Bra

About Bra

Bra is a town in the province of Cuneo, in Italy’s Piedmont region. It lies in the Roero area, between the Roero hills and the Cuneo plain. Its historic centre is known for its Baroque architecture, including the churches of Santa Chiara and Sant’Andrea. Santa Chiara was designed by Piedmontese architect Bernardo Antonio Vittone and is distinguished by its double-shell dome.

The municipality includes Pollenzo, the site of the ancient Roman settlement of Pollentia. The curved layout of houses in the village centre still follows the outline of the Roman amphitheatre. Bra is also the birthplace of the Slow Food movement, and Pollenzo is home to the University of Gastronomic Sciences. The town hosts Cheese, an international event that brings together cheesemakers and showcases traditional cheesemaking.

Twinning with Bethlehem

On 15 June 2023, Bethlehem Mayor Hanna Hanania and Bra Mayor Giovanni Fogliato signed a twinning agreement at Bethlehem Municipality in the presence of Italy’s Consul General in Jerusalem, Giuseppe Fedele. The agreement builds on earlier joint projects in international volunteering, culture, food, winemaking and tourism. It took effect upon signing for an initial term of 20 years and provides for automatic renewal under the applicable procedures unless the parties indicate otherwise.

The agreement supports cooperation in education, training, intercultural exchange and international volunteering. It calls for cultural and educational exchanges between schools at different levels and supports initiatives involving local institutions, faith communities, sport, the social economy and civil protection. In September 2023, Bra welcomed a Bethlehem municipal delegation during the Cheese event for a meeting on solidarity, friendship and cooperation in Palestine.