Piedmont lies in northern Italy, on the border with France and Switzerland. The name meaning "land at the foot of the mountains" perfectly reflects its character. The capital of the region is Turin, and tourism is based here primarily on ski resorts and active summer tourism.
Turin is the economic and industrial capital of northern Italy. The city is primarily known for its large Fiat car factory. Its buildings are more similar to Austrian than Italian cities, while one of the most important monuments is the cathedral of St. John, where the famous Shroud of Turin is kept.
The northern part of Piedmont is occupied by the Alps, whose peaks exceed 3000 m above sea level. In the summer, the alpine valleys are filled with tourists thirsty for mountain views and hiking on numerous trails. In winter, there are ski resorts, of which the most important are Val di Susa, Valsesia or Val d'Ossola.
The recreational center of Piedmont is Lake Maggiore, on which lies the Lago Maggiore resort known since the 19th century. Above the waters of the lake, on the slopes you can admire the old villas surrounded by gardens, and on the shore use the beach.
In the region you can also see many castles and palaces. The most famous of them are the residences of the Savoy dynasty that are on the UNESCO list and one of the largest defensive buildings in Europe, the Fenestrelle fortress.
