Piedmont stretches northeast to the shores of Lake Maggiore and southwest to Provence in France, its hills dotted with medieval villages and family-run vineyards. Although Piedmont isn’t as well known a wine region as Tuscany, it produces some of Italy’s finest labels, such as Barolo and Barbaresco. Regional cuisine is also a highlight. Raw meats, cheese fondues and rabbit feature on local menus, while the smell of hazelnuts and chocolate wafts through the chocolate-producing town of Alba. Piedmont isn’t all rustic allure, though. At its heart is the city of Turin, the first capital of the unified Italy. Renaissance and Baroque architecture, museums and galleries, and gourmet restaurants grace its boulevards and piazzas, while giants of industry ensure that Piedmont remains one of Italy’s most affluent regions.