This small Italian town in Piedmont sits at the foot of the Alps, with its baroque church dominating the central market square. Medieval streets lead to mountain and automobile museums.
Cuneo, located in Italy's Piedmont region, sits on a wedge-shaped plateau where the Stura and Gesso rivers meet. Established in 1198, its streets with covered walkways, like Via Roma, connect to sites such as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Bosco, rebuilt in the 1800s, and the Civic Tower from the 1300s. The city is recognized for Cuneesi al rhum, chocolate meringues invented in 1923, and provides access to the Langhe wine area and mountain parks like Parco del Monviso. You can see buildings from the Savoy period, visit weekly markets in Piazza Galimberti, and take trips to medieval towns like Saluzzo and Mondovì.
History and key buildings
Cuneo’s location between two rivers made it a strategic point during conflicts over several centuries. French armies attempted to capture the city seven times between the 1500s and 1700s, but it remained under Savoy control. Important structures include the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Bosco, originally built in the 10th century and redesigned in the 1800s, and the Church of San Francesco from 1227. The Soleri viaduct crosses the Stura di Demonte river, linking older parts of the city to newer neighborhoods. From the Civic Tower, part of a 14th-century palace, you can see the Alps and rooftops with terracotta tiles.
Central square and main street
Piazza Galimberti, the city’s main square, has buildings with covered walkways and holds a market every Tuesday. Via Roma, a pedestrian street, has 19th-century buildings from the Savoy period, including Casa Basso with detailed brick walls and Casa Quaglia decorated with painted coats of arms. A statue of Giuseppe Barbaroux, a political reformer, stands in the square’s center. Nearby streets in the Contrada Mondovì area retain elements of the former Jewish quarter, with narrow alleys and old storefronts. The covered walkways along Via Roma extend for eight kilometers, sheltering shops and cafes.
Food and regional products
Cuneesi al rhum, meringue shells filled with rum cream, remain the city’s most famous sweet since their creation in 1923. Local savory dishes include small stuffed pasta called raviolini al plin, typically served with butter and sage. The Langhe area, an hour east, grows Nebbiolo grapes for Barolo and Barbaresco wines, and Alba’s forests produce white truffles. Near Pamparato, bakeries make pasta di melina, a crumbly cookie with corn flour and honey. Many dishes use chestnuts, which grow abundantly in the region, in soups and desserts.
Parks and hiking trails
Parco del Monviso, 40 minutes from Cuneo, includes the Po River’s source and paths leading to views of the pyramid-shaped Monviso peak. The Maritime Alps Nature Park covers over 2,800 square kilometers with trails past waterfalls and rare plants. During winter, Limone Piemonte has ski slopes, while summer allows biking in Valle Stura or guided visits to Bossea Caves, where underground rivers flow. The Associazione Centro Cicogne e Anatidi near Racconigi lets you watch storks nesting in wetlands.
Nearby towns to visit
Saluzzo, 30 minutes north, has a medieval town center with a castle on a hill and a cathedral built in the late 1400s. Alba, in the Langhe region, organizes a truffle market each fall and has wineries open for tastings. Racconigi Castle, part of UNESCO’s World Heritage list, displays royal furnishings and has gardens with a stork habitat. Mondovì’s hilltop Belvedere terrace looks over the surrounding plains, reachable by a historic cable car. Vernante, decorated with scenes from Pinocchio, sits along the road to France via the Colle di Tenda mountain pass.
Annual events
From June to August, Piazza Galimberti hosts evening concerts during the summer music series. In October, the Chestnut Fair sells roasted chestnuts and handmade goods, while November’s cheese fair presents local varieties like Castelmagno. On September 29, processions honor the city’s patron saint, Michael Archangel. The town of Bra holds an international cheese festival every two years, attracting producers from multiple countries. Cycling races like the Giro d’Italia have passed through Cuneo, including a 2016 stage ending at Sant’Anna di Vinadio sanctuary.
Getting to and around Cuneo
Trains from Turin reach Cuneo in 90 minutes, with additional connections to coastal Ventimiglia. Flights from Cuneo’s airport operate seasonally to islands like Elba, while larger airports in Turin and Nice offer international routes. Buses connect to towns such as Saluzzo and Alba, but renting a car simplifies trips to rural areas. The city center is compact enough to explore on foot, with bicycles available for rent. Major highways like the A6 and A33 link Cuneo to Milan and France.
Savoy-era palaces
Racconigi Castle, a Savoy summer home, has English-style gardens and displays items from Italy’s royal family. Govone Castle, southwest of Alba, contains rooms with detailed ceiling paintings from the 1700s. Valcasotto Castle in the Alps became a monastery before serving as a hunting lodge. The Pollenzo estate, part of Piedmont’s UNESCO-listed wine region, now houses a university focused on food studies. These sites are within a 90-minute drive and often paired with vineyard visits.
Museums and churches
The Civic Museum, located in the former Church of San Francesco, holds ancient artifacts, Renaissance paintings, and traditional clothing. Casa Museo Galimberti displays personal items from a local family involved in World War II resistance efforts. Cuneo’s train station has a museum with early 20th-century rail equipment. Religious buildings include Santa Maria della Pieve, a 17th-century church with marble altars, and the Chapel of Santa Maria del Bosco, painted with 1800s frescoes. The Gothic entrance of Sant’Ambrogio Church, closed for services, remains intact since 1230.
Villages and driving routes
Valle Stura, northeast of Cuneo, has trails through villages like Demonte, known for its stone bridge from the 1700s. Borgo San Dalmazzo, on a historic pilgrimage path, includes an abbey from the 1100s. Driving through the Colle di Tenda pass leads to Tende, France, where ancient rock carvings depict Bronze Age life. Priocca village in the Roero hills overlooks vineyards, while Langhe routes pass castles and forests where truffles grow.
