Alba , the capital of the "langhe" and known as " the town of one hundred towers ", is situated among some sweet hills and it is built around a suggestive, medieval centre, rich in towers and many Romanesque-gothic monuments.
In Vercelli a well known school of painting was born; the decorations of some of the town's little churches and some of the art collections of Piedmonte are evidence of this school.
The most ancient part of Asti is the heart of the town : Piazza Alfieri is named after Vittorio Alfieri's monument and, surrounded by some nineteenth-century Palaces, it lodges the "Palio of Asti", the most famous show of the town, which generally takes place on the third Sunday of September.
Nearby, you can visit the tower of Comentini and the beautiful gothic church of Saint Secondo.
We suggest you visit Palazzo di Bellino (today the seat of the museum of Risorgimento and of the Picture Gallery), next you can visit Palazzo Alfieri, where Vittorio Alfieri was born (today seat of the National Centre of Alfieri Studies and the little Alfieri museum), then the " Palazzo del Liceo Ginnasio Vittorio Alfieri" which lodges the Lapidario Museum and the Crypt of Saint Anastasio, a church of the eighth century, extended in the twelfth century.
Alessandria was founded in 1168 and it was founded as a strategic military fortress, proposed by the Lombard League to fight the hegemony of Frederick Barbarossa over Piedmonte; Frederick Barbarossa was a great enemy of Pope Alexander The Third, who gave his name to the town.
We suggest a visit to the Museum and the Picture Gallery of Alessandria , the Cathedral, Piazza della Libertà (where you can find the Town Hall), the Mail and Telegraph palaces and Palazzo Ghilini (the most important baroque monument of the town).
Nearby, you can visit the Churches of St. Laurence, St. James, St. John and St. Mary of Carmine.
In the provinces of Alessandria and Cuneo you can visit more than thirty castles: most of them are open all the year but we advise booking in advance.
Finally we suggest the National Park of Gran Paradiso , which extends partly over the Piedmontese area and partly over Valle D'Aosta.

LOCAL CULINARY SPECIALITIES:
First course : "agnolotti del plin", fondue with fontina and "paniscia".
Second course: braised steak with Barolo, piedmontese boiled meat, stewed chamois with onion and wine, partridge with Barolo, "bagna caoda, finanziera" and snails with Barbera.
Desserts : " crumiri" and the hazel-nut of Piemonte, used to create the "Baci di Dama", hazel-nut cake and the bread and milk cake of Valley D'Ossola.
Wines : Barbaresco, Barolo, Nebbiolo D'Alba, Gattinara, Ghemme, Lessona, Roero rosso, Roero Arneis, Barbera del Monferrato, Barbera d'Asti, Barbera d'Alba, Dolcetto d'Alba, Dolcetto di Ovada and Dolcetto d'Acqui, Asti Spumante, Moscato d'Asti and Brachetto d'Acqui.