Piedmont has officially been voted the most beautiful region in the world. This is according to Lonely Planet's ‘Best in Travel 2019’ guide, which presents its ranking of the best tourist resorts in the world to visit in the new year. There are other worthy contenders on the list, like the Scottish Highlands, but the die is cast: Piedmont in Italy is the prettiest place on Earth.
1. Piedmont, Italy
The travel experts at Lonely Planet have ranked the five best tourist regions in the world and given top spot to Italian Piedmont. "This north-western corner of Italy is the ancient bastion of Savoy, the cradle of national unity and the driving force of industry in the twentieth century,” state the makers of the world-famous travel guidebook. “We read between these motifs, though. The region of Piedmont is well aware of its strengths, but is not always so effective in marketing its many attractions to visitors.
“However, Piedmont can no longer be a secret tourist destination, known only to lovers of art and good food, thanks to the lively scene of contemporary art and electronic music in Turin, Leonardo da Vinci's self-portrait exhibited for 500 years since his death in the capital's Royal Library, the beautiful and remote alpine roads, and the magnificent villages and rural valleys which offer some of Italy's finest red wines and white truffles.”
Don’t miss your opportunity to go to Piedmont today!
2. The Catskills, USA
In second place among the most beautiful regions in the world is the Catskills in America, which, 50 years after hosting the legendary Woodstock concert, remains a mecca for free spirits. With creative, trendy restaurants, pop-up breweries and craft distilleries, plus a growing number of art collectives and high-profile concert halls, the Catskills truly shows that the hippie spirit is alive and well in New York.
3. Northern Peru
2019 is the perfect time to visit this unfairly underestimated region, according to Lonely Planet. The ancient and beautiful Kuélap fortress is now more accessible than ever thanks to a new cable car, and the cities in the north of the South American country are served by a greater number of flights from the capital, Lima. Peru is coming into fashion, so go now to beat the hordes of tourists.
4. The Red Centre, Australia
In 2019, after almost 150 years, the sacred site of Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, will be closed to climbers. Get out there now while you still can to admire this geographical wonder, which was declared a World Heritage Site for its extraordinary natural and cultural value.
5. The Highlands and Islands of Scotland
Over the past two years alone, Scotland has witnessed the opening of 20 new whiskey distilleries, and many more are due to open in 2020. A visit to these distilleries (with tasting session included, of course) is a good way to get closer to the Scottish Highlands and Islands, which rank fifth among the most beautiful areas in the world, according to Lonely Planet.
The top 10 cities
For those who prefer a city escape to beautiful scenery, Lonely Planet’s top 10 puts Copenhagen, Denmark in first place. In second place is Shenzhen, queen of the Silicon Valley of China, then Novi Sad (Serbia), Miami (USA), Kathmandu (Nepal), Mexico City (Mexico), Dakar (Senegal), Seattle (USA), Zadar (Croatia) and Meknes (Morocco).