'Piedmont' is a medieval Latin word which roughly translates to “at the foot of the mountains”. This is of course an extremely apt title for a region surrounded on three sides by the Alps, including the impressive snow-capped peaks of Monviso, and Monte Rosa. Known for its excellent truffles, cheese sauces, gamey meats, and gnocchi, Piedmont is a food lover's dream with numerous gastronomic establishments to thrill culinary enthusiasts with all manner of tasty delights. With its pretty vineyards, tranquil rice paddies,intriguing Medieval castles, famous spa resorts and the verdant undulating hills of the Langhe and of Montferrat, this region offers some of Italy’s most picturesque landscapes dotted with a slew of postcard-worthy small towns seldom visited by hordes of tourists making it an excellent alternative to crowded Tuscany.