Holiday apartment in Piazza – Mondovì’s history and trails

Piazza is closely connected with the oldest and most memorable chapters of Mondovì’s history. A tour of Mondovì begins in the oldest heart of the city, in Piazza.

Historic centre and Baroque architecture

Piazza Maggiore is the historic centre of Mondovì. Since its creation, it has been the city’s religious, administrative and economic centre. One of its most prominent buildings is the Duomo di San Donato. Francesco Gallo designed it in 1739; around 20 years later, construction was completed by Benedetto Alfieri and Filippo Nicolis di Robilant. The creation of the Duomo therefore includes a dated design and a later execution by two other architects. The Cappella del Suffragio also draws attention to the city’s architecture and is considered a jewel of Piedmontese Baroque-Rococo. For those interested in culture, this places two differently focused aspects of architectural history side by side.

The Antico Palazzo di Città hosts exhibitions and cultural initiatives. As a result, the historic setting is not limited to its architecture, but also provides a framework for changing cultural impressions. Exhibitions and initiatives complement the appreciation of the permanent buildings with a cultural theme of their own.

Art and memories in Piazza

The Museo della Ceramica is housed in the elegant 18th-century Palazzo Fauzone di Germagnano. Around 600 pieces document the history of the ceramics district there, from the Napoleonic period to the 1970s. For those interested in culture, this place combines 18th-century architecture with regional ceramic history across several periods. The collection’s historical period thus extends significantly beyond the time when the palazzo was built.

Another historical landmark is the Sinagoga in Mondovì Piazza. It was established in 1724 on the second floor of a residential building, when the ghetto was founded. The sundials of the Jesuit college were made by Jesuits for teaching purposes, because gnomonics was formerly part of the mathematical and astronomical instruction at their colleges. Thus, the history of Piazza includes not only the architecture of its squares, but also a residential building with its historical use and an earlier educational context associated with Jesuit colleges.

Trails, viewpoints and the Alpine arc

For walks, Mondovì Piazza offers trails leading to various historical destinations. The Landandè trail leads to the viewpoint and the Renaissance churches of Mondovì Piazza. The “Andar per Piazza” route runs along Via Marchese d’Ormea beside the old walls of Mondovì Piazza. The two routes differ in both their destinations and their course.

The Funicular offers a particularly distinctive perspective. Its journey between the two stations takes 141 seconds, covers 544 metres and overcomes an elevation difference of 137 metres. Along the way, it offers a unique panoramic view across the entire Alpine arc. When planning a walk, the journey time, distance and elevation difference can be considered as separate planning factors.

More destinations for your travel plans

If you would like to include places other than Piazza in your plans, you can also discover Cerretto Langhe, Roccabruna, Castagnito, Pianfei, Bosia, Genola, Saluzzo and Frabosa Sottana.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.