Chief city of the largest Piedmont province, and for this reason called "Provincia Granda", Cuneo is a discreet city, elegant in its proud and glorious history. Of medieval origin, it was a free Municipality until the end of the 13th century, when it belonged to the Angioini, then the Saluzzo and the Visconti. Savoyard from the end of 1330, it became famous for the seven sieges it withstood between the 16th and the 17th centuries; Cuneo still possesses a border city atmosphere, as a reminiscence of the Savoy identity and the influence of nearby France. The old city, characteristically shaped as a wedge (cuneo in Italian) , retains some notable monuments of "Piedmont baroque", the Jesuit's church, the neighbourhood church of S. Ambrogio, the church of S. Croce
Cuneo, with its baroque elegance and its tasty food fairs, represents an elegant, history-rich province, known throughout the world for its traditional products, first and foremost wine and truffle. The gentle hill slopes of the Langhe and Roero, have helped nature and Man to give life to some of the most prized vine qualities in the world; exceptional cellars produce Barbera, Barbaresco, Dolcetto, and Barolo, which you can taste along with delicious and refined cuisine in the beautiful villages of Alba, Bra,Saluzzo, Barolo and so on...
Cuneo and its province's most important events are those tied in with the area's exceptional food products. A famous Chestnut fair is held in Cuneo from the 4th to the 7th of October, with sampling food stands and products sales. In Alba, the capital of the Langhe, there are two important events during the year: the truffle national fair, held in the first few weeks in October, where you can buy the precious tubers or taste them in the various restaurants, and Vinum, in the second half of April, a fair dedicated to wine production, where you can both taste and buy various wines.