Piedmont

We LUV the Piemonte. We usually stay in the Langhe at a winery near Treiso. Barolo and Barbaresco are great towns to visit especially if you like wine. We haven't made it into Turin (Torino) yet, but that is on my list. The Valle d'Aosta is just north of there and is a great place to visit. On my last trip I drove up to Aosta and on the way back toured Fenis Castle.

Turin is a beautiful city with a compact center and good sights, so I'd start there. At the tourist center in the main piazza (Piazza Castello) you have the option of buying a "Piemonte Card" for 3, 5 or 7 days. The card gets you in to most of the major museums in town (Egyptian Museum, Palazzo Madama, Cinema Museum, etc.), a ride up the cable car to the Basilica di Superga (ask how to get to the cable car stop; it requires an easy tram, bus or taxi ride) and free above-ground transport (tram, bus; NOT the metro). The card also gets you in to some of the Savoy residences and discounts on other sights outside of Turin that you'll need a bus or rental car to reach. When you purchase the card, it comes with a map of the area and a nice list of sites. If food/wine is your thing, Piedmont shouldn't disappoint. At the tourist center you can also purchase a "Choco Pass", a coupon book of sorts that allows you to sample chocolate and other treats from the various chocolate shops in the city. Also be sure to enjoy the appertivo hour at various establishments in Turin, a good chance to meet people! Finally, take the Metro to the Lingotto stop and visit Eataly, the grocery store of the Slow Foods movement. It's epic. Outside of Turin, you can take a train or rental car to the towns of Asti or Alba and sample some of the wines or visit the wineries themselves. Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera wines are big here, as is Moscato d'Asti. Naturally the Alps are nearby with good hiking opportunities, so that's another thing.