Saluzzo is a historic city that was ruled by the Marquesas in the past and was famous as a center of art and culture. He mentions them on the pages of Boccaccio's Decameron in the story of Griselda. A small but nice old town with a monumental cathedral has been preserved here.
The city has existed since Roman times, and after a period of destruction it was reborn in the 10th century. For centuries, its rulers maneuvered between the influences of France and great Italian families and maintained the independence of a small state. The golden age of Saluzzo fell on the 15th century, when the city became an important cultural center thanks to its wealth and many years of peace.
The greatest attraction and monument in Saluzzo is the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It was built in the late Lombard gothic style just outside the then city walls. It is now adjacent to one of the surviving city gates, Porta Santa Maria. The interior of the building was rebuilt in the 17th century and you can see here, among others, impressive baroque altar.
Within the former city walls, fragments of which have survived to this day, you can see historic churches, palaces and tenement houses. Thanks to its location on a hill, the city is also a good vantage point over the surrounding area.
