The foodie destinations of Piedmont and Liguria are strikingly different, despite their long shared border. Inland Piedmont has manicured vineyards offset by the noble Alps, is home to the former royal seat of Turin, and produces the world’s most exclusive chocolate, truffles, and wine. Rough-and-tumble Liguria wows with its wild coastal cliffs, vertiginous fishing villages, gritty yet glorious Genoa seaport, and rustic cuisine founded on the foraged bounty of the land and sea. Put them together, however, and these two regions form an inviting whole for culinary and cultural adventures, among other things to do.
Piedmont's truffle woods and vineyards attract gourmands from across the globe in the fall and winter when the region’s top food and wine festivals are held. Visitors bid six figures for white truffles at Alba’s fair and auction and sip their way through the Barolo and Barbera hills as temperatures take on a nip. However, summer reigns supreme in coastal Liguria as seaside hot spots like Portofino and the Cinque Terre draw the world’s yacht set.
Piedmont and Liguria have a rolling topography that makes it almost impossible to move in a straight line between two points, so train travel in most regions is slow and sinuous. The only exception is the regional rail line along the Mediterranean between the seaside resort towns, including the Cinque Terre. Explore Piedmont’s wine country and Alpine slopes by car, then ditch the wheels and take the train to venture along the coast.
The Cinque Terre Card is a must if you plan to visit this UNESCO-listed clutch of fishing villages on the Ligurian coast. The card includes unlimited rides on the local train that runs between the towns all day long and access to the hiking trails inside the National Park. Book your Cinque Terre Card on the park’s website in advance to avoid waiting in the long line at the ticket office once you arrive on the coast.
