Piedmont

Lore & Background

The House of Savoy became Kings of Italy, and Turin briefly became the capital. After the capital moved to Florence and then Rome, Piedmont's administrative importance declined, though the crown prince of Italy was known as the Prince of Piedmont. The region was one of the most important in the first Italian industrialization.

Reader's Guide

Piedmont's significance lies in its central role in the unification of Italy and its historical position as the seat of the House of Savoy. The region's capital, Turin, was the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy and a major industrial center, notably home to the Fiat conglomerate. Its geography is dominated by the Alps, including Monviso and Monte Rosa, and the Po River rises within its borders. The region's diverse landscape ranges from mountainous areas to rice paddies and hills, with 7.6% of its territory protected. Piedmont's political history includes periods of French client republics in the late 18th century and restoration of the Kingdom of Sardinia at the Congress of Vienna. Today, it is governed by a regional president and divided into eight provinces.

Did You Know?

• Piedmont's name comes from medieval Latin 'Pedemontium', meaning 'at the foot of the mountains'.
• The region is the second-largest in Italy by area, after Sicily.
• The river Po rises from the slopes of Monviso in western Piedmont.