Piedmont

Piedmont, region in northwestern Italy, including both mountainous terrain—the Alps and the Appenines—and the upper Po River valley, a rich farm area. Turin, the capital city, is a leading industrial center, the home of Fiat. The Savoy family was powerful in the region beginning in the 11th century. France ruled the region from 1798 to 1814 and had a lasting influence on local cultures. Piedmont was a center of Italian nationalism during the 19th century and played a leading role in the Risorgimento, the movement for Italian unification. Turin became the first capital of the united kingdom of Italy in 1861.

See also: Italy.