Quarona(Italy) Travel 2026: Cheap Flights, Hotels & Top Attractions

For breathtaking mountain vistas, Hotel Villa Rosa stands out as a premier boutique choice in Cuneo, nestled on a hillside overlooking the Alpine foothills and the historic town below. Originally a 19th-century villa, it blends elegant Italian design with modern comforts, featuring private balconies with panoramic views of Monte Mottarone and surrounding valleys.

Each room is meticulously furnished with handcrafted woodwork, plush textiles, and a private spa bath. The rooftop terrace hosts intimate dinners with local wines like Barolo and seasonal dishes crafted from regional ingredients. Guests can also enjoy guided sunrise hikes or stargazing sessions under the clear Alpine sky. With only 12 rooms, privacy and personalized service are guaranteed—ideal for couples seeking romance and tranquility.

The Centro Storico (Historic District) is the prime area for accessing Cuneo’s main attractions. Located just steps from Piazza della Libertà, this charming old town center houses key landmarks including the Church of the Assumption, Palazzo Civico (Town Hall), and the Cuneo Museum.

Streets here are cobbled and lined with 18th-century facades, offering an authentic European village atmosphere. Most boutique hotels and B&Bs are concentrated here, such as Hotel La Loggia and B&B Il Glicine, which provide easy walking access to cultural sites and local cafés. Many guesthouses even offer free guided walking tours led by residents who share stories of medieval life and architectural heritage. For travelers wanting immersion in local history, staying in the Centro Storico is unbeatable.

Yes, Hotel Villa Rosa is widely regarded as the most romantic retreat in Cuneo. Perched on a hillside with sweeping views of the Alps, this boutique hotel offers secluded suites with deep soaking tubs, ambient lighting, and custom scent diffusers filled with rose and lavender.

The rooftop terrace features private dining experiences curated by the hotel’s chef—featuring five-course meals paired with premium Barolo wine. Couples can also book a couples’ massage using local herbs and oils, or join a twilight hike to the Castello di Cuneo ruins for stunning sunset views.

On special occasions, the hotel arranges surprise amenities like champagne, handmade chocolates, and a personalized love letter in Italian. With only 12 rooms and no public areas open to non-guests, privacy and intimacy are paramount—perfect for a memorable getaway.

Visitors to Cuneo can immerse themselves in authentic Piedmontese traditions through several distinctive experiences:

• Traditional Pasta Workshop: Join a hands-on class at Cucina del Tempo to learn how to make tagliatelle al ragù using locally milled black wheat flour and slow-cooked meat sauce.

• Autumn Truffle Fair (Fiera del Tartufo): Held every October in the Piazza della Libertà, this event showcases fresh truffles, artisanal oils, and guided truffle-hunting walks with trained dogs.

• Bell Tower Tour: Explore the Church of the Assumption’s ancient clock mechanism and hear the chimes during a guided historical tour—especially magical at dusk.

These activities offer more than sightseeing; they provide a living connection to the region’s culinary, spiritual, and artistic roots.

Seek out Locanda del Sole, a family-run farm-to-table gem tucked away in a quiet alley of the historic district. Run by three generations of cooks, the restaurant sources all ingredients daily from local farms and their own garden.

Signature dishes include slow-cooked lamb stew with wild mushrooms, homemade polenta with aged cheese, and pear liqueur made from estate-grown pears. The menu changes weekly based on harvest availability, ensuring maximum freshness.

With limited seating and no fixed hours, reservations are required at least 72 hours in advance. The rustic interior—with exposed beams, terracotta tiles, and a stone fireplace—creates an intimate, warm atmosphere. Travelers often call it "the soul of Piedmont cuisine" for its honesty, simplicity, and depth of flavor.

Cuneo offers exceptional photography opportunities, especially for those drawn to light, architecture, and storytelling.

• Church of the Assumption: Capture dramatic morning light filtering through stained glass onto white limestone façades—ideal for architectural detail shots.

• Old Town Cobblestone Alleys: Shoot long shadows cast by narrow streets during late afternoon, particularly along Via del Castello, where archways frame perfect compositions.

• Sunset Panorama from Castle Ruins: Hike up to the Castello di Cuneo ruins at golden hour for sweeping views of the city and distant Alps, ideal for wide-angle landscape shots.

• Winter Snowscapes: Visit between December and February when the town is blanketed in snow. The rooftops, stone walls, and church spires become surreal white silhouettes against a gray sky—perfect for dreamy winter photography.

Bring a tripod and wide-angle lens for best results, especially during low-light conditions.

Though not a ski resort itself, Cuneo becomes a magical winter destination with unique seasonal offerings:

• Christmas Market (Mercatino di Natale): Held in Piazza della Libertà, this festive market features wooden stalls selling handmade candles, embroidered textiles, truffle chocolates, and hot mulled wine (Vin Brulé).

• Free Shuttle to Mottarone Ski Area: The local tourism board provides regular shuttles to Mottarone Mountain, where visitors can enjoy downhill skiing, snowshoeing, and scenic gondola rides.

• Nighttime Lantern Parade: On winter evenings, locals gather with handmade paper lanterns, marching through the old town to light up the square—a moving tribute to tradition.

• Fireplace Dinner Experience: Book a private evening at B&B Il Focolare, where you’ll dine by candlelight on slow-cooked game and bread baked in a wood-fired oven, accompanied by folk music.

These events transform Cuneo into a cozy, storybook winter village.

The nearest international airport is Turin Casella Airport (TRN), approximately 70 km from Cuneo, with a drive time of about 1 hour 15 minutes.

For convenience, pre-booked transfers via companies like AutoSicura cost around €60–80 one-way. Alternatively, take a regional train (Trenitalia) from Turin Porta Nuova Station to Cuneo Station, departing hourly and taking roughly 45 minutes. From there, a short bus ride or taxi transfer (€8–12) brings you to the city center.

Once in Cuneo, the historic district is pedestrian-only, so leave luggage at hotels or lockers at the train station. For visitors with mobility needs, many hotels offer wheelchair-accessible entrances and elevators.

Libreria Antiquaria San Giorgio is a must-visit for bibliophiles and artists in Cuneo. Housed in an 18th-century building, this hybrid bookstore and café holds over 30,000 volumes—including rare first editions, antique maps, and illustrated manuscripts on philosophy and Italian literature.

The space includes a quiet reading nook with leather armchairs and floor lamps, perfect for writing or contemplation. Monthly events feature poetry readings, author talks, and workshops on medieval manuscript illumination—where guests learn to paint letters using natural pigments.

Adjacent, Caffè Letterario is a vibrant underground arts hub with graffiti walls, live performances, and open mic nights. It remains open late into the night, attracting young creatives from across Piedmont. These venues reflect Cuneo’s enduring love for knowledge, expression, and cultural preservation.

The highlight of Cuneo’s calendar is the Festa di San Antonio, held annually during the first weekend of May in honor of the town’s patron saint.

Key events include:

• Flower Parade: Colorful floats adorned with fresh blooms and handmade lanterns glide through Piazza della Libertà, symbolizing gratitude and renewal.

• Traditional Costume March: Locals don 19th-century rural attire—handwoven hats, woolen shawls, and hand-stitched boots—performing folk dances with traditional instruments.

• Local Food Stalls: Vendors sell roasted potatoes with cheese, black wheat flatbread (Farinata), and homebrewed beer, with proceeds supporting local charities.

• Evening Torchlight Procession: As dusk falls, residents carry paper lanterns through the streets, culminating in a grand torchlit ceremony at the church.

This festival embodies community spirit, heritage, and joy—offering travelers a genuine taste of rural Italian life.