Piedmont is a region that has a very long history: linked to that of the Savoys in the modern era, it also includes important ancient testimonies, unparalleled natural landscapes and interesting twentieth-century experiments. If you’re looking for something unique to visit in this region of the North West, find out what they are the 5 UNESCO sites in Piedmont to visit.
Residences of the Royal House of Savoy
The Residences of the Royal House of Savoy represent a set of palaces and villas that were inhabited by the royal family of Savoy in Piedmont, mainly around Turin. These magnificent buildings have been recognized as UNESCO heritage sites in 1997 for their extraordinary testimony to the elegance and power of the dynasty that also governed the united Italy of 1861 onwards.
Among the main residences there is certainly the Royal Palace of Turin, the Moncalieri Castle, the Stupinigi Hunting Lodge, the Royal Palace of Venaria Reale and the Rivoli Castle. The sites are almost all in the province of Turinalthough some recognized by UNESCO are located near Cuneo, such as the Castle of Racconigi, Pollenzo and Govone.
Langhe, Roero and Monferrato
The wine regions of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato are famous for their wine-growing landscapes, which were recognized as a UNESCO heritage site in 2014. These areas are characterized by rolling hills, dotted with rows of vines that give life to fine products such as Barolo and Barbaresco. Here, in fact, you can taste some of the best wines in the area.
In addition to tasting wines and typical local products, you can visit ancient villages, medieval castles and participate in festivals and cultural events that celebrate the food and wine richness of the area. To fully experience these lands, the ideal would be to dedicate a few days to discover the different locationsperhaps staying for a few nights.
Ivrea
The city of Ivrea, in northern Piedmont, has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2018. This recognition is mainly due to its being “industrial city of the 20th century”, an exceptional example of industrial design that combines modern architecture, production sites and citizen well-being. It is no coincidence that even today we still talk about “Olivettian architecture” to highlight the link between the city and the Olivetti company.
Visiting Ivrea, however, also means immersing yourself in an ancient history, where you can discover its famous Cathedral, the Castle with the red towers and the suggestive Ponte Vecchio over the Dora Baltea river. Furthermore, the country is also known for historical Battle of the Orangesa unique carnival in Italy.
Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy
The Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy are a series of nine devotional complexes located in the pre-Alps, included in the list of UNESCO heritage sites for their extraordinary combination of scenic beauty, artistic value and religious significance. These sacred places, created between the 15th and 18th centuriesrepresent a unique cultural phenomenon in Europe, offering spiritual journeys enriched by chapels, sanctuaries and works of art.
Among these, the Sacred Mount of Varallo it is the oldest and perhaps the best known, with its 45 chapels that narrate episodes of the life of Christ through sculptures and frescoes. In addition to Varallo, the Sacred Mountains of Orta and Oropa are also worth a visit, each with its own peculiarities and works of art. The Piedmontese group also includes the Sacro Monte di Crea, Belmonte, Ghiffa, Domodossola.
Prehistoric pile-dwelling sites around the Alps
The prehistoric pile-dwelling sites located in the Alpine regions represent an exceptional testimony of the ancient communities that inhabited these areas since 5000 BC Recognized as a UNESCO heritage site, these settlements are widespread in different areas of Europeincluding Piedmont, Veneto and other Italian regions.
