Asti: Touristic information

Asti
Touristic information about the city, the provinces and localities

Asti
Asti: Main sights
Asti: Events
Asti: Wine
Asti: Food
Localities in the province

Asti

Asti is a city and comune in the Piemonte or Piedmont region, in north-western Italy, about 55 kilometres east of Turin in the plain of the Tanaro River. It is the capital of the province of Asti.

Asti: Main sights

Some sections of the ancient city walls remain on the North side of the city and in the late 20th century building work uncovered a section of Roman wall in the center of the city.
The area to the NW of the city, between the centre and the Cathedral, is very rich in medieval palaces and merchants houses, many with monumental towers. Asti was known as the city of 100 towers (although there were 120 in total) of which several still remain today within the old city walls. The most known are the Tower of the Comentini (13th century), the octagonal Torre de Regibus and Torre Troyana (13th century), as well as the ancient Rossa di San Secondo, built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus.
Asti is the home to several old churches. These include:
the great Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta (built in the 13th century over another Cathedral), one of the biggest in Piedmont, in Romanesque-Gothic style. The monumental belfry is from 1266. the facade is charcterized by three portals, each surmounted by a big rose-window. The interior, with a nave and two aisles, houses a wide cycle of 18th century frescoes, some altarpieces by Gandolfino d'Asti and precious silver artworks from the 15th-16th centuries. The presbytery has a noteworthy mosaic floor, from the pre-existing church. next to the last pilasters of the nave are two 14th century artworks, the funerary seal of bishop Baldracco Malabaila and the equestrian portrait of Arricino Moneta.
the Collegiata di San Secondo (13th century) in the old medieval centre next to the Palazzo Civico. Its name refers to Secundus of Asti, the city's patron saint. The crypt is from the 6th century. The facade has three notable Gothic portals, while the interior houses a polyptych by Gandolfino d'Asti and other works.
Santa Maria Nuova (11th century).
San Martino, first mentioned in 886. The old Gothic edifice was dismantled in 1696 and rebuilt along Baroque lines in 1736.
Sant'Anastasio (8th-12th century), whose museum has some antique capitals and sculptures.
the Baroque church of St. Catherine.
the Baptistery of St. Peter (12th century) is the most important building from the High Middle Ages in the city. It has octagonal plan with a wide dome.
San Pietro in Consavia (15th century), with elegant external decorations. It the seat of the Archaeological Museum, with Roman and Egyptian works.
There is a Synagogue and a museum depicting the history of Asti's Jewish community whose presence is documented since 812.

Asti: Events

One of the most famous events held in Asti is the famous Palio d'Asti, in which all the old town wards, called "Rioni" and "Borghi" plus nearby towns compete in a bare-back horse race. This event recalls a victory in battle versus the rival city Alba, during the Middle Ages after the victorious battle a race was held around Alba's walls, from then on every year in Asti. Asti's Palio is the oldest recorded one in Italy, and in modern times is held in the triangular Piazza Alfieri preceded by a medieval pageant through the old town on the 3rd Sunday of September.

Asti: Wine

The 3 neighbouring Provinces of Asti, Cuneo and Alessandria incorporate the Langhe and Monferrato hill region in the centre of Piedmont, limestone and sandstone deposits laid down by the retreating Adriatic some 5 million years ago, and are home to some of Italy's finest red wines, plus some famous whites. Asti city is in the centre of the area and is the major city of this notable wine district.
Arguably Italy's most important red wines, the renowned Barolo's, and Barbaresco's — are produced in the nearby Langhe, in Cuneo province, nearer to Alba, 30 minutes from Asti. Most of the Monferrato lies in the Province of Asti, and is an equally, though not so famous, important area for the production of fine wines. Perhaps the wine most famously associated with Asti worldwide is the sparkling Asti Spumante (DOCG). The name today is usually shortened to ‘Asti’ in order to avoid associations with the many wines of dubious quality which are labelled as Spumante. Asti is typically sweet and low in alcohol (often below 8%). It is made solely from the moscato bianco white muscat grape. A premium version known as Moscato d'Asti (DOCG) is seldom seen outside Italy.
While Asti province became famous around the world thanks to Martini and Rossi, Gancia and Riccadonna which made commercial wines like Asti Spumante, it is now also becoming famous internationally for its classic red wines such as Barbera d'Asti, Fresia d'Asti, Grignolino d'Asti, Bonarda and Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato. These wines and many others can be sampled during the week-long Douja d'Or wine exhibition which is held at the same time as the Palio and Sagre.

Asti: Food

Asti is also famous for its Festival Delle Sagre, held in September a week before the Palio. During the festival most of the towns in Asti's province meet in a great square called "Campo del Palio", here they offer typical food and wine for which they are known. On the Sunday of the Sagre all the towns involved stage a parade with floats depicting traditional farming with everyone in costume along Asti's roads to reach "Campo del Palio" square.
Asti province becomes a gourmands delight from October to December in the white truffle or "tartufo bianco" season. Although neighbouring Alba is better known for its October truffle fair, some of the best truffles are found around Asti's hills, and every weekend there is a local truffle festival.

Same informations in this page for Asti are based on the site www.wikipedia.org respecting the GNU Free Documentation License.

Asti: other to visit

Agliano Terme
Monferrato