Piemontese Alessio

Alessio Piemontese is the name attached to The Secrets of Alexis of Piedmont, a hugely influential Renaissance book packed with practical recipes, remedies, and experiments. The author is often referred to in Latin as Alexius Pedemontanus, and the name is widely treated as a pseudonym rather than a clearly documented personal identity.

The book became famous for gathering together all kinds of useful knowledge: medical preparations, household tips, cosmetic formulas, and techniques that sat on the border between early science and alchemy. Its popularity made the name Alessio Piemontese well known far beyond Italy.

Because the historical record is uncertain, modern accounts do not agree on exactly who stood behind the name. What is clear is that the works published under it played a major role in the spread of practical, recipe-based knowledge in early modern Europe.