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Fringed by the French and Swiss Alps and grooved with mountain valleys, there are no less "Italian" regions than Piemonte and Valle d'Aosta , in the extreme northwest of the country. French was spoken in Piemonte until the end of the nineteenth century and still influences Piemontese dialects; Valle d'Aosta remains bilingual. Piemonte (literally "at the foot of the mountains", and indeed more than forty percent of its surface is mountainous) is one of Italy's wealthiest regions, known for its fine wines and food and for being home to key Italian corporations such as Fiat and Olivetti. The mighty River Po, Italy's longest, begins here, and the towns of its vast plain - which stretches right across northern Italy - have grown rich on both manufacturing and rice, cultivated in sweeping paddy fields. Turin , on the main rail and road route from France to Milan, is the obvious first stop: despite being Italy's second industrial city, it retains a Baroque core and is well placed for days out. South of Turin, Alba and Saluzzo are perhaps the most enticing centres, the former a good base for visiting the wine cantinas, the latter convenient if you want to explore the western valleys; Asti , to the southeast, really comes to life during its famous medieval Palio. For the rest, winter sports and walking are the main activities, with Sestriere the main skiing centre and the ascent of Monviso in the far west appealing to the climbing fraternity. Greater challenges - and more spectacular views - are to be found in the adjoining region of Valle d'Aosta . Cut off from Switzerland and France by the highest of the Alps - Monte Rosa , the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc - and with a national park around the Gran Paradiso mountain, this is serious skiing and hiking country. The main town of Aosta itself repays a visit, and the surrounding countryside is sprinkled with castles .
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