TOP 10 REASONS TO VISIT PIEMONTE

1. MOUNTAINS: Piemonte, literally "the foot of the mountains," is surrounded on three sides by the Alps (see photo, below).


2. ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES: Piemonte borders France, Switzerland, and the Italian regions of Lombardy, Liguria, Emilia Romagna, and Valle d'Aosta, one of Europe's most beautiful regions, where you will discover the Gran Paradiso National Park.

3. HIKING: There are wonderful hikes in Piemonte, from lakeside walks to mountain paths to meadows of wildflowers.

4. LAKES: The lakes of Piemonte include the western half of Lake Maggiore and the picturesque lake of Orta. Visit the World Heritage site of Sacro Monte, a hillside dotted with 20 chapels dedicated to St. Francis.


5. CASTLES: Piemonte's hills are topped with castles, including Il Castello di Serralunga, one of its most spectacular fortresses (pictured at top of page).


6. MUSEUMS: There are more than 40 museums to explore just in Torino, including the most important collection of Egyptian antiquities outside of Egypt and a world-class collection of arms and armor. Just outside of the city is the Museo dell'Automobile, housing classic and vintage cars.


7. LE LANGHE: The lush landscape around Alba known as Le Langhe (literally "strip of land") is home to oak woods, wild boar, and nearly fifty species of orchid, pictured to the left. It reminds us of the Chianti hills (see photo, left).


8. ARCHITECTURE: Most famous for the Baroque architecture of Guarino Guarini, Filippo Juvarra, and Ascanio Vitozzi, Torino's most famous landmark is the futuristic Mole Antonelliana, a symbol of Italian unity. An old legend claims that students who climb the Mole during their studies will never graduate!


9. THE SHROUD OF TURIN: Torino's cathedral contains one of the most famous and controversial relics in Christendom (see photo, right). Even if you aren't convinced that this was the very cloth used to wrap the body of Christ, it's worth visiting the extraordinary Baroque chapel Guarino Guarini designed to house it. Although the shroud is kept out of sight, under lock and key, there is a museum devoted to its lore just down the street.

10. MAGIC: Legend has it that Torino is part of two magic triangles — the triangle of white magic (with Lyon and Prague) and the triangle of black magic (with London and San Francisco). The arcaded Via Po is magical at night, when a solar system of lights glitters overhead, with floating planets, stars, and moons. The buildings are linked by terraces, part of an elevated walkway enabling royals to go from the Palace to the river without having to mingle with the common folk.