Piedmont & The Aosta Valley

‘Piemonte’ owes its name to its geographical position, sitting as it does at the foot of the mountains - ‘ai piedi dei monti’ - and it has been known by this name since the Middle Ages. With Torino as its regional capital, the region is made up of the provinces of Cuneo, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Alessandria, Biella, Novara, Vercelli and Torino. It is bordered by France, Switzerland, Liguria, Lombardia and Emilia-Romagna.

Famous for its industry, its ski tourism, and its food and wine, Piedmont is also the region where the plans for the Unification of Italy were born. The first Prime Minister of Italy was Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, who went on to declare Victor Emmanuel II Italy’s first King since the 6th century, a title he held until his death in 1946. Cavour, along with Mazzini and Garibaldi, is considered to be one of the ‘fathr’s of the new Italy.