Piemonte literally means at the foot of the mountains…..and indeed it is….Piemonte is located in northeast Italy surrounded by France, Switzerland and the Valle d’Aosta, Lombardia, Emilia Romagna and Liguria regions. And, this breathtaking region has the Alps and the Apennines on either side (as in – at the foot of). The main cities of the region are Torino/Turin, Vercelli, Novara and Cuneo. The region is influenced greatly by its border countries (in cuisine and architecture specifically). The land is diverse with mountains, hills, lakes and plains….the villages are gorgeous and the large towns are clearly industrial. You’ll find castles, palazzi, serene lake towns, vineyards, Monte Bianco/Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, the rich Po River and glaciers in Piemonte. The food and wine of the region is delicious with an emphasis on rice, white truffles, game, meats, sauces, grains, cheeses like Fontina, Grana Padana, Taleggio, Robiola and wines like Spumante, Barolo, Gavi, Barbaresco, Gattinara, Nebbiolo and Grignolino (so many more). Try the local specialty bagna cauda and make sure you enjoy some fondue while you’re visiting here.