Every province in Piedmont is full of charming and characterful small towns, marked by historical, cultural and food and wine peculiarities.
In Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Stresa is the queen of Lake Maggiore, immersed in jubilant flowers amidst villas, parks and gardens and the spectacular Borromean Islands, while Domodossola, at the centre of the seven Ossola valleys, unveils to the visitor the medieval imprint of its evocative historical buildings, porticoed squares, the remains of the city walls and the historic, thousand-year-old Saturday market; not to be missed is the Sacro Monte Calvario in Domodossola, a UNESCO heritage site, similar to the Sacro Monte in Varallo, the historical and cultural capital of Valsesia. This town, with its 18th-century urban layout, has a wealth of fine sacred buildings and old shops where you can find typical Valsesian handicrafts: scapin (type of slipper), puncetti (lacework) and various types of handmade wooden, marble or soapstone items.
Rosazza and Candelo, listed among the “Most beautiful villages in Italy”, characterise the Biella area with references to the magical and esoteric 19th century and medieval influences.
In the Turin area, the fil rouge for discovering some of the finest small towns is the Via Francigena:, along the stretch called “Sigeric’s” is Ivrea, a UNESCO World Heritage site, an “Industrial city of the 21st century” of Olivettian heritage, which stands out for its ancient village, Roman bridge and 14th-century castle; and then Susa, Avigliana and Rivoli on the Via Francigena stretch of the Valle di Susa variant. The former, a Roman and medieval city, a "gateway to Italy" located at the foot of the Moncenisio pass; Avigliana, with its magnificent medieval old town centre and its two lakes immersed in the Natural Park; Rivoli, with the first Contemporary Art Museum opened in Italy, located in one of Piedmont's lavish Savoy residences.
Plus: Pinerolo, rich in architectural testimonies and location of the Museo Storico dell'Arma di Cavalleria (Historical Cavalry Museum), then there is Chieri, home to textiles since the 15th century, with the Martini Museum of the History of Oenology, and the Duomo, one of Piedmont's largest Gothic style buildings.
The Cuneo area is also plentiful in charming "minor" towns, starting with Saluzzo, the ancient capital of the Marquisate and a tiny medieval work of art with its small, cobbled streets, churches and elegant aristocratic palaces, all the way to Mondovì: the "city of hot air-balloons", boasting a beautiful upper section, nestled on a hill among ancient walls, which can be reached by a modern funicular railway designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. Nearby is the Sanctuary of Vicoforte, one of Piedmont's most significant monumental churches, a masterpiece of Piedmontese Baroque with the world's largest elliptical dome. In Fossano stands the symbolic building of the Castle of the Princes of Acaja, a typical medieval fortress dating back to the 14th century, while Bra, home of the Slow Food movement and venue for the biennial "Cheese" event, stands out as one of the birthplaces of Piedmontese Baroque. The medieval and Baroque art city of Cherasco is also worth a visit for its historic antique and collectors' markets and the Museum of Magic, the largest museum exhibition of its kind in Europe. No introduction is needed for Alba, Piedmont's capital of wine and the White Truffle, recognised as a UNESCO Creative City for gastronomy and the vibrant heart of the World Heritage Hills: it is also known as the "city of a hundred towers" due to the large number of towers built in the past for defensive purposes, three of which still remain in the beautiful medieval town centre.
When the Asti area is mentioned, wine springs to mind: among the many beautiful towns is Canelli, immersed in the Langa of Moscato, where the Underground cathedrals are ancient tunnels dug into the hillside to naturally obtain the humidity and temperature conditions required to produce sparkling wines.
In the province of Alessandria is the Baroque town of Casale Monferrato. In addition to its 14th-century castle, it has a grandiose Synagogue built in 1595, where the adjoining Museum of Jewish Art houses unique and highly valuable pieces. Acqui Terme is firmly linked to its thermal springs but also has a number of significant artistic and architectural historical sites such as Piazza della Bollente, the 17th-century Palazzo Comunale, now the town hall, and Casa Robellini, built in the 16th century and rebuilt in 18th-century style. Finally, Valenza, Piedmont's goldsmithing capital, amid historic buildings, Romanesque churches and Baroque art, is also home to the Museo dell’Oreficeria Diffuso (MOD), which includes physical and virtual sites with temporary and permanent exhibition spaces.