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