The Piedmont region is an area to explore this season not only for its undoubted food and wine richness, but also because it hosts some of the most fascinating destinations in Italy.
Among the places richest in symbolism and spirituality is the Sacra di San Michele, an abbey with over a thousand years of history. A few kilometers from Turin, the abbey stands on the top of Mount Pirchiriano, at the entrance to the Susa Valley. The Sacra di San Michele is a monumental complex with impressive architecture, which seems to defy the laws of physics. A destination where faith, art and nature intertwine.
Built between 983 and 987, the Sacra is one of the stages of the Camino di San Michele (Saint Michael’s Route), along the line of the same name that unites the 7 sanctuaries dedicated to the Archangel across the Mediterranean and Europe.
The mysterious and disturbing charm of this place will also be forever associated with The Name of the Rose, the literary masterpiece born from the genius of Umberto Eco and brought to the screen in the cult film by Jean-Jacques Annaud, masterfully interpreted by Sean Connery.
A timeless best seller that never ceases to inspire: on April 27, 2025 the opera The Name of the Rose will debut at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, which commissioned the performance together with the Paris Opéra and the Carlo Felice in Genoa. A date not to be missed!
THE STUPINIGI HUNTING LODGE, TRIUMPH OF ITALIAN LATE BAROQUE
Piedmont gives us many of the most precious gems in Italy. Among these, the Stupinigi Hunting Lodge (in the outskirts of Turin), a triumph of Italian Late Baroque and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
The Tsar of Russia Paul I, the King of Naples Ferdinand I of Bourbon, Napoleon and Pauline Bonaparte stayed in its rooms.
The palace is composed of a total of 137 rooms and 17 galleries, and is surrounded by 150,000 sqm of park and green areas.
The heart and soul of the building, the place that hosted the great dance parties and wedding receptions of the House of Savoy, is the imposing Central Hall. This double-height, oval-shaped room features an incredible inverted boat dome and splendid trompe-l'oeil frescoes.
PIEDMONT LAKES: AN EXCLUSIVE AND ELEGANT CORNER OF ITALY
Perhaps Piedmont’s lakes may not be as famous as other lakes in Italy, such as those of Como or Garda, but they certainly do not lack charm and elegance. Indeed, precisely because they are less traveled destinations, visiting them is a more exclusive experience.
Lake Maggiore, for example, is the ideal destination for a relaxed cruise, during which you can admire the artistic masterpieces of Palazzo Borromeo, on Isola Bella. Here, Baroque reaches its maximum expression. You can also get delighted by the botanical blaze of Isola Madre, “the most voluptuous place seen in the world” according to Gustave Flaubert.
Back on the mainland, here is Stresa, the pearl of Lake Maggiore, an iconic destination that has made the history of great holidays and which today continues to renew itself to remain one of the capitals of luxury hotels.
Not far away, there is Lake Orta, considered the most romantic lake in Piedmont and Italy, thanks to its ancient villages and suspended atmosphere. Lake Orta is also an unmissable stop for lovers of good food, who can range from refined taverns for connoisseurs to a 3 Michelin Star restaurant among the most awarded and well-known in Italy.
If you want to completely immerse yourself in the charm of one of these locations, with an exclusive visit or a private event, contact Olympia Waters and let us create a unique experience for you.
Contact us to learn more!