Northern Italian Country House
Things to Do

Why Piedmont?

The ancient principality of Piedmont is truly the "cradle" of the Italian nation (Turin was the first capital of united Italy from 1860 through 1865) but it remains largely undiscovered by most of today’s visitors to the country as they flock to the more famous (and crowded) sister-region Tuscany.

For the enlightened, on the other hand, Piedmont offers the ideal combination of ingredients for a truly wonderful holiday getaway. It is a region that boasts an abundance of beautiful landscapes. It is home to some of Italy’s finest wines and cuisine. Centuries of tradition wait to be explored in its cities and to be enjoyed in innumerable vibrant local carnivals and pageants.

Piedmont has something to delight visitors of all types. It will exhilarate nature and outdoors lovers, enrapture "gourmets" and excite history and cultural explorers alike.

Guide to the Biella Region
www.atl.biella.it

Piedmont’s Nature

The region of Piedmont offers a diversity of natural scenery that is quite breathtaking. It is home to three National Parks (including Gran Paradiso, the first park to be established in Italy in 1922) and also to 30 regional nature reserves and parks. Piedmont’s name translates directly to "foot of the mountains" and vistas of soaring Alpine peaks reaching to heights of 13000ft dominate the north of the territory. To the northwest, the romantic settings of Lago Maggiore and Orta with their mild climate, luxuriant gardens, beautiful villas and serene lake views compel visitors to return year after year. Moving south, the verdant plains of the Po Valley — most famously home to the rice of the famous "risotto" — await. Further south again, you encounter the rolling vineyards of Monferrato and Le Langhe which are dotted with medieval hill towns and covered in beautifully ordered rows of vines — green in summer, bronze in autumn. And still further towards the coast you discover the rugged, forested Apennines — hideouts for partisans in two world wars.

Attractions under an hour away:

Golf Club Le Betulle in Magnano Biellese
www.golfclubbiella.it

Bielmonte Mountain Resort Park
www.oasizegna.com

The Sanctuary of Oropa
http://www.vallecervo.it/inglese/oropa.htm

Gastronomic Piedmont

Eating out in Piedmont must be one of the finest pleasures in life. Nowhere in Italy can you find as many ambitious food producers and wine-makers as here - no wonder the locals love their food and wine and food enthusiasts from Milan and Turin flock every weekend to visit their favorite restaurants and "trattoria". They all take their time over meals and spend hours with family and friends around the dining table. In fact, Slow Food — the Old World’s answer to the fast food revolution — was founded in Piedmont in 1986. Local specialties are based on the freshest of local produce with homemade pastas, wild game, mushrooms, truffles (locally known as "diamonds"), chestnuts, hazelnuts and local cheeses featuring strongly.

More gastronomic information can be found at:

Ristorante Pinocchio - close to the house
www.ristorantepinocchio.it

Restaurants in Biella province (rated restaurants)
www.todine.net/intr_biella.html

Another guide to Biella region restaurants
www.ristoranti-piemonte.com/ristoranti/biella/ristor.htm

Outdoor Markets in Piedmont
www.initaly.com/regions/piedmont/markets.htm

Piedmont’s Wines

No less than 50 different types of Piedmont wine bear the prestigious Italian "DOC" (Denominazione d’Origine Controllata) label. This testifies to the strict regulations Piedmont imposes on its producers. Its vineyards are with few exceptions small — big estates hardly exist. While crowds of hired pickers have to be imported for the large vineyards typical of Tuscany and Umbria, in Piedmont the wine business is mainly a family affair. There are few more pleasurable ways of spending time than to visit some of the dozens of wineries (always well signposted) to sample Piedmont’s "big" reds such as Barolo and Nebbiolo, excellent whites and "spumante" — Italy’s answer to champagne. Very often the vineyard owner himself will be on hand to help you discover more about this revered regional treasure. Alternatively, visit the innumerable "enoteca" (wine centers), often in castles and other historically-interesting buildings, who offer wine tasting and a chance to sample other local specialties.

More wine information can be found at:

Made in Italy’s Guide to Piedmont Wines
www.made-in-italy.com/winefood/wine/regions/piemonte.htm

DOC Wines of Piedmont Explained by a Wine Lover
www.smithgcb.demon.co.uk/pp_wines.htm

Masino Castle

Cultural Piedmont

From abbeys and sanctuaries to hill-top forts, from Roman and medieval villages to the elegant 19th century streets of Turin and Novara, from Lakeside resorts to Alpine Villages, Piedmont’s cultural attractions will certainly take you more than one holiday to explore. Turin is the regional capital with splendid palaces, churches and important art collections to be enjoyed together with its impressive arcades, old-world cafes and stylish shops. However, right across the region there are gems of cities, museums and historical sites to discover. If you just want to "soak up" Italy’s atmosphere and experience its lifestyle first-hand, an evening "aperitivo" or after-dinner stroll with "gelato" in hand are wonderful ways to start.

Attractions under an hour away:

Turin Porticoes
www.piemondo.it/eng/piedmont/turin_porticoes.htm

Travel Intelegence: Lake Orta area
www.travelintelligence.net/wsd/articles/art_654.html

Shopping in Piedmont

Leaving aside the vast array of gastronomic delights you will find, Piedmont offers many other fine shopping possibilities. Every village, town and city has its weekly market when local vendors pack the square with their wares and this is a great way to pick up bargains as well as sample the local life. Turin’s shop windows are filled to the brim with Italy’s designer leather goods and fashions. Factory outlets selling the same goods at knock down prices are a popular favorite among the locals. Antiques and bric-a-brac lovers will do particularly well. Most importantly, the fact that this is artisan country and simply everything has that special hand-crafted quality will appeal to visitors who can select from objets d’art in ceramic, wood, glass and cast iron, to soft furnishings and linens; to made-to-measure hats, suits and shoes — the list goes on.

Additional shopping information can be found at:

Outlet Locations
www.dolcevita.com/outlets/products/clothacc.html