Piedmont
Italy
- Countryside
- Prosperous foothills
- Country life
- Farming and feasting
This northwestern region is a reminder that until just over a hundred years ago, Italy wasn’t a country, but a collection of states, each with its own distinct identity.
Until the 19th century, folk in this aristocratic province spoke French and, geographically, it has a multiple personality too, with its rolling farmland punctuated by perfectly preserved mediaeval villages and energetic industrial towns. This neighbour of the Swiss and French Alps may be landlocked, but it’s only a drive from some of Europe’s favourite lakes and beaches. And this is a part of the world that takes its consumption very seriously, so if you like your feeding-time to be formal, or your fashion labels designer, you’ll find that, in Piemonte, you’ve hit the jackpot.
Pictured: La Villa
Boutique hotels in Piedmont
Our round-up of the hippest hideaways and boutique hotels in Piedmont
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Getting there
Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.
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Worth getting out of bed for
Highlights the best Piedmont has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
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Eating, drinking & dancing
We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Piedmont.
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Smith Maps
Here is the map of Piedmont; each Mr & Mrs Smith hotel is marked by a flag; click it for more details.
moreLocal knowledge
- Taxis
- Towns have taxi ranks but you should book ahead in rural areas.
- Tipping culture
- In restaurants, the cover charge represents your tip.
- Siesta and Fiesta
- Small shops tend to close 12h30–13h and 15h–15h30; shopping malls and supermarkets don’t close at lunchtime.
- Packing tips
- It’s less about what you take than the space you should leave to cart home edible and drinkable delicacies.
- Recommended reads
- A Long Finish by Michael Dibdin; Italian Hours by Henry James; The Devil in the Hills by Cesare Pavese.
- Cuisine
- Ditch diet thoughts and revel in a serving of Castelmagno cheese melted over gnocchi, washed down with a full-bodied Barbera, Barbaresco or Barolo, or the ubiquitous Asti Spumante. Try bônet, a local pud using amaretti biscuits.
- Currency
- Euro.
- Dialing codes
- Country code for Italy: 39.
- Do go/don't go
- Every season has its own allure. This Alpine-fringe region is ideal for winter sports in January and February. After the heat of summer, October to December sees the wine and truffle harvest.
