Gentle hills alternate with valleys to create landscapes of unique beauty, and vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see, to provide a kaleidoscope of shades and tones.

Asti is a comune located in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, about 55 kilometres (34 miles) east of Turin in the plain of the Tanaro River. The Province of Asti lies at the heart of Piedmont and borders Liguria in the south.  This mostly hilly territory stretches across Monferrato and a small area of the Langhe and the Langa Astigiana, and is traversed by the Tanaro River.  It is the capital of the province of Asti and it is deemed to be the modern capital of Montferrat.

HIGLIGHTS

Just 30km apart, Asti and Alba were fierce rivals in medieval times, when they faced off against each other as feisty, independent strongholds ruled over by feuding royal families. These days the two towns maintain a friendly rivalry – stately but workaday Asti sniffs at Alba’s burgeoning glamour – but are united by viticulture. Asti is famed for sparkling white Asti Spumante wine made from white muscat grapes, though it is actually made in Canelli and other nearby areas.

The Asti area is a wine producer par excellence and the home of Asti Spumante DOCG (sparkling wine), renowned and exported all around the world. While the hills offer wonderful landscapes, the various reserves have their own beauty, such as the Rocchetta Tanaro Natural Park, the Special Natural Reserve of the Andona,Botto and Grande Valleys, and the unique WWF Oasis of Forteto della Luja, which includes a beautiful stretch of the Langa, lying on the banks of the Luja stream. 

Within this stunning natural scenery lie towns of Medieval origins, such as Canelli, Nizza Monferrato and San Damiano d’Asti, or small but evocative Medieval borgoes in the hills, like Moncalvo, Roccaverano and Costigliole.
Along the ancient Via Francigena, it is still possible to see wonderful Medieval parish churches and abbeys, while the monuments of Asti’s historic center testify to the golden age of the Asti when it was a free comune(11th to 14th Centuries).
Folkloric events, the local cuisine based on traditional recipes and the local produce never fail to delight visitors.

Main sights

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.

he Asti area is rich in history, tradition and works of art, and should be thoroughly explored.
The first stage of any tour must be Asti, one of the most important cities of art in Piedmont and birthplace of Vittorio Alfieri, the famous 18th century poet and dramatist. The old town is picturesque and charming, opening onto the triangular shaped Piazza Alfieri, where the town’s famous Palio (horse race) is staged. 
Among the architectural landmarks are noble palaces, towers and ancient churches, and the magnificent Gothic Cathedral. 

The northern part of the territory offers a fascinating route retracing the ancient Via Fracigena to discover quaint towns, such as Cortazzone with its Romanesque church, Montechiaro with the Santi Nazario e Celso church, Passerano Marmorito with its castle and Cocconato. The Medieval churches surrounded by the countryside of Asti are enchanting, such as the Church of San Lorenzo in Montiglio and the Abbey of Santa Maria di Vezzolano in Albugnano, one of the best examples of the Romanesque style in Piedmont. 
All over the territory there are imposing castles, ancient dwellings of local nobles, such as the Castigliole d’Asti castle, which every year hosts the “asta del barbera” (Barbera wine auction). Of particular interest is also the majestic Gancia Castle – visits inside are not allowed – overlooking Canelli, which is famous for the production of Asti Spumante. 

In this land, turned over to viniculture, the museums of rural life are worth visiting, such as the Museum of Ancient Trades in the splendid Castle of Cisterna d’Asti and the “Museo Bersano delle Contadinerie e delle Stampe Antiche” (a museum of old peasant ways and antique prints relevant to wine history) in Nizza Monferrato.
An important religious center is Castelnuovo Don Dosco, where the Colle don Bosco is located, the birthplace of Saint Giovanni Bosco; the sanctuary dedicated to him draws pilgrims from all over the world. 

The area to the northwest of the city, between the centre and the cathedral, is 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, among them, the Tower of the Comentini (13th century), the octagonal Torre de Regibus and Torre Troyana (13th century), as well as the ancient Torre Rossa, built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus.

Asti is the home to several old churches. These include:

• Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (built in the 13th century over another Cathedral), one of the biggest in Piedmont, in Romanesque-Gothic style. The monument belfry is from 1266. the façade is characterized by three portals, each surmounted by a big rose-window. The interior, with a nave and two aisles, houses a 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.
• Collegiata di San Secondo (13th century) in the old medieval centre next to the Palazzo Civico. It is dedicated to the city’s patron saint, Secundus of Asti. The crypt is from the 6th century. The façade 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.
• Santa Caternina Baroque church
• Baptistery of San Pietro(12th century) 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.

Events

One of the most famous events held in Asti is the famous Palio di 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.

Wine

The three neighbouring Provinces of Asti, Cuneo, and Alessandria incorporate the Langhe and Monferrato Hills 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 most known red wines, plus some white ones.

Asti is the center of production of the sparkling Asti (DOCG, often known as Asti Spumante). Asti is typically sweet and low in alcohol (often below 8%). It is made solely from the moscato bianco white muscat grape. Other wines include a premium version known as Moscato d’Asti (DOCG) and the red Barbera.

The first products from the province of Asti to become known internationally are Martini and Rossi, Gancia and Riccadonna, which made commercial wines like Asti Spumante; red wines such as Barbera d’Asti, Freisa d’Asti, Grignolino d’Asti, Bonarda, Grignolino and Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato are also becoming widespread worldwide. 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.

The first documentation on the variety Freisa d’Asti are from the beginning of the 16th century.

Food

Asti is also famous for its Asti’s Festival of Festivals, 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 gourmand’s 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.