Synagogue of Cuneo
The Synagogue of Cuneo is a historic Jewish house of worship in the old city centre of Cuneo, Piedmont, bearing witness to the centuries-long presence of a Jewish community in the Cuneese area. Rebuilt and remodelled in the early nineteenth century, the synagogue preserves a richly decorated interior with carved wooden furnishings and a traditional Sephardic-Piedmontese liturgical layout, and stands as one of the finest examples of synagogue architecture in the Piedmont region.
At a glance
- Type
- Synagogue (Jewish house of worship)
- Period
- Jewish community documented in Cuneo from the 15th century; present building largely 18th–19th century
- Style
- Piedmontese Baroque interior with neoclassical elements
- Location
- Via Mondovì 18, 12100 Cuneo CN, Piedmont, Italy
- Coordinates
- 44.3921° N, 7.5525° E
Overview
The Synagogue of Cuneo occupies a historic building in the Jewish quarter of the old town and is one of the best-preserved synagogues in Piedmont. The community that sustained it traces its roots to Jewish merchants and moneylenders who settled in Cuneo under the House of Savoy, with documented presence from at least the fifteenth century. Today the synagogue is a place of memory and cultural heritage, occasionally open to visitors as part of the wider network of Piedmontese Jewish heritage sites managed by the local Jewish community.
History
Jewish families settled in Cuneo under Savoyard rule, where they were permitted to reside in a designated quarter and engage in moneylending and trade. Following the emancipation of Italian Jews after 1848, the community flourished and invested in renovating its synagogue to its current appearance. The building was damaged during the Second World War and subsequently restored, and it remains an active reminder of a community that was nearly destroyed during the Nazi-Fascist persecution of 1943–1945.
What you see
The interior of the synagogue follows the traditional Piedmontese layout, with the bimah (reading platform) positioned at the centre of the hall and the Aron ha-Kodesh (sacred ark) facing east towards Jerusalem. Carved wooden furnishings, ornamental stucco work, and textile decorations typical of the Piedmontese Jewish tradition adorn the space. The building also contains a small museum section documenting the history of the Jewish community of Cuneo and its surrounding valleys.
Cultural significance
The Synagogue of Cuneo forms part of the broader network of Piedmontese synagogues — including those of Mondovì, Saluzzo, Cherasco, and Turin — that together constitute an exceptional concentration of Jewish heritage in a single Italian region. These buildings testify to the unique history of Piedmontese Jewry under the House of Savoy and are collectively recognised as a major itinerary of Jewish cultural tourism in northern Italy.
Practical information
- Address
- Via Mondovì 18, 12100 Cuneo CN
- Opening hours
- Check official website or contact the Jewish Community of Cuneo for visit arrangements
- Admission
- Check official website
Getting there
Cuneo is served by train from Turin (approximately 1 hour 15 minutes) and by regional bus services. The synagogue is located in the historic centre of Cuneo, within walking distance of the main railway station (approximately 10–15 minutes on foot). The area is also accessible by car via the A6 Turin–Savona motorway (exit Fossano, then regional road to Cuneo) or the A33 Cuneo bypass.
Sources & resources
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