Asti City Guide

Asti is a delightful town to visit from the Spring through to Autumn, but the best month for visitors is undoubtedly September, when the whole area is alive with food and wine festivals.

The Palio of Asti  with its colourful and vibrant processions, takes place on the 3rd Sunday of September each year, and actually predates the Palio of  Siena.
The Sagre local food festival and the Douja d’Or International Wine Festival also take place in Asti during the month of September.

Asti has a charming historic centre with many art filled churches, pleasant squares and some splendid period houses and palaces, most notably in Corso Alfieri. 
The entrance porch of the Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral features some delightful carvings and much of the church’s interior is decorated with 18th century frescoes.

Asti is home to no less than twelve towers from various periods in its history.  The Torre Romano dates from the 1st century, and Piazza Medici is home to the 13th century Torre Troyana, one of the region’s best preserved medieval towers.

Asti is widely famed for its food and wine and there are many good restaurants, nearly all of which feature traditional, locally sourced, Piemontese cuisine.
The famous Italian Aperitivo is also very much in evidence with many bars serving a fabulous spread of delicious nibbles and snacks with your pre –dinner drink.
 
The twice weekly markets in Asti take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The hotels, personally selected for our Asti City Break Programme, offer excellent standards of accommodation and service, and are conveniently located in the heart of the city. 
Alternatively you may choose to stay in one of our fabulous properties found in one of the small Monferrato towns surrounding Asti.

Your City Break will be tailor made to your own personal requirements and we offer the option to add a few days at the seaside, in the mountains or in the delightful Piedmont countryside – all within easy reach of Asti.

Things to see in Piedmont

Abbey of Santa Maria di Vezzolano

Visit the impressive 11th century Abbey of Santa Maria di Vezzolano in Albugnano and some of the numerous Romanesque churches present in the immediate local area.

Santuario di Crea and surroundings

The Santuario di Crea is located in a Nature Reserve, at an altitude of 455m.    Inside the park, a path connects the 26 small chapels which lead finally to the unique and newly restored Paradiso Chapel.  The construction of the complex started in 1500, but all the chapels had their frescoes renewed during the 19th century. 

Visit some of the many picturesque local towns:

Cocconato is an elegant medieval town, Moncalvo is celebrated for the works of the artist Guglielmo Caccia (1568 – 1625), Piova Massai has the region’s best Baroque church, and Murisengo and Villadeati are both dominated by castles.

Travel south of Asti to the famous Langhe wine growing area and visit the towns of Alba and some of the regions magical hill top towns.

The town of Barolo gives its name to the most famous of Piedmont’s red wines and is also home to a small wine museum. Serralunga is amongst the the Langhe’s most striking villages – thanks to the majestic Castello Falletti.

On a clear day enjoy the spectacular views from La Morra, a town with a charming medieval centre.

Saluzzo and Surroundings

Saluzzo is one of Italy’s most beautiful small towns and the nearby Abbazia di Staffarda, dating from 1150, is an amazingly well preserved medieval/Romanesque  ensemble.
The Saluzzo valleys offer picturesque villages and ample opportunities for walking with the magnificent Montviso as a backdrop.

Turin

Enjoy a day out in Turin, the region’s capital.  Turin is a city of grace and charm with superb Baroque architecture, excellent museums and art galleries, and fabulous historic coffee shops, all set against dramatic Alpine scenery.

We will supply you with our comprehensive guide to the city of Asti and surrounding area which will give you all the guidance and information that you need to make the most of your time in Italy.

We include maps, local information and well researched sightseeing itineraries, as well as indications as to the best places to eat and drink.