Where to Go

Travel in April or May to witness the spectacle of the Vercelli plain’s flooded rice fields buzzing with bird life

Spot ibex and chamois in Italy’s first national park

Stay in unique accommodation, such as the historic Rifugio Vittorio Emmanuele II in Gran Paradiso’s shadow or a 10th century monastery

Surrounded by alpine meadows, Étroubles boasts cobbled streets, beautiful fountains, restored stone houses and a permanent open air gallery

Be rewarded with views of the Alps and tumbling glaciers as you walk on high trails and ascend challenging passes that are permanently covered in snow

View the towering Granta Parei, Italy’s Great Wall, when it is lit up by the morning sun

The Great St Bernard Pass marks the border of Italy and Switzerland in addition to being the gateway to the Via Francigena and the home of the St Bernard dog

Eat white truffles, pastries, chocolates and gourmet cheeses in Alba, the ‘city of a hundred towers’

Learn about the history, tradition and art of good wine and most importantly sample it in charming hamlets in the heart of the Piedmont wine country

Enjoy magnificent views of farmland, hazelnut forests, vineyards, towers and castles from the food and wine lovers’ village Cissone

The regional capital Aosta is full of Roman monuments and restaurants and ringed by epic mountains

Stop in Nus to touch semi-spherical engravings made in the rock by prehistoric men

Walk or cycle along the Dora River past a string of imposing castles, including Saint Germain, Issonge and Verres ruins

The hike to Roppolo Castle is worth it for the breathtaking views it affords of the town below and Lake Viverone

Weather

In Piedmont, the summer months are usually dry and hot with temperatures ranging between 20 - 30 degree Celsius in the plains and sometimes higher. If you are walking or cycling in July we recommend you leave early in the morning to avoid the heat of the day. The climate is generally considered continental - winters are cold and dry, summers are cool in the hills and rather hot down in the plain. For further information, consult the website www.arpa.piemonte.it.

The walking season in the European Alps is short – from mid June to mid September. Bearing in mind that many routes are at altitudes over 2000m, temperatures can vary significantly. Please note at the beginning of the season you may experience snow and therefore the walking can be harder and slippery underfoot.

Even in the alpine regions, Italian summers can be hot. Highs of 35 degrees Celsius / 95 degrees Fahrenheit can occur, although temperatures generally from around 6 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius during the day. Afternoon thunderstorms are quite common. At the higher elevations it is important to dress with layers as cold winds and possible snow falls can happen even in summer.