Piedmont

Lore & Background

Piedmont was a springboard for Italian unification in 1859–1861, following earlier unsuccessful wars against the Austrian Empire in 1820–1821 and 1848–1849. The House of Savoy became Kings of Italy, and Turin briefly became the capital of Italy. After the capital moved to Florence and then Rome, Piedmont's administrative importance declined, though the crown prince of Italy was known as the Prince of Piedmont. The region was one of the most important in the first Italian industrialization, particularly through the automotive industry centered in Turin, home to the Fiat conglomerate.

Reader's Guide

Piedmont's significance lies in its central role in the unification of Italy and its historical position as a political and industrial powerhouse. As the seat of the House of Savoy, it provided the monarchy and the initial capital for the unified Kingdom of Italy. The region's economy, historically driven by automotive manufacturing in Turin, contributed substantially to Italy's GDP, though the decline of that industry has led to other regions surpassing it economically. Piedmont's geography, surrounded by the Alps and encompassing the upper Po River basin, gives it diverse landscapes from mountains to plains, and its climate varies from temperate to cold at altitude. The region's name, meaning 'at the foot of the mountains,' reflects its Alpine setting. Today, Piedmont remains a significant administrative and cultural region, with a population of over 4.2 million and a GDP of 137.4 billion euros in 2018.

Did You Know?

• Piedmont is the second-largest region of Italy by area, after Sicily.
• The name Piedmont comes from medieval Latin 'Pedemontium,' meaning 'at the foot of the mountains.'
• Turin, the capital of Piedmont, was the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 to 1865.
• The river Po, Italy's largest river, rises from the slopes of Monviso in western Piedmont.