INTRODUCTION
Piedmont lies in the far northwest of Italy and gets its name from its location at the ‘foot of the mountains’. It is bordered by Alpine ranges offering plenty of winter sports, making it a popular and long-established mecca for ski enthusiasts. The flat plains below the mountain ranges are an important centre for industry as well as being renowned for the quality of their gastronomy and wine production. Indeed, Piedmont produces some of the very best wines in the world – Barolo and Barbaresco are the most famous, but sparkling white Asti is a popular festive favourite. The truffle fairs of Alba also attract a global audience.
THE ALPS
1 To the west, about 60 miles from Turin, nestling in the Alps, are the twin valleys of Di Susa and Di Chisone, part of the evocatively named Via Lattea (‘Milky Way’). This is the main winter sports area of Piedmont, a network of resorts that offers more than 400 miles of slopes and ski runs. It is also an important point in the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia bike races.
The facilities and infrastructure here are modern and sophisticated. Access by car and public transport is easy as the main Italy-France road and rail connections run right through the Val di Susa. The main ski resorts are and Sestriere was(Matterhorn) area to the northeast is worth exploring for skiing properties. The summer in this area is popular too as the landscape lends itself to hiking and other outdoor pursuits.
