Tour de France Travels to Italy

This year's Tour de France includes Italy for the first time since 1999. From 1952 through 1999 the tour often stopped in the Piemonte ski resort of Sestiere, in the beautiful Val Chisone, where some winter Olympics events took place. Today's stage into Italy ended in the southern Piemonte town of Prato Nevoso, a top Piemonte ski resort near Mondovi.

Tomorrow's rest day, before two more days of alpine climbs, is in the southern Piemonte town of Cuneo. Well served by public transportation, Cuneo makes a good base for excursions into the mountains, valleys, and nearby small towns. Cuneo has a Renaissance style arcaded main street lined with shops and cafes giving it an elegant appearance and an old town center dating from the 12th century when it was a fortified town. Find out more about Cuneo in my Cuneo Travel Guide.

From Cuneo, riders return to France on Tuesday, a ride of 157 mountainous kilometers through the alps. Read more about the 2008 Tour de France on about.com's France Travel.

Related Italy Travel: Piemonte map | Stura Valley Pictures | Piemonte Travel Directory