Snowy Cuneo
Paloma is parked up in the completely free Sosta in a unique wedge-shaped town in northwestern Italy that has different architecture than in other parts of Italy, Cuneo. (N 44.385630 E 7.551540)
Once again our Italian hosts have out done themselves with everything including electricity.
Last night and being a Saturday, we decided to hit the town in search of a bite to eat, but being boyish we were out way way to early with most of the restaurants not even open. So to kill a little time we popped into a bar for a drink, but with the drink came apartivo- apparently a warm up meal! So one drink turned into two and the plan for tea was scraped as we were already stuffed !
Arriving back just in the nick of time before the heavens opened and for about 12 hours clap after clap of thunder boomed around the valley.
Needing somewhere to head to we spied this interesting sounding place.
Southwest Piedmont, Cuneo province, is famous because it holds the famous regions of Langhe and Barolo, unique monuments of Italian wine visited each year by millions of wine and food lovers.
Millions of visitors do visit Cuneo province, but almost none of them actually visits the town of Cuneo itself.
From our Sosta parking area, we are treated to the latest jewel in the crown, we don’t need to climb any steps to reach the town above us, they layed on a funicular railway ( free of charge like everything else)
Cuneo sits in the foot of the Alps, and is quite a charming and interesting town. It was built in 12th century and came under rule of Savoie in 1382 after which it became an important military stronghold against France.
It had never been conquered until Napoleon arrived in 1796.
After Napoleon’s victory near Mondovi, Cuneo became French. In that period the military fortifications were put down, the centre was extended and piazza Galimberti, was built.
Its Renaissance style arcaded main street lined with shops and cafes gives it an elegant appearance, with long arcades covering no less than 13 kilometers. Via Roma, now the main shopping area was the centre of the old part of the town.
It has been resurrected and back with unique and authentic shops.
Here you will still find waiters in uniform serving coffee like its an art form.
Back into the main square and an odd thing caught our eye a visualisation of the famous speech of partisan leader Ducio Galimberti in July 1943 after the fall of Mussolini´s regime, where he announced that the war isn´t over yet, as fascism rule was still over Italy. He was liquidated by the fascist government in December 1944
Cuneo is surrounded at three sides by mountains so this would make it a fantastic starting point for hiking in the Alps in summer and skiing in winter.
Cuneo presents an intesting alternative for those who are looking for some interesting culture
Just outside the town in the distance is the Railway Bridge which crosses the Stura river. The area of both rivers that are streaming along Cuneo are seat of a natural park ´Parco fluviale Gesso e Stura´
The only thing that caught us by surprise was the amount of snow on the mountains, may have to rethink the mountain passes into France .
Paul.
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