| Asti | |
 | |
| State | Italy |
|---|---|
| Region | Piedmont |
| Capital | Asti |
| Tourism site | |
Asti is a historical territory of the Piedmont hills.
To know
The Asti area is a soft hilly area located between the Torinese plain is that Alexandrina. It is the natural continuation of the Langhe that surround it to the south. These hills are a region of great wines and sweet landscapes that range from the rows of vines to the villages perched on the high hills. The territory is dotted with medieval churches and manors where you can still savor the history that has marked these places for centuries. The whole territory orbits around the city of Asti, which has always been a very important political and military capital which, for this reason, retains signs of great prosperity. The Asti area offers tourists countless possibilities: outdoor excursions, visits to museums, towers and castles, stops in the many wineries of the area, sports activities and a very rich gastronomic heritage.
When to go
Each season can be suitable for visiting this area, but it is advisable to plan the visit in conjunction with one of the many cultural and gastronomic events that take place every year, usually in spring and autumn.
Territories and tourist destinations
Astigiano: full screen map.Urban centers
- 1 Aramengo - Surrounded by dense woods, home of truffles, the town is located in the extreme north of the territory. Of interest is the late Baroque church dedicated to Sant'Antonio Abate.
- 2 Asti - The city is the heart and summit of the whole Monferrato. Universally known for its wines and sparkling wines and for its excellent food, Asti also offers many artistic and cultural testimonies, typical of the ancient medieval villages. The Middle Ages also left great manifestations in the traditions of the city, such as the Palio, which has been taking place in September for more than eight hundred years.
- 3 Canelli - This town, surrounded by large vineyards, is one of the major producers of Asti Spumante: its territory has been declared heritage ofUNESCO, becoming part of the "Wine Landscapes of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero is Monferrato". The cellars for wine production are real underground cathedrals, dug into the limestone rock.
- 4 Cocconato - Declared one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, is a renowned food and wine center. The historic center preserves precious testimonies of Italian Gothic, such as the Palazzo Comunale.
- 5 Mombaruzzo - Soft amaretti are produced here and can be tasted in the many pastry shops in the center. The main monument of the town is the Church of Sant'Antonio Abate, founded by the Benedictine monks
- 6 Montechiaro d'Asti - Small rural village with important medieval testimonies such as the ancient civic tower that gives access to the village. Not far from the town stands the small church of San Nazario and San Celso, in Romanesque style, isolated in the fields.
- 7 Montiglio Monferrato - The town is dominated by a small fifteenth-century castle in whose park there is the chapel of Sant'Andrea which preserves precious Gothic frescoes. The truffle fair is held every year.
- 8 Nizza Monferrato - It was an important trading center for silk weaving. The town is famous for the exclusive production of hunchback thistle, an ingredient in bagna cauda. In the old town center there is the bell tower of the Town Hall, called "el Campanon" ("the Campanone").
- 9 It rains Massaia - Ancient rural village, which preserves the remains of an ancient one ricetto. In the upper part of the town is the church of Saints Peter and George with a massive Baroque dome.
- 10 San Damiano d'Asti - It is the second city of Asti and still retains the layout of the original village with the ancient ramparts today transformed into characteristic tree-lined avenues. Of interest are the church of San Giuseppe, an excellent example of Piedmontese baroque.
- 11 Vinchio - It is located on a hilly complex that is part of the Sarmassa Valley Reserve established for the protection of a wood of centuries-old oak and chestnut trees. Various wines are produced there, including Barbera d'Asti.
How to get
By plane
The nearest airports are:
- Turin-Caselle Airport, distance about 80 km (1h). Buses and trains leave from the airport to the Porta Nuova railway station in Turin, where you can take the train to Asti.
- Cuneo-Levaldigi Airport
From the airports you can reach the area by renting a car, which is then useful for visiting the Asti countryside, or by shuttle and train.
By car
- From Milan and northern Italy: take the A7 Milan - Genoa and a Tortona pass on the A21 for Asti.
- From Rome and from the south of Italy: take the A1 up to Piacenza and then go onto the A21 for Asti.
On the train
The main station in the area is Asti which is located on the Turin-Alessandria-Genoa line. The connections with Turin and Alessandria are frequent, every 30 minutes, those with Genoa every 60 minutes. From Milan it is necessary to change to Alexandria or Voghera.
How to get around
To better enjoy these wide landscapes, it is advisable to move by car or motorbike through the winding roads that run through these hills.
What see
- 1 Santa Maria di Vezzolano, @[email protected]. It is one of the most important medieval monuments in Piedmont, located in the municipality of Albugnano. The interior is of Romanesque-Gothic style with French and Lombard influences. It currently consists of two naves, central and left, as the right one was confiscated in the cloister in the second half of the 13th century. The vaults are pointed with ribbed arches.
- 2 Church of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice of Viatosto. It is located on the hills not far from the city of Asti. The building blends Romanesque and Gothic elements that harmonize perfectly with the previous structures. From the churchyard, it is possible to admire a splendid view of the city.
What to do
Food and wine and cultural tourism is one of the engines of the local economy, and the events related to it are many. Above all, for example, the Festival delle Sagre in Asti should be mentioned.
- Astesana - Wine Route. It is a path that winds through the southern part of the province and touches all the most important towns and the best wineries, wine bars and farmhouses.
At the table
Among the best typical products of Asti can be included the robiola di Roccaverano and the Muletta (a large salami made of bacon, fillet, leg, boned and defatted shoulder). Among the fruit and vegetables of the area we include thistle, widely used in the preparation of the typical dish par excellence, bagna cauda (or caôda), chillies and grape mustard. The presence of delicious and sought-after white truffles and Piedmont hazelnuts is abundant. Typical dishes of Asti's gastronomy are risotto and tajerìn (or tajarìn).
Drinks
Among the best wines of Asti, Barbera, Moscato and Grignolino are the flagships of its hills. Freisa is also important.
