Things to do in Cuneo
Discover the unknown city, between the alps and arcades
The beautiful small town Cuneo with many sights to discover. The baroque buildings and the kilometer-long arcades are inviting you to stroll and shop in the relatively unknown provincial capital.
Cuneo is mainly known and used as a starting point for tours and trips to the fantastic mountains and valleys surrounding it. But the old town of Cuneo is worth a visit of its own, as it has a lot to offer!
On my first visit, I was really surprised how pretty and worth seeing the city center is. Since then, I have been to Cuneo several times, discovering something new, every time.
Want to know what that perfectly placed small town has to offer apart from its location? Read on for a comprehensive list of things to do in Cuneo.
Cuneo Overview
Cuneo is the capital of the homonymous province of Cuneo, in the west of Piedmont, at the foot of the Maritime Alps. The beautiful city is located at 534 m.a.s.l. and has about 56,000 inhabitants.
Like a “Cuneo”, a wedge, the city is situated on the triangular plateau between the rivers Stura and Gesso.
For most, Cuneo is the starting point for excursions into the nearby mountains. The Valle Maira, which is very popular with hikers, the idyllic Valle Gesso, the mountain village of Limone Piemonte or the highest sanctuary in Europe, the sanctuary Sant’Anna di Vinadio are all not far away.
But this beautiful town in Piedmont deserves more attention and is definitely worth a separate visit.
The charming old town has many beautiful buildings, inviting squares, small stores and restaurants. Still today, Via Roma is the main street through the historic center of Cuneo. It starts in Piazza Torino and is a pedestrian area until Piazza Galimberti.
Walk along the arcades of Centro Storico
The arcades in the historic center of Cuneo are typical for the city, and strolling under these arches is one of the best things to do in Cuneo.
In total, you can find about 8 km of these beautiful round arches, a large part of which dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
Via Roma, still today, is the main street through the historic center of Cuneo. It begins in Piazza Torino, has arcades with small shops and restaurants on both sites of the street, and most of the Cuneo sights are located on its boarder.
Thanks to the medieval arcades, Cuneo is great to enjoy even in the rain, because shopping and strolling you almost do not get wet.
Sit and watch life on Piazza Galimberti
The impressive Piazza Galimberti has gigantic, 24000 m². It is the central square of Cuneo and often also referred to as the living room of the city.
Originally named Piazza Nuovo and then Vittorio Emmanuele, it was once again re-named in 1945. Today it is dedicated to the partisan Tancredi, known as Duccio Galimberti, one of the bravest sons of the city.
He was the local hero of the resistance against fascism. His house, Number 6, is a private museum. The huge square is surrounded by ten portico buildings, which are connected by terraces.
Every Tuesday, the square transforms into an impressive open-air market that still attracts merchants and visitors from Liguria and nearby France.
Café Tip: Pasticceria Arione
Want to enjoy some first-class pastries in a historic, stylish setting?
The Pasticceria Arione is a fantastic stop on the edge of Piazza Galimberti in Cuneo’s historic center, to catch your breath and try some local (mostly sweet) food and drink!
Visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Bosco / Duomo di Cuneo
The 17th-century Duomo di Cuneo, which features neoclassical as well as baroque architectural elements, is exceedingly impressive.
Even before the founding of the city, there was a small church here, which was expanded in the following centuries. In 1656 the vault of the church collapsed and was rebuilt in magnificent style according to a design by Giovenale Boetto. It was solemnly consecrated on October 25, 1665.
In 1817 the church became a cathedral when Cuneo was elevated to a bishopric. Particularly beautiful is the stone baptismal font from 1490.
Admire other historic buildings and monuments on Via Roma
Cuneo Town hall
Opposite the beautiful Palazzo della Torre is the town hall of Cuneo. The Palazzo Municipale was housed in a former 17th-century Jesuit monastery.
Inside the historic building is the staircase of honor worth seeing and at its end the Hall of Honor of the Town Hall. In it stands out the painting of King Vittorio Emanuele II during the Battle of Santa Lucia in 1859.
By the way: Along Via Roma you will find informational boards in front of important historical site i.e. churches, palazzi, giving you information on the buildings’ history.
Torre Civica / City tower of Cuneo
The historic center is dominated by the square city tower. It has a height of 52 meters, and walls of two meters wide. You can reach the top via 132 steps or by using the elevator.
From the top of the tower, built in 1317, you will have a wonderful view over the city’s rooftops and squares to the rolling hills of the Langhe and the mountains of the Maritime Alps.
Opening times: only on selected dates (see the cities’ webpage for details)
Admission fee: € 3.00 per person
Hotel Palazzo Lovera
The popular 4-star Hotel Palazzo Lovera is located right in the center on Via Roma in a historic building. The Ristorante IL GRILL del Lovera dal 1939, which is also open to external guests, offers delicious Piedmontese cuisine in a stylish ambience. Regional 3- and 4-course menus for lunch and dinner, naturally accompanied by suitable wines from the nearby wine-growing regions such as Alba and world-famous Barolo.
Church Santa Croce
The Church of Santa Croce has a beautiful facade. It is an important example of Piedmontese Baroque, built around 1710 by the Santa Croce Brotherhood.
Directly behind the church is the large monastery complex of San Franceso, which now houses the city museum Museo Civico.
Viadotto Marcello Soleri / Soleri viaduct
You will see another Cuneo attraction if you drive into the city from the north. You won’t be able to miss the impressive viaduct, already visible from the far.
The construction of the impressive double-decker bridge began in 1913 and was completed in 1937. The viaduct is 800 meters long, 50 meters high and consists of 34 brick arches.
My Tip: The Area Relax Parco Fluviale Gesso di Cuneo, south of Cuneo’s old town, invites you to relax. In this beautiful park you will find walking paths, picnic areas and small beaches with a view of the river and of course a beautiful panorama of the Alps.
How to best discover the things to do in Cuneo?
Cuneo’s sights are best explored during a walking city tour, as the centro storico, around Via Roma, is car-free. A great starting point is the free car park Parcheggio Discesa Bellavista (see below).
On this beautiful circular route through Cuneo, you will pass important sights of the city and stroll through many beautiful arcades.
How to get to Cuneo, Italy
- By Air: The closest international airport to Cuneo is Turin Caselle Airport (TRN), which is approximately 100 kilometers away. From the airport, you can take a bus, train, or rent a car to reach Cuneo. Cuneo does as well have a small national airport in the north of the city.
- By Train: Cuneo has a good rail connections, and you can take a train from close-by cities in Italy (Turin, Fossano, Limone Piemonte and Ventimiglia).
- By Car: From Turin, you need about 1 hour 15 minutes for the 100 km on the A6 toll freeway, a perfect road trip away. The city has created an incredible amount of parking facilities for its visitors. There are many large parking areas which do normally cost between €1.00 and €1.50 per hour.
- By Bus: Cuneo is connected to various cities by bus services. You can check for intercity or regional bus routes that lead to Cuneo from different locations.
