Verano's Recipe of the Day

The Piemonte Region (known as the Piedmont) of northwestern Italy is bordered to the west by France, the north by Switzerland.  The Piemonte is a fertile plain, which is one of the most important agricultural regions in Italy.  The plain is drained by the Po River, its tributaries, providing the rich soil for this agricultural region.

The history of Piedmont is closely associated with that of the House of Savoy, which made Turin their capital in the 16th century.  Because its location was of strategic military importance, the regions was annexed by Napoleon in 1798.  It was not until sixteen years later that the Piemonte Region was restored to the House of Savoy, and later added to the kingdom of Italy.  The kingdom of Italy was proclaimed in 1861. 

Statistical Information:

Area: 25,399 sq km (9807 sq mi)

Population: (1991) 4,338,262.

Provinces: Alessandria, Asti, Cuneo, Novara, Turin, and Vercelli

Agricultural Products:

Wheat, corn, hemp, fruits, sugar beets, and garden vegetables

Rice (particularly in the provinces of Novara and Vercelli)

Wines (particularly the provice of Asti)

Livestock (cattle, sheep, goats) raising and dairying (particularly in the mountain valleys)

Cattle and hogs (particularly on the plain)

Commercial and Industrial Products:

Automobiles and machinery (the capital city of Turin, one of the leading Italian industrial centers)

Textiles, clothing, and food products, including wines and liquors.

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Tour of Northern Italian Dining