Cuneo

Cuneo stands on a wedge of land at the meeting of the Stura and Gesso, beneath the western Alps. Its inhabitants founded a free commune in 1198, seeking independence from the bishops of Asti and neighbouring marquises. The town later became a fortified gateway to the mountain passes.

The commune had accepted Charles of Anjou as its lord in 1259, seeking protection from more powerful neighbours. Cuneo came under the House of Savoy in 1382 after a long period of Angevin rule. It became an important stronghold and repeatedly resisted armies invading from France, including sieges in 1515, 1542, 1557, 1639 and 1691. During the Napoleonic wars French forces finally took the city, which became the capital of the department of Stura. It returned to the restored Kingdom of Sardinia after Napoleon's fall.