Asti

Asti is primarily known for its famous sparkling wine. It also produces champagne and Barbera red wine.

Asti’s exquisitely beautiful old town nestles among vine-clad slopes. The town attracts its greatest number of visitors on the second Friday of September for the Douja D’Or wine fair. Awards are presented to Italy's best wines, and afterwards you can try a wide range of delicacies from the region. The main attraction, however, is the palio – the bare-back horse-riding competition that has been held here since 1275.

If you wish, you can cross the market place and take a daily stroll on the Campo del Palio. The Piazza Alfieri is named after the famous dramatist Vittorio Alfieri who was born in Asti in the year 1749. A highly popular antiques market is held in the Piazza San Secondo on every fourth Sunday of the month.

The church of San Secondo stands on the spot where the town's patron saint was martyred (Mon-Sat 10.45 – 12.00, 15.30 – 17.30, Sun 15.30 -17.30). On Corso Alfieri you can admire some of the beautiful patrician palaces, especially the Palazzo Mazzetti, which now houses the Pinoteca Civica with a wonderful collection of works by Piedmontese artists.

The crypt of San Anastasio, discovered in 1907 following the demolition of a baroque church, has a more secretive feel (summer Tue-Sun 10.00 -13.00, 16.00 -19.00, otherwise Tue-Sun 10.00 – 13.00, 15.00 – 18.00).

One of Asti's most beautiful buildings is the Cattedrale SS. Maria Assunta e Gotthardo (daily 08.30 – 12.00, 15.30 – 17.30), whose light-filled interior and exquisite rococo frescoes simply take your breath away. The locals refer to it as 'La Vigna' (the vineyard) on account of the columns painted with vines.