In 1198 on a hilltop in the village of Vico, the inhabitants of several neighboring villages united to form an independent town free from the feudal domination that surrounded them. The town was named Ël Mont ëd Vi (Mount of Vico) after its strategic location. The name eventually became Mondovì.

Mondovì's Independence was short lived due to continual invasions from feudal landlords and powerful clergy. In 1223 the Bishop of Asti officially granted independence to Mondovì which was then being called Mons Regalis (Royal Mountain) in reference to its special status. To this day, the adjective for someone or something from Mondovì is Monregalese, which comes from that era.

The centuries that followed Mondovì's independence saw more wars and invasions. Mondovì ultimately fell to the House of Savoia and remained under their dominion until the unification of Italy in 1871 when Savoia King VIttoria Emanuele II became the first king of the united Italy. Vittorio Emanuele II spent every summer hunting at the Savoia royal palace, Valcasotto, just outside of Mondovì.

In the early 19th century Mondovì developed as an important center for the production of earthenware ceramics. Several manufacturers opened factories in the Monregalese as the demand for ceramics grew. Over the years, a traditional design emerged called "Vecchio Mondovì" which features a galletto (little rooster) with a traditional pizzo blu (blue lace) border. Today, the galetto is one of the symbols of Mondovì.

The Museo della Ceramica was inaugurated in 2010 to house an extensive permanent collection of ceramics from the Monregalese. They have a very informative website in English that details the 200 year history of ceramics production in Mondovì.

Today, the only original manufacturer still in operation is Ved. Besio & Figlio. The company began production in Mondovì in 1842 and is still making hand-painted ceramics featuring their own classic "Vecchio Mondovì" designs.