The Citadel is located at the highest point of Mondovì, on the South side, in one of the most beautiful spots of Piazza. Until 1573, here you would have found buildings, convents, the Dominican Church and the Parish Church of Saint Donato, which became a cathedral in 1388 when Mondovì became a diocese and a city. Between 1573 and 1576 Duke Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy decided to build a military fortress here and all the buildings were demolished against the wishes of the city. Military engineer Ferrante Vitelli didn’t completely demolish the Saint Donato Cathedral, but rather integrated some parts of it into the fortifications. Having become headquarters for the Galliano barracks, it hosted the Alpine troops and, in more recent years, the finance police students.