Piedmont
A region in north-western Italy known for Turin, Alpine landscapes, automotive and aerospace manufacturing, wine, food, textiles, and its central role in Italian unification.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Piedmont, or Piemonte, is one of Italy’s 20 administrative regions and occupies the north-western corner of the country. Its name derives from medieval Latin expressions meaning “at the foot of the mountains,” reflecting its position beneath the Alps. Piedmont borders France to the west, Switzerland to the north, and the Italian regions of Liguria, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, and Aosta Valley. Turin is the regional capital and was the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 to 1865. The region covers approximately 25,387 square kilometres, making it Italy’s second-largest region by area after Sicily. Its terrain is varied: about 43% is mountainous, while hills account for roughly 30% and plains for about 26%. The Alps surround the region on three sides, with major mountain areas including Monviso and Monte Rosa. The River Po rises on Monviso and drains the broad basin formed by the Alps and Apennines. Piedmont also includes the Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato hills, the rice-growing plains around Vercelli and Novara, and the lake district near the northern border. Protected landscapes are an important part of the region, including Gran Paradiso National Park and numerous other national and regional parks. Piedmont’s historical identity is closely linked to the House of Savoy. Celtic-Ligurian peoples, including the Taurini and Salassi, lived in the area before Roman expansion. Rome established settlements such as Augusta Taurinorum, the precursor of Turin, and Eporedia, now Ivrea. After the Western Roman Empire, the territory passed through Burgundian, Ostrogothic, Eastern Roman, Lombard, and Frankish spheres of influence. During the medieval period it was divided among marches, counties, communes, and marquisates. In the eleventh century, Otto of Savoy brought much of the region into the County of Savoy, while cities such as Asti and Alessandria and territories such as Saluzzo and Montferrat retained varying degrees of autonomy. The County of Savoy became a duchy in 1416, and Emanuele Filiberto moved its political centre to Turin in 1563. In 1720 the duke of Savoy became King of Sardinia, increasing Turin’s importance and establishing the institutional base from which the Savoyard monarchy later helped lead Italian unification. Piedmont was temporarily reorganised under several French-backed republics during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic period, before the Kingdom of Sardinia was restored at the Congress of Vienna. Between 1859 and 1861, Piedmont served as the political and military springboard for the unification of Italy. The process, often described as Piedmontisation, expanded institutions and political models associated with the Piedmontese state across the emerging kingdom. Turin briefly became Italy’s national capital before the capital moved first to Florence and then to Rome. Piedmont subsequently became one of the main centres of Italy’s first industrialisation. Today, Piedmont combines advanced manufacturing with agriculture, food production, tourism, and services. Turin remains associated with automotive engineering and design, although the region’s former Fiat-centred industrial structure has been transformed. Stellantis, CNH Industrial, Iveco, aerospace companies, engineering groups, suppliers, and research centres continue to maintain important activities in the region. Piedmont also has significant aerospace and defence operations, including aircraft, propulsion, mission systems, and launch-vehicle manufacturing. Other industrial strengths include robotics, laser equipment, machinery, electronics, information technology, bearings, tyres, packaging, and high-speed rail equipment. The regional economy also draws heavily on specialised districts. Biella is internationally recognised for wool processing and textiles, while Valenza is a major jewellery manufacturing centre. Agriculture is particularly important in the plains and hills. Piedmont produces rice, cereals, maize, fruit, milk, and livestock, and is one of Italy’s leading wine regions. Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, Dolcetto, Moscato d’Asti, Asti, Freisa, Grignolino, and Brachetto are among the wines associated with the territory. The vineyard landscapes of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato form a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape. Tourism spans Turin’s cultural and industrial heritage, the Alpine resorts, the lake district, wine country, historic Savoy residences, gastronomy, and outdoor recreation. Turin hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics and the 2007 Universiade. The Royal Residences of the House of Savoy, recognised by UNESCO, provide a distinctive heritage network linking Turin with surrounding historic estates. Piedmont is therefore both a territorial administration and a powerful regional identity used to present the area’s culture, products, landscapes, and economic capabilities to domestic and international audiences.
History
Piedmont’s recorded history began with Celtic-Ligurian communities such as the Taurini and Salassi. Roman power expanded into the region around the third century BCE, creating settlements including Augusta Taurinorum, modern Turin, and Eporedia, modern Ivrea. After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, Piedmont was successively influenced or controlled by Burgundians, Ostrogoths, the Eastern Roman Empire, Lombards, and Franks. The region later formed part of the Kingdom of Italy within the Holy Roman Empire and was divided among marches, counties, communes, and marquisates. The rise of the House of Savoy was decisive. In 1046, Otto of Savoy incorporated much of Piedmont into the County of Savoy, although powerful communes such as Asti and Alessandria and marquisates including Saluzzo and Montferrat maintained separate political traditions. The county became a duchy in 1416. Duke Emanuele Filiberto transferred the ducal seat to Turin in 1563, establishing the city as Piedmont’s enduring political centre. In 1720, the duke became King of Sardinia, and the enlarged Savoyard state became an important European power. The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars brought repeated constitutional changes. Piedmont saw the creation of the Republic of Alba in 1796, the Piedmontese Republic in 1798–1799, and the Subalpine Republic in 1800. French control was consolidated in 1801, followed by annexation in 1802. The Congress of Vienna restored the Kingdom of Sardinia and added Genoa as a strategic buffer against France. Piedmont played a leading role in the Risorgimento. After earlier unsuccessful uprisings and wars in 1820–1821 and 1848–1849, the Kingdom of Sardinia used Piedmont as the base for the campaigns and diplomacy that led to Italian unification in 1859–1861. Turin became the first capital of unified Italy, but the national capital later moved to Florence and then Rome. The historical contribution of the Savoyard state remained symbolically visible in the title Prince of Piedmont. Industrialisation accelerated after unification. Turin developed into a major manufacturing and engineering centre, eventually becoming strongly associated with Fiat and Italy’s automotive sector. Piedmont also developed specialised clusters in machinery, aerospace, textiles, food, wine, jewellery, and electronics. During the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, the region’s industrial structure changed through corporate restructuring, international ownership, relocation, and the decline of mass-market vehicle production. Nevertheless, Turin and other Piedmontese centres retain important research, design, aerospace, engineering, and supplier capabilities. Piedmont’s contemporary identity combines metropolitan Turin with Alpine valleys, agricultural plains, historic hill regions, and lake landscapes. Wine districts in Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato, the Royal Residences of the House of Savoy, and the region’s mountain and lake tourism form major cultural assets. The 2006 Winter Olympics and 2007 Universiade increased the region’s global visibility, while investment-promotion and tourism institutions have sought to present Piedmont as a destination for business, manufacturing, food, wine, and heritage tourism.
- 2014
Vineyard landscapes receive UNESCO recognition
[1]The vineyard landscapes of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
- 2007
Turin hosts the Universiade
[1]The city hosted the XXIII Universiade, reinforcing Piedmont’s international events profile.
- 2006
Turin hosts the Winter Olympics
[1]The XX Olympic Winter Games were held in Turin and other Piedmontese venues.
- 1997
Royal Residences receive UNESCO recognition
[1]The Royal Residences of the House of Savoy were recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage cultural property.
- 1861
Turin becomes Italy’s first capital
[1]Following unification, Turin served as the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy until 1865.
- 1815
Restoration of the Kingdom of Sardinia
[1]The Congress of Vienna restored the Kingdom of Sardinia and added Genoa as a defensive barrier against France.
- 1802
French annexation
[1]Piedmont was incorporated into France after the sequence of French-backed republican administrations.
- 1796
Republic of Alba is established
[1]French revolutionary influence led to the creation of the short-lived Republic of Alba in Piedmont.
- 1720
Savoy becomes the Kingdom of Sardinia
[1]The Duke of Savoy became King of Sardinia, increasing Turin’s importance as a European royal capital.
- 1563
Turin becomes the Savoyard capital
[1]Emanuele Filiberto moved the seat of the House of Savoy to Turin, making the city Piedmont’s principal political centre.
Products and positioning
A diversified north-western Italian region positioned around Alpine and cultural heritage, Turin’s industrial and innovation base, premium wine and food production, specialised manufacturing districts, and international tourism.
Wine and beverages
Piedmontese wine
Piedmont is one of Italy’s leading wine regions. Its recognised styles include Barolo and Barbaresco from Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto reds, Moscato d’Asti and Asti sparkling wines, and wines made from Freisa, Grignolino, and Brachetto. Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato combine production with prominent wine tourism and protected cultural landscapes.
Automotive
Automotive manufacturing
Turin and surrounding areas have long supported vehicle engineering, design, components, powertrains, and specialist production. The former Fiat-centred system has been reorganised, with Stellantis, Iveco, CNH Industrial, Maserati, and numerous suppliers maintaining selected manufacturing, research, and development activities.
Aerospace and defence
Aerospace and defence systems
Piedmont hosts major aerospace and defence facilities, including Leonardo operations in Turin and Cameri, propulsion and transmission work associated with GE Avio Aero, and launch-vehicle activity associated with Avio. Activities include aircraft assembly, mission systems, airborne computers, engines, and space-launch components.
Textiles
Wool textiles
The Biella district is one of Italy’s important wool-processing centres. Its industrial base covers stages of wool preparation and textile production and forms part of Piedmont’s network of specialised export-oriented manufacturing districts.
Jewellery
Jewellery
Valenza is one of Italy’s principal jewellery districts. The area supports factories and specialist suppliers serving major international jewellery houses as well as smaller manufacturers and artisans.
Agriculture and food
Agricultural products
The plains and rural areas produce rice, cereals, maize, fruit, milk, and livestock. Rice cultivation around Vercelli and Novara is especially significant nationally, while the hills support vineyards and food production closely linked to Piedmont’s culinary identity.
Marketing campaigns
- 2007Universiade Turin
International
The region hosted the XXIII Universiade as a follow-on international sporting event after the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Outcome. The event reinforced Piedmont’s event-hosting and tourism profile.
- 2006Turin Winter Olympics host programme
International
Piedmont used the Turin Winter Olympics to showcase its metropolitan culture, Alpine resorts, transport infrastructure, and hospitality capacity to a global audience.
Outcome. The event increased international visibility for Turin and Piedmont and supported the region’s positioning as a winter-sports and cultural destination.
- 2006Piedmont investment, export, and tourism promotion
International investors · Export markets · Tourism markets
The Piemonte Agency for Investments, Export and Tourism was created to combine existing local promotional activities and present Piedmont internationally as a destination for investment, trade, and travel.
Outcome. The initiative established a coordinated regional platform for international economic and tourism promotion.
Brand decisions
1861
Piedmontese leadership in Italian unificationStrategyBackground
The Kingdom of Sardinia used Piedmontese political institutions, diplomacy, and military capacity during the Risorgimento.
Action taken
Piedmont became the institutional and political base for the creation of the Kingdom of Italy.
Aftermath
Turin became Italy’s first national capital, and Piedmont entered a period of major industrial development.
1563
Move of the Savoyard seat to TurinStrategyBackground
The House of Savoy sought a more central and strategically useful political base for its Italian territories.
Action taken
Duke Emanuele Filiberto transferred the seat of government to Turin.
Aftermath
Turin became the durable political centre of Piedmont and later the first capital of unified Italy.
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