This medieval town in Piedmont has an 11th-century cathedral, historic palazzos, and is at the center of Italy's wine region, known for Barbaresco and Asti Spumante.
Asti, a city in Italy's Piedmont region, sits 55 kilometers east of Turin amid rolling hills and vineyards. In the medieval center, you can climb the 44-meter Torre Troyana for city views, walk past ancient Roman walls, or join thousands of spectators for the September Palio horse race. Stop at local bars to taste the city's famous Asti Spumante wine, or step inside the Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta to see its vibrant 18th-century frescoes depicting biblical scenes.
The Medieval Towers of Asti
Between the city center and cathedral, you'll find medieval towers that earned Asti its nickname "City of 100 Towers". You can climb the 44-meter Torre Troyana for panoramic views of the surrounding wine country. The Torre Rossa, built during Emperor Augustus's reign, still stands with its original Roman brickwork. During the Middle Ages, wealthy merchant families built these towers both for defense and to display their status.
Wine Production and Tasting
The hills around Asti produce several distinctive wines. When you visit local wineries, you'll taste Asti Spumante, made from moscato bianco grapes, known for its sweet flavor and light bubbles. Try the full-bodied Barbera d'Asti red wine or sample Moscato d'Asti, a sparkling wine with 5.5% alcohol content. In Canelli, 30 kilometers south of Asti, you can tour underground wine cellars carved into limestone hills.
The Historic Palio di Asti
On the third Sunday of September, you can watch Italy's oldest recorded horse race, the Palio. Riders from fourteen city districts and seven nearby towns race bareback through Piazza Alfieri. Before the main event, 1,200 people walk through the streets in authentic medieval costumes. The parade includes flag throwers, musicians, and riders in armor.
Religious Architecture
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta rises above the city with its 13th-century Romanesque-Gothic design. Inside, look up to see 18th-century frescoes covering the ceiling and walls. The treasury contains silver crosses and chalices from the 15th and 16th centuries. At the Collegiate Church of San Secondo, you'll find paintings by local artist Gandolfino d'Asti. Visit the San Pietro in Consavia complex to see its scale model of Jerusalem's Holy Sepulcher.
Seasonal Food and Festivals
From October to December, restaurants add fresh white truffles to local dishes. While searching for truffles, join a guided hunt with trained dogs in the surrounding woods. During the September Festival of Festivals, you can taste traditional foods from towns across the province in Campo del Palio square. Local restaurants serve regional specialties like hand-cut tajarin pasta, which chefs often top with shaved white truffles during autumn.
