Piedmont
Piedmont (Piemonte) Region of nw Italy, bounded to the n, w and s by mountains, and to the e by the Po Valley; it comprises the provinces of Alessandria, Asti, Cuneo, Novara, Torino, and Vercelli. Already an important region in Roman times, it was later subject to Lombard, then Frankish rule. Under the influence of Savoy from the early 15th century, it became part of the kingdom of Sardinia in 1720. In the early 19th century, it was the focus of the movement for Italian independence, joining a united Italy in 1861. The Po Valley has excellent farmland. Products: grain, vegetables, fruit, dairy. Industries: winemaking, motor vehicles, textiles, glass, chemicals. Area: 25,400sq km (9807sq mi). Pop. (1999) 4,288,051.
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Piedmont
