Lonely Planet chooses Piedmont as the first region of the world to visit in 2019



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The world's largest guide book publisher has named Piedmont as the best area to visit in 2019, in front of the Catskill Mountains in the United States, northern Peru, the Red Center of Australia or the Scottish Highlands. .

The North West region is "adept at exploiting its badets, but not always yielding its considerable charms to visitors," said the travel company, describing Piedmont as "the secret of the discerning and arty traveler".

Among the main attractions include the Langhe, a region of hills covered with vineyards where the man has cultivated wine for so long that it is protected by UNESCO, the sumptuous royal residences built for the superb House of Savoy. the chain of ski villages that make up the "Milky Way", the Piedmont mountain, and the culinary specialties of the region, from red wine to white truffle, hazelnut chocolate to high quality beef.

READ ALSO: "In Piedmont, food and people are exceptional"


Truffle hunt in Alba, capital of the Piedmont truffle. Photo: Marco Bertorello / AFP

The capital of Piedmont, Turin, also receives a special mention, both for its traditional tourist attractions such as the vast Egyptian museum (recently renovated) and for its new reasons to visit, such as its many aperitifs and lively bars, fine restaurants unpretentious and contemporary music and artistic scenes that have arisen in the old industrial centers of the city.

Visitors to Turin – better preserved than Rome, less corporate than Milan, more experimental than Florence and probably more haunted than any of them – have long been amazed that the city is no better known than international travelers.

READ ALSO: "Welcoming guests comes naturally to Turin".

"The only thing my year in Turin did not learn, that's why Italy is so keen to hide Turin from the outside world." Few people outside of Italy seem to know anything from the city, "said British student Daniel Williams at The Local in 2017.

"It does not make sense to me." Turin has a delicious chocolate, a wonderful view of the Alps, one of the largest collections of Egyptian artifacts outside of Cairo, a movie museum world clbad in the Mole Antonelliana and a piece of my heart.

"It's perfect for a city break or for life – one leads to the other!"


Lake Orta, one of the hidden jewels of Piedmont and a popular retreat for writers and artists. Photo: Enrico Giubertoni – CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

In honor of all the charms of Piedmont, here are some reasons to visit that are not on Lonely Planet's list:

1. Bagna càuda

Literally "hot bath" in Piedmontese, this traditional specialty is a rich and salty fondue based on olive oil, butter, anchovies and garlic. It is served hot, usually on a small open flame, and used as a dip for bread and vegetables.

2. The National Film Museum

The iconic Mole Antonelliana of Turin – the large domed building whose spire adorns the two million euro pieces of Italy – is today a "temple of cinema". Its museum, considered as the highest in Italy, houses film equipment and memorabilia from the first cinematic movies to the present day.

3. Castello di Govone

With over 20 Savoy palaces listed as World Heritage by Unesco, it is easy to forget some of the royal treasures of Piedmont. Castello di Govone, the Savoy's summer residence in the province of Cuneo, is perhaps not the most visited but boasts spectacular trompe-l'oeil frescoes, wall hangings, and more. 39, Chinese inspiration and gardens in English.


The elegant Castello di Govone. Photo: cristianoaless / DepositPhotos

4. The sacred mountains

Other Piedmont attractions included in UNESCO are the Sacri Monti, a group of seven peaks (plus two in neighboring Lombardy) where 16th and 17th century Christians built groups of chapels designed to celebrate different aspects. of their faith. The structures, often tiny but nicely decorated, offer a glimpse of the hills, forests and lakes of Piedmont.

5. The battle of oranges

Piedmont is also home to one of the most curious traditions of Italy: a three-day annual food battle commemorating a twelfth-century peasant uprising. Locals and visitors gather in the city of Ivrea every February to recreate the battle of oranges.

READ ALSO: Why thousands of people join each year in a mbadive food fight in this Italian city


Photo: Miguel Medina / AFP

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