| In the northeast corner of Italy you'll find the | | | | on the Barbera wine. |
| Piedmont region, home to many of Italy's finest | | | | Polenta festivals seem to be the order of the day |
| wines. You can get an idea of its weather by | | | | in this part of the world. In the third week of April |
| considering that Piedmont's capital and largest city, | | | | the village of Bubbio, population less than 1000, |
| Turin, hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics. But | | | | some 40 miles (sixty kilometers) southeast of |
| towards the end of March or the beginning of | | | | Turin holds a Polenta festival involving more than |
| April, spring should be knocking at the door. | | | | 1300 pounds (600 kilograms) of free polenta plus |
| We start our virtual spring tour of Piedmont at | | | | sausages, onion omelets and local wine. Some of |
| the village Monastero Bormida, population 1000, | | | | the polenta contains gold items and it's finders |
| about 45 miles (70 kilometers) southeast of Turin. | | | | keepers. Even if you don't find any gold in your |
| In early March they have a Polenta (cornbread) | | | | cornbread you may still enjoy the medieval |
| festival to honor the openhanded Marchese | | | | costume parade. The Ponti Polenta Festival held in |
| Rovere who provided polenta and frittata | | | | a village of 700 about 45 miles (70 kilometers) |
| (omelets) to ravenous coppersmiths who were | | | | southeast of Turin also involves hungry |
| trapped by a sudden snowstorm. Now, over 180 | | | | coppersmiths and a generous Marquis. This time |
| years later, the village celebrates with a huge | | | | there's a giant copper pot and the omelet |
| onion frittata, polenta, and salami cooked and | | | | contains fish. |
| served in the town square, accompanied by a | | | | Towards the middle of May the city of Asti, |
| band and allegorical floats. On the Sunday closest | | | | population 75 thousand located some 35 miles (55 |
| to March 19th the town of Castiglione d'Asti, | | | | kilometers) east of Turin hosts Ancient Popular |
| population 6000 some 8 miles (13 kilometers) | | | | Games pitting one neighborhood against another. |
| south of Asti commemorates the signing of a | | | | The month ends with the Sagra dell'Asparago |
| peace treaty between city nobles and the Church | | | | Verde (Green Asparagus Festival) in the village of |
| in the year 1200. Some forty traditionally dressed | | | | Valmacca, population 1000, about 45 miles (70 |
| townsfolk on foot and on horseback replay the | | | | kilometers) east of Turin. You haven't eaten |
| signing ceremony with medieval music plays on | | | | asparagus until you come to this festival. Enjoy |
| antique instruments. This ceremony is enhanced | | | | the live music, the other activities, and even a dry |
| by white chestnut cakes and hazelnut cakes | | | | Italian white wine to accompany the asparago. |
| soaked in Barbera wine. Talking about fine | | | | For a change of pace attend the "Roman Fest" in |
| Piedmont wine, the village of Quaranti, population | | | | the city of Alessandria, population 90 thousand |
| 200, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) southeast of | | | | about 55 miles (90 kilometers) southeast of Turin. |
| Turin holds a Chickpea and Barbera Festival on | | | | This includes a "Slave Auction", gladiator combats, |
| the 3rd Sunday of the month. As far as I'm | | | | and a chariot race, festive meals, and activities |
| concerned they can hold the chickpeas and bring | | | | for children. |