CUNEO (Fr. Coni)  , a town and episcopal see of Piedmont, Italy, the capital of the province of Cuneo, 55 M. by rail S. of Turin, 1722 ft. above sea-level . Cuneo lies on the railway from Turin to Ventimiglia, which farther on passes under the Col di Tenda (tunnel 5 m.• long) . It is also a junction for Mondovi and Saluzzo, and has steam tramways to Borgo S . Dalmazzo, Boves, Saluzzo and Dronero . Pop . (1901) 15,412 (town), 26,879 (commune) . Its name (" wedge ") is due to its position on a hill between two streams, the Stura and the Gesso, with fine views of the mountains . The Franciscan church, now converted into a military storehouse, belongs to the 12th century, but there are no other buildings of special interest . The fortifications have been converted into promenades . Cuneo was founded about 1I20 by refugees from local baronial tyranny, who, after the destruction of Milan by Barbarossa, were joined by Lombards . In 1382 it swore fealty to Amedeus VI., duke of Savoy . It was an important fortress, and was ceded by the treaty of Cherasco (1796), with Ceva and Tortona, to the French .

In 1799 it was taken after ten days'

bombardment by the Austrian and Russian armies, and, in 'Soo, after the victory of Marengo, the French demolished the fortifications .