Cuneese

<< Piedmont

The Cuneese is the central part of the Province of Cuneo. This area is mostly occupied by the plain crossed by various tributaries of the Po river, and features several historic towns such as Cuneo, Saluzzo, Fossano, and Mondovì, all of which house various interesting attractions.

Cuneo

Cuneo is a city in Piedmont located at the confluence of the rivers Stura and Gesso, on an area shaped like a wedge (cuneo in Italian) between the two rivers. The city was founded in 1198 and fought for its independence against surrounding powers, briefly becoming a free comune. After being contested between its neighbors, Cuneo finally came under the rule of the House of Savoy. Over the centuries, it was besieged numerous times by France, but it always returned to the Savoy, joining Italy during the unification of the country. During World War II, Cuneo was one of the main centers of the Italian Resistance against the Nazi-Fascist occupation.

Piazza Galimberti

Piazza Galimberti is the main square of Cuneo, located at the center of the city. The wide plaza was built in the early 19th century and it hosts a statue of Giuseppe Barbaroux, a 19th-century statesman from Cuneo. The Museo Casa Galimberti, a museum dedicated to an Italian partisan and the most important figure of the Piedmontese Resistance during World War II, is located here, facing the square.

Cuneo Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Santa Maria del Bosco

The Cuneo Cathedral (Duomo di Cuneo) is the main religious site in the city, located facing Via Roma near Piazza Galimberti. The church has its origins in the Late Middle Ages, but it was later heavily reworked in Neoclassical style during the 18th and 19th century. The interior of the cathedral is decorated with rich Baroque decorations and frescoes.

Via Roma

Via Roma is a long pedestrian avenue that crosses Cuneo from Piazza Galimberti to the northern end of the city. The road hosts porticoed buildings on both sides, and some historic structures such as the Civic Tower.

Monumental Complex of San Francesco

The Monumental Complex of San Francesco (Complesso Monumentale di San Francesco) is a church and convent erected starting in the 13th century, and one of the few medieval structures still standing in Cuneo. The church hosts a few interesting artworks but the complex is best known for housing the Civic Museum of Cuneo (Museo Civico di Cuneo). This museum features a collection of archaeological findings and artworks from different eras that showcase the history of the city.

Diocesan Museum San Sebastiano

The Diocesan Museum San Sebastiano (Museo Diocesano San Sebastiano) is a museum of sacred art in Cuneo. The exhibit includes various interesting artworks dating from the Late Middle Ages onwards. The Church of San Sebastiano, which features rich 17th-century frescoes and decorations, is also part of the complex of the museum.

Saluzzo

Saluzzo is a city located at the foot at the hills about halfway between Turin and Cuneo. Founded in ancient times, Saluzzo rose to prominence in the Late Middle Ages as the capital of an independent marquisate for more than four centuries. During this time, the Marquisate of Saluzzo ruled over various surrounding territories, mostly in Piedmont, before being annexed by France in 1548. The area was ceded to the Duchy of Savoy in 1601 and has shared the history of the rest of the region until today. Saluzzo is known for hosting some historic attractions from its medieval golden age.

La Castiglia

La Castiglia is an imposing fortified palace dominating over Saluzzo. The castle was erected in the 13th century and it was expanded various times. For centuries it served as the residence of the local lords and later it was used as military barracks and prison, until 1992. Now the castle hosts a museum dedicated to local history.

Casa Cavassa

Casa Cavassa is a Renaissance palace once serving as the residence of the vicars of the Marquisate of Saluzzo. The palace was restored in the late 19th century and it is now a museum. Casa Cavassa hosts many richly adorned halls with historic decorations and furnishings mostly dating from the 16th century.

Saluzzo Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Maria Vergine Assunta

The Saluzzo Cathedral (Duomo di Saluzzo) is the main church in the city, erected between 1491 and 1501. The church features Gothic and Baroque decorations, and it houses various artworks mostly dating from the 17th and 18th century.

Manta

Manta is a small town located just south of Saluzzo in the Province of Cuneo, best known for its historic castle.

Castello della Manta

Castello della Manta is a castle of medieval origin in Manta. The fort was built in the 12th century and later transformed into a noble residence during the Renaissance. The castle is famous for the impressive series of Late Gothic frescoes painted by an anonymous artist around 1420, and it also houses other decorated halls and artworks.

Racconigi

Racconigi is a town located in the Po Valley between Turin and Cuneo. The town emerged during the Middle Ages and it developed in the 17th and 18th century thanks to its silk mills. Racconigi is best known for hosting one of the most impressive former residences of the Savoy family.

✪ Royal Castle of Racconigi

The Royal Castle of Racconigi (Castello Reale di Racconigi) was originally built as a fort in the 11th century, and it was later acquired by the Savoy family. Since the 17th century, the castle was transformed into a luxurious countryside residence, gradually adding new sections and various Neoclassical decorations. The castle now serves as a museum and it still features several richly adorned halls filled with artworks. Among the most impressive areas of the castle are the halls decorated with Chinese and East Asian art pieces, and another which features imitations of ancient Etruscan frescoes. A large garden is located behind the palace, and it hosts a few more attractions and a lake.

Fossano

Fossano is a city located in the plains northeast of Cuneo, along the river Stura. The town was founded in 1236 by a coalition of Guelph cities, but it was soon conquered by various neighboring powers, before becoming a domain of the House of Savoy. Now one of the main centers of the Province of Cuneo, it houses some historic buildings.

Castle of the Princes of Acaja

The Castle of the Princes of Acaja (Castello dei Principi d’Acaja) is an imposing 14th-century castle dominating the center of Fossano. For centuries, the castle was the residence of the local lords and it is still well preserved to this day. The fort now houses a rich library.

Fossano Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Santa Maria and San Giovenale

The Fossano Cathedral (Duomo di Fossano) is the main religious site in the city. The church was erected in the 18th century, while the bell tower dates from the Late Middle Ages. While the cathedral houses a few artworks, more pieces of sacred art can be found in the nearby Diocesan Museum (Museo Diocesano).

Bene Vagienna

Bene Vagienna is a small town in the Province of Cuneo, best known for being the site of the ancient Roman city of Augusta Bagiennorum. A few ruins of the historic settlement can be seen near the modern town.

Archaeological Area of Augusta Bagiennorum

Augusta Bagiennorum was a city founded by the Romans around the 1st century BCE on the site of the previous capital of a Ligurian tribe called Bagienni. The ruins of the city include parts of the forum, a theater, an amphitheater, and a few more structures. The Archaeological Museum of Bene Vagienna (Museo Archeologico di Bene Vagienna), located in the nearby town, hosts various findings from the ancient city.

Mondovì

Mondovì is a city located on a hill east of Cuneo. Founded in 1198, it was soon attacked by neighboring powers and contested for centuries until it became part of the Duchy of Savoy in the 15th century. Mondovì kept growing, becoming one of the most important cities of Piedmont, and it was briefly occupied by France. Even though its relevance has declined, it is still one of the largest towns in the Province of Cuneo.

Piazza Maggiore

Piazza Maggiore is the main square of Mondovì, located at the center of the upper part of the city, also known as Piazza. Various historic buildings surround the plaza, including the 17th-century Church of San Francesco Saverio, which hosts a series of beautiful Baroque frescoes. Facing the square is also the palace hosting the Museum of Ceramics of Mondovì (Museo della Ceramica di Mondovì), which showcases the history of the local production of ceramics.

Mondovì Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of San Donato

The Mondovì Cathedral (Duomo di Mondovì) is a large 18th-century church located near Piazza Maggiore in Mondovì. The church was built on the site of a previous religious building, and it features various Baroque decorations and artworks.

Giardini del Belvedere

Giardini del Belvedere is a small park and panoramic point located in the upper part of Mondovì. The park houses the 13th-century Civic Tower, one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city, and it offers a great view on the neighboring plains.

Vicoforte

Vicoforte is a small town located just south of Mondovì in the Province of Cuneo, best known for its large sanctuary.

✪ Sanctuary of Vicoforte

The Sanctuary of Vicoforte (Santuario di Vicoforte) is a monumental church that dominates the town of Vicoforte. Originally a small medieval sanctuary, the church was rebuilt and expanded starting in the late 16th century, quickly becoming a pilgrimage site. Most of the current structure dates from the 18th century, including its impressive dome, the largest elliptical dome in the world. The interior is richly adorned with beautiful frescoes and decorations, and it hosts the tombs of King of Italy Victor Emmanuel III of Savoy, and his wife Helena of Montenegro.