Piemonte Review
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Piemonte Review is a guide to the Northern Italian region of Piedmont (Piemonte in Italian). The aim of the site is to help visitors plan their journeys to the region and to provide ideas on places to visit.
Despite being one of the landlocked regions of Italy, it has one of the most diverse ranges of landscapes. I chose the main cover photo of the site as I think it best describes its biggest appeal. The endless rolling fields full of vineyards in the Langhe and Monferrato wine regions earned Piedmont one of its UNESCO World Heritage Site listings. Villages such as Barolo, Canelli and Barbaresco offer dramatic scenery and some of the country's best vineyards where you can taste the produce. This in itself is an ideal holiday for many. There's so much more to Piedmont though; away from the vineyard areas there are magnificent lakes such as Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta. You'll also find beautiful islands in the middle of those lakes including Isola San Giulio, Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori, the last three of which make up the Borromean Islands. |
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Sitting on the banks of Lake Maggiore is one of the finest gardens in Italy: Villa Taranto which is just a short distance from the picturesque city of Verbania. The capital city of Piedmont is Turin which has some of the country's best museums as well as extraordinary palaces such as the Reggia di Venaria Reale and the Royal Palace of Turin. Among the most interesting smaller towns are Varallo Sesia, Mondovì and Susa while the mountain areas provide some fascinating villages such as Chianale and Usseaux with its artistic centre.
In 2006, Piedmont was home to the Winter Olympics with Turin the host city. This recognised a long-standing tradition of well-equipped ski resorts such as Sestriere and Sauze d'Oulx. There are also two of Italy's national parks in these mountain areas: Val Grande and Gran Paradiso which was officially the first of its kind in the country, given that status in order to protect the ibex that roam free there.
Piedmont can offer a variety of holidays all year round but whatever you're looking for from the region, I hope you find Piemonte Review to be a useful resource in helping you to plan it.
Dion Protani: founder of Piemonte Review.
In 2006, Piedmont was home to the Winter Olympics with Turin the host city. This recognised a long-standing tradition of well-equipped ski resorts such as Sestriere and Sauze d'Oulx. There are also two of Italy's national parks in these mountain areas: Val Grande and Gran Paradiso which was officially the first of its kind in the country, given that status in order to protect the ibex that roam free there.
Piedmont can offer a variety of holidays all year round but whatever you're looking for from the region, I hope you find Piemonte Review to be a useful resource in helping you to plan it.
Dion Protani: founder of Piemonte Review.
Piedmont Highlights
Piedmont In - FocusSituated around twenty kilometres west of Lake Maggiore, the quieter environs of Lake Orta are graced by the elegance of Orta San Giulio.
Taking its rightful place among the Borghi Piu Belli d'Italia (Italy's most beautiful villages), Orta San Giulio is a lakeside town to rank among the very best in the country. This is a fully intact and liveable medieval town with a delightful main square overlooking the incomparable Isola San Giulio. |
Piazza Motta, Orta San Giulio
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The village centre is dominated by Piazza Motta. On one side of the piazza, a row of multi-coloured buildings with wrought-iron balconies looks out onto the lake with the eye gratefully distracted by the impossibly beautiful island at the centre of it. Beneath this row of buildings are a number of shops and restaurants that offer some welcome shade during the hottest months of summer. Another star turn in the piazza is the town hall, built in 1582 and known colloquially as the Palazzotto or by its official name, the Palazzo della Communità.
Walk north, south or east of Piazza Motta and you'll find charming cobbled streets supplanted by fascinating archways and galleries. The narrow Via Olina conceals a number of shops and restaurants while the wider Via Albertoletti or Salita della Motta rises towards the town's main church: Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, built in the 15th century.
To the west of Piazza Motta, it won't be long before curiosity gets the better of you and you'll want to take a closer look at the island in the lake. Isola San Giulio is a haven of tranquility that can be accessed by one of the waiting water taxis. It doesn't take long to walk around the island but its sense of peace and quiet lingers long in the memory.
Orta San Giulio offers a good number of accommodation options with some beautiful hotels overlooking the water. Although the town is pedestrianised, it's easy to access by car and there's a modern, multi-storey (partially underground) car park just a short walk from the centre.
The town sits on the fringes of a large headland which is topped by a religious sanctuary, the Sacro Monte di Orta. This offers a fascinating diversion from the delights at water level but also some of the most breathtaking views of the lake. Other towns around the lake that merit a visit are Omegna, 10 kilometres to the north, or the much smaller Pella which is directly opposite Orta San Giulio.
Walk north, south or east of Piazza Motta and you'll find charming cobbled streets supplanted by fascinating archways and galleries. The narrow Via Olina conceals a number of shops and restaurants while the wider Via Albertoletti or Salita della Motta rises towards the town's main church: Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, built in the 15th century.
To the west of Piazza Motta, it won't be long before curiosity gets the better of you and you'll want to take a closer look at the island in the lake. Isola San Giulio is a haven of tranquility that can be accessed by one of the waiting water taxis. It doesn't take long to walk around the island but its sense of peace and quiet lingers long in the memory.
Orta San Giulio offers a good number of accommodation options with some beautiful hotels overlooking the water. Although the town is pedestrianised, it's easy to access by car and there's a modern, multi-storey (partially underground) car park just a short walk from the centre.
The town sits on the fringes of a large headland which is topped by a religious sanctuary, the Sacro Monte di Orta. This offers a fascinating diversion from the delights at water level but also some of the most breathtaking views of the lake. Other towns around the lake that merit a visit are Omegna, 10 kilometres to the north, or the much smaller Pella which is directly opposite Orta San Giulio.
THINGS TO SEE IN PIEDMONTIf you're planning a visit this is a good place to start. We've categorised the highlights of the region to make them easy to find so you can browse through the photos and choose where to go.
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PIEDMONT ACCOMMODATIONYou're probably going to need somewhere to stay when you visit and on our Piedmont Hotels page you'll find a Booking.com search engine where you'll find thousands of accommodation options.
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