Piedmont, << PEED mont, >> is an area of northwestern Italy . It is one of the 20 main administrative units, or regions, of Italy. The region is divided into the provinces of Alessandria, Asti, Biella, Cuneo, Novara, Turin (Torino), Verbano Cusio Ossola, and Vercelli. Piedmont—spelled Piemonte in Italian—includes the upper valley of the Po River . The name Piedmont means foot of the mountain. It refers to the region’s position at the base of the Alps . Piedmont is an important agricultural, manufacturing, and tourist area. It features such beautiful Italian cities as Alba, Cherasco, Cuneo, Ivrea, and Turin , the region’s capital.
Piedmont covers about 9,800 square miles (25,400 square kilometers) and has more than 41/2 million people. Mountains and hills cover much of the region. Regional farms produce such crops as corn, grapes, and rice. Farmers also raise cattle and hogs. Piedmontese cuisine includes various cheeses, cured meats, fondue, grissini (thin breadsticks), and bagna càuda, a hot dipping sauce served with vegetables. Famous regional wines include Barbaresco, Barolo, and sparkling Asti. The company that produces Fiat automobiles is based in Turin. Tourists are drawn to the region’s many lakes, mountains, and picturesque villages.
People have lived in Piedmont for many thousands of years. Ancient Celts were among the area’s early settlers. Piedmont came under Roman rule in the 200’s B.C. It was later ruled by the Lombards , Burgundians , and Franks . In the early 1400’s, Piedmont became part of the Duchy of Savoy, which joined with Sardinia in 1720 to form the Kingdom of Sardinia . Piedmont was the center of Italian nationalism in the 1800’s, and its ruler, Victor Emmanuel II , became the first king of Italy in 1861.
