Free walking tours in Cuneo and what to see

Must-sees

Cuneo occupies a wedge-shaped plateau between the rivers Stura and Gesso, with the Maritime Alps as a backdrop. The city's axis is Via Roma, pedestrianised and arcaded, which runs through the old town to the tip of the plateau. Beside it rises the Torre Civica, from the early 14th century, which you can climb to see the rooftops and mountains. In the same quarter are the cathedral of Santa Maria del Bosco and, on Piazza Virginio, the San Francesco complex, a Gothic church whose former convent houses the Civic Museum, with archaeological and ethnographic collections from the area.

To the south, Via Roma opens into Piazza Galimberti, a large 19th-century arcaded square where the Tuesday market is held. From there runs Corso Nizza, the shopping street, also arcaded. The Galimberti family house, overlooking the square, has a small museum. For greenery, go down to the Gesso and Stura River Park, which surrounds the city with paths and cycle lanes along the rivers, or walk the Viale degli Angeli, a tree-lined avenue.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free tours in Cuneo. What Civitatis offers here are mountain activities, such as a guided snowshoe walk in the Occitan valleys in winter. For the city, ask at the tourist office in the Casa del Turismo about any scheduled tours.

How long to spend

The centre can be seen in half a day: Via Roma, the Torre Civica, San Francesco and Piazza Galimberti, with a lunch stop under the arcades. If you want to walk by the rivers or take your time in the museum, give it a full day. With two or three days you can head up into the nearby Alpine valleys or visit the Langhe and Mondovì.

Where to stay

The most practical choice is to stay in the centre, between Via Roma and Piazza Galimberti, where almost everything is within walking distance and the station is close. There are city hotels and apartments in old buildings. If you are going to the mountains, consider Borgo San Dalmazzo or the valley villages, with simpler and quieter places to stay.