Italy is a country of fabulous regions – and Piedmont, in the country’s northwest corner, ranks as one of the most appealing. Indeed, the region has a concentration of the pleasures that make Italy such a dreamy destination. Piedmont brims with art and history. It’s one of the best places to savor food and wine in all of Italy. And stunning natural landscapes – rolling hills, mirror-like lakes and the looming Alps – abound.

Italian industrialization truly took off in Piedmont’s cities, yet its pastoral heart shines through in its myriad smaller towns and villages, where life slows down and the pleasures are simple (think a steaming risotto and a glass of rich red wine).