Piedmont as a destination

Old Apr 15th, 2017, 08:42 AM
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Piedmont as a destination

My wife and I are planning to visit Italy this summer for about 2 1/2 weeks and are considering travelling to the region of Piedmont. From what we have read and heard, Turin looks very beautiful and interesting and the whole area, especially the smaller, hilltop towns, look wonderful. We would also consider taking a day trip to Genoa, and maybe Milan, and also spend a few days on the Ligurian Coast towards the end of our trip.

We are thinking about staying in a hotel in Turin (we think for 4 days) and maybe rent a home in the countryside for the rest of the time in the region.

We have been to Italy twice before, once in Rome, Florence and Venice on one trip, and the other time we were in Naples and the Amalfi Coast.

Is this region worth visiting for this much time?

Your advice would be welcome.
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Old Apr 15th, 2017, 11:30 AM
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Aside from visiting the many cultural attractions of Torino, most tourists (including Italian tourists) go to Piemonte for the food, in particular for the foods of autumn: mushrooms, truffles, braised meats, nut cakes, cheeses and red wines. Many of the "best" ristoranti & trattorie close during July or August, since their big tourist season is really Oct to May.

One of the reasons Piemonte wines are so highly prized is that the region gets lots of fog in the cooler months -- which is great for grapes, but it also means there is a lot of humidity in summer, which can be tough going when it is hot as well. The Piemonte countryside has a lot of agriturismi with swimming pools. Many of the locals head to Liguria or to the high mountains of the valle d'Aosta, in nearby France, or even in Piemonte itself (around Cuneo -- which is not the gastronomic heart of Piemonte but still has quite beloved food).

Apart from Torino, which is jam packed with museums and palaces, if you are looking for great historic works of art and architecture find the pickings slim in the smaller towns of Piemonte. (Even Torino does not have a great museum of classic & Renaissance treasures -- but it does have a fab movie museum!) It is possible to ferret out some lovely creations in ever area of the region, but Piemonte has historically been a very hard working, almost Swiss-like industrious culture.

Both Genova & Milano are big cities to crack for a day trip. Instead, consider smaller gems like Pavia or Ovada to get a taste of a truly characteristic town of Lombardia or Liguria.

If you plan on a couple of days in Liguria, the coast between Genova & France is lively, has wonderful beaches, some gorgeous art & architecture (Albenga) and almost zero non-Italian tourists in summer. Between Genova & Tuscany, the scenery is much more dramatic, the beaches are stony, there is not much in the way of art treasures and it gets tens of thousands of non-Italian tourists, in particular around Portofino & le Cinque Terre.
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Old Apr 15th, 2017, 12:12 PM
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Turin is indeed a beautiful and most elegant city.
Genua is worth more than just a day trip to appreciate, if only for the unique »monumental cemetery« of Staglione.
I can't be enthusiastic about Milan. Pavia, however, is a nice provincial city, which is good as a base for a day trip to Milan.
You should not forget the Certosa di Pavia, which is truly remarkable. It's a less than 10-minute train ride from Pavia and then some 15 or 20 minutes walk from the tiny railway station. (Consult www.certosadipavia.com for the opening hours.)
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Old Apr 16th, 2017, 02:21 AM
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"Is this region worth visiting for this much time?"

Check
Turin (Torino), Cuneo, Limone Piemonte, Vallee des Merveilles, Asti, Alba, Ceresole Reale, Biella/Oropa, Alagna Valsesia/Indren Glacier, Varallo, Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore (Stresa, Verbania, Cannobio, Ascona, Locarno), Borromean Islands, Macugnaga/Belvedere Glacier, Simplon Pass, Ponte Formazza/Tosa Waterfalls....
and decide. Nobody else can do that for you.
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Old Apr 21st, 2017, 04:13 AM
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neckervd: Wouldn't a simple yes or no suffice?

The many passive aggressive responses I read on many posts here on Fodors is disturbing.

I will move on to other forums where people seem to be more helpful.
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Old Apr 21st, 2017, 07:38 AM
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Neckervd gave you a long list of interesting places (to him) that you may or may not decide are of interest to you. Depending on where you stay in Piedmont, some of these places would be too far (for me) for a day trip, but that's also up for you to decide.

I may be easily amused, but I've found every region of Italy "worth visiting" for 2-3 weeks. But I do take into account the possible weather (I really can't take humidity), and I likely wouldn't stay in one place for more than a week.



"I will move on to other forums where people seem to be more helpful."

I hope before you go that you thank massimop for his long and very informative post.
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Old Apr 21st, 2017, 07:53 AM
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Wow MichaelKlein, I find your response to neckervd extremely distasteful and down right boorish. The suggestions offered were quite helpful. If you did not understand that, then it is probably a good thing that you have moved on.

Essentially, all that was being said to you was based on your own interests, only you can make up your mind about what you want to see. No one can tell you what you should see. But you must do a bit work to ascertain that. I might surmise that you want everything done for you. I would put you in the same class as the dope who wrote here asking for donations to his go fund me account to support his trip to Europe to propose to his girlfriend. Two dopes in two days.

Wouldn't a simple thank you suffice?

Thanks neckervd, I am going to Piedmont this fall for the third time and will use your suggestions. Hope I don't run into MichaelKlein.
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Old Apr 21st, 2017, 08:24 AM
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For anyone considering spending time in Turin during the summer, not only can it be very hot and humid, the air quality can be very poor. I spent a summer there some years ago and found it miserable on many days. Apparently ozone and air pollution are still issues.

https://www.thelocal.it/20131209/tur...-air-pollution

http://www.arpa.piemonte.gov.it/appr..._download/file

As massimop noted, many places are closed in July and August, probably because so many Torinese leave the city during that time. It's a wonderful city, but I would not spend much time there during the summer.
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Old Apr 22nd, 2017, 09:00 AM
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Thanks, Jean and Huggy. Have a nice weekend!
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Old Apr 22nd, 2017, 09:11 AM
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You are right, Jean, I should have thanked massimop for his thoughtful, informative post, which did help me quite a bit.

Thank you, massimop.

Also, thank you to tonfromleiden and MaineGG for offering your time and advice.

Huggy, I read his post a few times and I stand by my response, which was not boorish or distasteful, in my opinion. It was an honest response to a very passive aggressive post. The line "nobody can do that for you" is in itself a boorish comment. Of course, nobody can decide anything for anyone else, but that is why people ask questions on sites like this: to hear everyone else's opinions. So, if the region is worth seeing in that posters eyes, then a simple yes or no would be a much more helpful response with reasons why or why not.

I was not planning on spending too many days in Turin, but we may reduce it to 3 days and spend the rest of the time in other parts of Peidmont, including a side trip to Genoa and the Ligurian coast.
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Old Apr 22nd, 2017, 11:25 AM
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"nobody can do that for you" means just that we cannot tell you that you must absolutely go to place x or to place y without knowing your interests. That wouldn't be honest.
Places like Isola Bella, Varallo Sanctuary or Hohsand Glacier (all in Piedmont) may be worth wile for one person but not for another one.
That has nothing to do with aggression.
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Old Apr 22nd, 2017, 11:34 AM
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Fwiw, I stand by MichaelKlein. Fodorites ARE snarky and off-putting to a degree one doesn;t see on any other advice board, and that is one big reason Fodors boards are dying. Why would a new or occasional poster tolerate rudeness? Especially when other posters then go on the attack to defend their clique. It's truly distasteful.

I would add, what on earth is the point of coming to a site for travel advice to say, "no one can advise you"? Surely this is the height of foolishness!
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Old Apr 22nd, 2017, 01:12 PM
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Newbe:

Please tell me how neckervd was snarky? Compare that to my answer and I was very snarky, which I certainly meant to be.

Sorry, I do not feel that I am part of any clique and certainly do not want to be part of, but just calling out poor behavior. I am certainly guilty of that.

However, in the several years I have followed this forum, I have found certain contributors to be what I guess you call snarky. I just looked the definition up and I was definitely snarky. Still believe that neckervd only meant to offer advice and did not deserve the criticism. I stand by my response. On the other hand, I certainly deserve criticism.

I would ask no one consider me as part of their clique.

H
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 02:15 AM
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"I would add, what on earth is the point of coming to a site for travel advice to say, "no one can advise you"

I checked all posts in this thread. I couldn't find a sentence like that. Everybody made some proposals in order to facilitate the choices of OP.

And don't forget that not all Europeans who answer your questions have English as mother tongue. English is my fourth (or rather fifth) language.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 03:27 AM
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It is obvious from reading many of the questions and answers here on Fodors that many people on this forum site are well travelled and well informed. But there are some people who can be "travel snobs" and their answers reflect this type of attitude.

neckervd, I appreciate you taking the time to list places of interest in Piedmont. However, like Newbe said, ending it with "only you can decide for yourself" is just not helpful. What am I to do? Go to other forums and ask them about the places you mentioned?

Thanks, Newbe, for taking the time to write. I was beginning to think it was just me.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 04:13 AM
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"What am I to do? Go to other forums and ask them about the places you mentioned?"

All the places I mentioned have websites. I thought you would just google for them in order to see at a glance what could correspond to your expectations.
If you go to other forums, you will just get personal opinions which may differ completely from your preferences.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 05:07 AM
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My original question wasn't if Piedmont was worth visiting but rather if there is enough to see and worth spending 2 1/2 weeks in that region.

All anyone really expects on a travel forum is honest advice and other travellers personal opinions on the places they have visited.

I do not think it would have been difficult for you to say yes, michaelklein, Piedmont is worth 2 1/2 weeks and then list some places I should visit when I am there that you found extra special.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 05:10 AM
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Well, I am invested in this now so here goes.

Michael, it is called research, something one must do on their own. I certainly would not visit a place just because someone suggested it. I would want to read about it so I could make my own judgement. You could visit that location with just that recommendation but if it did not meet your satisfaction, whom would you blame for that choice? Too many people want to take the easy way out and not invest the time to ensure enjoyment. I hope you are not one to fall in that category.

I apologize if I was harsh with you but it appears that you criticized neckervd inappropriately when all that was being offered was a list of suggested sites. Over the years when I have read neckervd posts, I have found them to be quite helpful but only as a starting point for my own research. It is my time and I feel that I must use it wisely.

This is not meant to sermonize, or be part of a clique as Newbe suggested. I just see too many questions on this forum asking for assistance without any effort on that posters part or any thanks to those whom offer that assistance.

I am over and out. Have a wonderful trip wherever you go.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 05:36 AM
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Ok, Huggy, I guess I am invested in this as well.

Again, my original question wasn't if Piedmont was worth visiting but rather if there is enough to see and worth spending 2 1/2 weeks in that region. All neckervd had to say was yes or no and then the list of places in his response would have had more meaning and context. Would that have been so difficult?

I have travelled to many places and I have planned these trips with research (nobody on a travel forum ever reserved hotel rooms or booked plane, train or ferry tickets for me). I have also found travel forums important to gather information from other travellers to get a sense of what they found special about their time in the location(s) I am asking about.

Anyways, I hope we can still help each other out in the future.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 01:28 PM
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I will be spending 2 nights in Torino, September 2017...now before I hear that's not enough time, we are flying into Milan taking the train too Torino, staying 2 nights and off to SML Anyone have a must do....palace, hilltop towns?
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