Piedmont is the ultimate destination for a mountain holiday in Italy. The aptly named Italian region - Piedmont means "at the foothill of the mountains" - is surrounded by the Alps, which make up more than 30 per cent of Piedmont's total area. Piedmont is home to some of Italy's highest mountains, including Monte Rosa, which is high 15,203 feet, Grenzgipfel, about 15,150 feet, Punta Nordem around 15,121 feet, and Zumsteinspitze, 14,970 feet. These imposing mountains are the backdrop to some of the region's most beautiful destinations, such as the Anzasca Valley, which is dotted with glaciers, alpine lakes, picturesque mountain villages like Macugnaga, and hiking trails suitable for beginners, like Sentiero Naturalistico Monte Rosa, which skirts around the highest mountain in Piedmont; or for expert hikers. Other attractive destinations include the Alta Langa hills, the Mergozzo Lake, and the pristine Gran Paradiso nature reserve. Piedmont is also a wine-growing region where visitors can enjoy the best of the Italian countryside and sample its products, especially around Monferrato and Langa. Visitors to Piedmont have a great range of outdoor activities to choose from, including trekking, mountain climbing, wildlife watching, mountain biking, as well as winter sports like skiing and snowboarding. For these reasons and more, the mountains in Piedmont are the perfect holiday destination.