The territory
Seat of the Monviso Natural Park and capital of the Marquisate, Saluzzo is a small town of great historical and artistic value nestled in the hills of the province of Cuneo and dominated by the Monviso mountain.
Saluzzo looks like a typical 14th century hilltop village: small cobbled streets, churches and elegant aristocratic buildings and their gardens populate the historical center.
Governed by fourteen marquises, the marquisate of Saluzzo reached its greatest fortune in the 15th century. In 1511 it obtained the institution of the diocese becoming the small capital of the territory.
Must see
Saluzzo, has an extensive historical center still entirely built according to the 14th century’s urban architecture with numerous museum and artistic attractions.
Particularly interesting in the inhabited center are the Cathedral, the Castiglia, the Casa Cavassa and the San Giovanni’s church.
The Annunziata’s ancient monastery, in the heart of the medieval historic center of Saluzzo, welcomes the School of Musical High Specialization: a prestigious Italian college where you can study, and nurture your passions.
Not only architecture, music, museums but also interesting guided tours to discover every suggestive corner of Saluzzo. Villa Bricherasio hosts a huge botanical garden, a real work of art that combines landscape conservation with scientific purposes.
Another must-see is the house of Silvio Pellico which has obtained the title of Museum.
Not far, we can find the Staffarda abbey and the Manta’s castle who can both be visited.
To Savor
Saluzzo’s gastronomy is very various and diverse. First, we find excellent quality meats such as Saluzzo’s white chicken, a breed also enhanced by a “slow food” presidium.
Saluzzo’s territory boasts the presence of a high number of fruit and vegetable growers, in particular, apples, pears, kiwis and wine growers that produce a particular type of wine such as Pelaverga. Among the traditional desserts, the most popular are the “saluzzesi with rhum”.
What to do
Saluzzo has numerous ideal routes for those who love walking and cycling, including the itineraries of “Saluzzese in bici”, a set of 10 itineraries between the plain and hills.
“La camminata del marchesato” (the walk of the marquisate) is ideal for fit-walking enthusiasts.
Between July and August, the “Occit’amo” festival of the lands of Monviso and surrounding Occitan valleys has the ambitious goal of recreating the magical atmosphere with a combination of popular,
ethnic and traditional music and the charm of art treasures scattered in churches and chapels, among the Po, Stura, Infernotto, Varaita, Maira and Grana valleys.
