Weekend in Mondovì

A 13th-century Gothic church with faded frescoes and a quiet cloister garden. The church is used for concerts, but it's empty most days.

Tip: Look for the carved wooden choir stalls—they're early 1500s and often missed. The cloister is accessed through a side door near the altar.

A small ceramics museum housed in a former convent. The ground floor gallery is always free and shows rotating local pottery exhibits. Upstairs costs €5.

Tip: The free section takes about 20 minutes. Ask at the desk about the free guided tour of the cloister—available in Italian only.

Small municipal museum showcasing local ceramic traditions from the 17th century onwards. Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month.

Tip: Call ahead to check if the kiln room is open — it's the most interesting part, but sometimes closed for cleaning. The museum closes for lunch 12:30–14:30.

A Baroque church from 1694 with a striking convex façade and ornate stucco work inside. It's rarely crowded and free to enter.

Tip: Look for the 18th-century organ above the entrance—it still works and is sometimes played during Sunday mass at 11am.

A panoramic viewpoint from the upper town (Piazza) offering sweeping views across the Monregalese plains to the Maritime Alps. A bench and a small church make it a quiet spot.

Tip: Bring binoculars on a clear day — you can pick out the peak of Monte Rosa to the north and the Ligurian coast on the horizon.

A small but well-curated collection of local ceramics, from historic majolica to modern pieces, housed in the former convent of Santa Chiara.

Tip: Entry is free on the first Sunday of the month; otherwise it's €5. Check the website for temporary exhibitions.

A panoramic terrace near the Santuario di Sant'Anna overlooking the Po River valley and Alps. Benches and a small grassy area make it a good picnic spot.

Tip: Bring binoculars on a clear day—you can pick out Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn to the northwest.

Terraced public garden with benches, chestnut trees, and views over the rooftops. A quiet place for a picnic with no entry fee.

Tip: Buy focaccia from Panetteria Fratelli on Via Roma (€2.50) and eat at the far western bench for the best mountain view. The park has public toilets near the entrance (€0.50).

A panoramic viewpoint above the old town, reached by a short, steep climb from Piazza Maggiore. It offers a sweeping view over the roofs and the Alps beyond.

Tip: Sunset is ideal, but bring a small torch if staying late—the path back has no lighting. The stone bench under the pine tree is the best spot. Free and always accessible.

A 13th-century Franciscan church with simple brick exterior and a surprising Baroque interior, including fresco fragments and a wooden choir.

Tip: The crypt is often locked, but ask at the adjacent monastery office; they may open it for a small donation.