START Saluzzo — History and Art
Saluzzo transforms into a sprawling museum of craftsmanship, antiques, and contemporary art
About START Saluzzo
A sprawling museum in the heart of the Monviso area
START — an acronym for History and Art — is the most important cultural event in Saluzzo, a city of art and the ancient capital of the Marquisate in the Province of Cuneo, in southwestern Piedmont, at the foot of Monviso. Every spring, for over two months, the refined medieval historic center transforms into an authentic open-air museum, where historic residences, noble palaces, cloisters, churches, and former barracks open their doors to a program that blends history, ancient, modern, and contemporary art.
The three souls of START: the "three As"
The event is structured around three major exhibitions that engage in a dialogue throughout the spring:
- Craftsmanship — the historic National Craftsmanship Exhibition, one of the oldest in Italy, featuring dozens of master artisans, workshops, and activities for adults and children.
- Antiques — the National Antiques Exhibition, hosted in the evocative setting of La Castiglia, the castle of the Marquises of Saluzzo, with galleries and antique dealers from all over Italy.
- Contemporary Art — a dense calendar of exhibitions, installations, and awards that bring to life Il Quartiere (the former Musso Barracks), Casa Cavassa, and other city venues, in collaboration with organizations such as Paratissima, the Fondazione Garuzzo, and The Blank Contemporary Art.
Historic venues
The START route winds through the most beautiful spots in Saluzzo: Casa Cavassa, a Renaissance jewel and house-museum; La Castiglia, the imposing marquisal castle; Il Quartiere, the former barracks turned cultural hub; the Monastero della Stella; the Teatro Magda Olivero, and various churches and sacristies in the center. A walk through art and heritage that allows you to discover the identity of one of the most fascinating art cities in Piedmont.
Matteo Olivero Prize
Among the most anticipated events is the Matteo Olivero Prize, dedicated to contemporary art and named after the famous Divisionist painter from Saluzzo, which each year selects a winning work to enrich the city's artistic heritage.
An event for the whole region
Promoted by the Municipality of Saluzzo and the Fondazione Amleto Bertoni, START is a regional attraction that invites visitors to experience Saluzzo and the Monviso lands through slow tourism — on foot, by bicycle, along the trails and villages of the Marquisate. In 2026, the event celebrates its tenth anniversary with the guiding theme "Rencontre", the meeting between disciplines, generations, artists, and visitors.
START Saluzzo — edition 2026
The tenth edition of START — History and Art is held in Saluzzo from April 11 to June 17, 2026, with the guiding theme "Rencontre", dedicated to the meeting between disciplines, artists, and visitors. The event confirms its three-fold structure — craftsmanship, antiques, and contemporary art — spread across multiple exhibitions in the city's historic center.
The program opens with the 88th National Craftsmanship Exhibition and continues throughout the spring, interweaving contemporary art exhibitions, antiques, and numerous collateral events throughout the city and the Monviso lands.
Programme START Saluzzo 2026
Craftsmanship (April 11 - May 17)
- 88th National Craftsmanship Exhibition — over 60 artisans between Casa Cavassa, the Scuderie del Quartiere, and historic courtyards, with workshops.
- "Botteghe del fare" (Workshops of doing) — Il Quartiere, Piazza Montebello.
- "L'artigianato che verrà" (The craftsmanship to come) (April 24 - May 3) — Monastero della Stella, curated by Confartigianato Cuneo.
- "Di bosco, di legno, disegno" (Of forest, of wood, design) — Casa Cavassa (until May 17), project by designer Axel Iberti.
The Unveiled City (May 1-3)
- Guided tours, extraordinary openings of private palaces and gardens in the historic center.
Contemporary Art (May 9 - June 18)
- 31st "Saluzzo Arte" (May 9-17) — Il Quartiere, powered by Paratissima, curated by Alessandra Villa, with about 30 emerging and established artists.
- Fondazione Garuzzo — Saluzzo Contemporanea (18th edition): "Un PO di Storia" (April 17 - May 10) and "Tracciando il sentiero" (May 9 - September 13).
- 48th Matteo Olivero Prize — from June, curated by The Blank Contemporary Art (winner: Davide Sgambaro, permanent site-specific work in public space).
Antiques (May 23 - June 2)
- 49th National Antiques Exhibition — La Castiglia, curated by Franco Brancaccio, with galleries and antique dealers from Piedmont, Tuscany, Lombardy, Veneto, and Campania; on display "La Fiera di Saluzzo" by Carlo Pittara (8x4 meter canvas).
Events in the territory
- "La festa degli Spaventapasseri" (Scarecrow Festival) (May 3 and 10) in Castellar.
Highlights START Saluzzo 2026
Prices START Saluzzo 2026
Practical information — START Saluzzo
How to get there
By car: Saluzzo can be reached from the A6 Turin-Savona motorway (Marene exit) or the A33 Cuneo-Asti, continuing along the Cuneo state roads. By train: the Saluzzo station is connected to Savigliano and Cuneo; from Turin, change at Savigliano. By plane: the reference airports are Turin Caselle and Cuneo Levaldigi.
Venues and opening hours
The exhibitions take place in various venues in the historic center (Casa Cavassa, La Castiglia, Il Quartiere, Monastero della Stella). Hours vary by venue: Casa Cavassa is open on weekends and holidays from 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 19:00, and from Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 18:00. It is recommended to check the official website startsaluzzo.it for the updated calendar of each exhibition.
Tips
Saluzzo is an art city to be visited at a leisurely pace: allow at least half a day for the historic center. Take advantage of the event to also discover the surroundings of Monviso and the valleys of the Marquisate.
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Where does it take place — START Saluzzo
Centro storico di Saluzzo (Casa Cavassa, La Castiglia, Il Quartiere, Monastero della Stella)
Via San Giovanni 5, 12037 Saluzzo