Astigiano

<< Piedmont

The Astigiano is the territory of the Province of Asti. This province is mostly occupied by the hills of Montferrat, while the southernmost part is in the historical region of Langhe. This entire area is famous for its wine-making tradition and for its historic villages among the hills, while the main attractions are in Asti.

Asti

Asti is a city among the hills of the historical region of Montferrat in Piedmont. The town was founded by the Romans on the site of a previous Ligurian settlement, and it remained an important city for centuries. During the Middle Ages, Asti became the seat of a Lombard Duchy and then a bishopric. In the 13th century Asti was among the most powerful comuni in Northern Italy, but later it came under the rule of various local powers before becoming part of the Duchy of Savoy. After a brief revolt against the Savoyard rule in 1797 and a period of French occupation, Asti joined Italy during unification of the country. The city is now well known for wine production, but also for its medieval architecture.

✪ Asti Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

The Asti Cathedral (Duomo di Asti) is the main church in the city and one of the largest churches in Piedmont. The cathedral was built over a previous church in the Late Middle Ages and it is considered among the best examples of Lombard Romanesque and Gothic architecture in Northern Italy. The exterior of the church is adorned with various statues and decorations, while its interior is entirely covered with beautiful frescoes. Next to the cathedral is the Diocesan Museum San Giovanni (Museo Diocesano San Giovanni), which hosts a collection of religious artworks from the Late Middle Ages and the Modern period, along with a 8th-century crypt.

Collegiate Church of San Secondo

The Collegiate Church of San Secondo (Collegiata di San Secondo) is a historic Gothic church erected in Asti in the Late Middle Ages. The church features various decorations on its facade and interiors, with some chapels hosting the banners used during the Palio of Asti, a festival and horse race that has been held since the 13th century. The crypt of this church dates back to the 6th century and it hosts some relics.

Torre Troyana

The Torre Troyana is one of the few remaining medieval towers in Asti, considered a symbol of the city. Built between the 12th and 13th century, the tower is adorned with Ghibelline merlons and it features a 16th-century bell.

Piazza Roma

Piazza Roma is one of the main squares of Asti, located in the center of the city along the long avenue Corso Vittorio Alfieri. Facing the square is the medieval Torre Comentina, while the center of the plaza is adorned with a monument dedicated to the unification of Italy.

Palazzo Mazzetti

Palazzo Mazzetti is a historic palace in the center of Asti. Originally a medieval fortified house, it was later reworked and adorned with Baroque decorations. The richly frescoed halls of the palace now host an art gallery featuring numerous interesting artworks and a collection of archaeological findings.

Crypt and Museum of Sant’Anastasio

The Crypt of Sant’Anastasio is an ancient crypt erected during the Early Middle Ages, and once belonging to a now-demolished church. The crypt is part of a museum which hosts numerous archaeological findings, dating back to the Roman period and the Middle Ages.

Museum of the Risorgimento of Asti

The Museum of the Risorgimento (Museo del Risorgimento) is an exhibit of weapons, unforms, and other objects and memorabilia linked with the military history of Asti. The collection covers a period spanning from the revolt of 1797 until World War II, mostly focused on the Italian Risorgimento and the 19th century.

Palazzo Alfieri

Palazzo Alfieri is the birthplace of poet Vittorio Alfieri, who was born here in 1749. The palace hosts a museum dedicated to the writer, featuring various documents and objects that belonged to Alfieri. The museum also includes some paintings and the original 18th-century furniture of the poet’s house.

Paleontological Territorial Museum of Astigiano

The Paleontological Territorial Museum of Astigiano (Museo Paleontologico Territoriale dell’Astigiano) is a natural history museum hosted in the historic Palazzo del Michelerio in Asti. The museum hosts a collection of thousands of fossils unearthed in the region around Asti, including the skeletons of various ancient marine creatures such as whales and dolphins dating from the Pleistocene.

Church of San Pietro in Consavia

The Church of San Pietro in Consavia is a religious complex erected between the 12th and 14th century in Asti. The most notable area of this site is the octagonal Romanesque baptistery adorned with various sculptures and decorations.

Walls of Asti

Various sections of the ancient defensive walls of Asti still survive to this day. The original walls were erected during the Roman period, and then rebuilt since the Late Middle Ages. Most of the walls were demolished in the 19th century. Among the surviving portions of the ancient walls is the Torre Rossa, now serving as the bell tower of the Church of Santa Caterina. This tower was once part of a Roman city gate and it was reworked in Romanesque style in the 11th century. Close to the Torre Rossa there are also the ruins of a Roman Domus dating from the 1st or 2nd century.

Nizza Monferrato

Nizza Monferrato is a town in the Province of Asti, and one of the most important centers in the historical region of Montferrat. Founded in 1225, it was contested for centuries between local powers, before finally becoming a possession of the House of Savoy. Now it is best known as an important site for wine production, together with the beautiful hills that surround the town.

Palazzo Comunale

Palazzo Comunale is the historic town hall of Nizza Monferrato, located on the main square of the city. Originally built in the 14th century and later reworked, it features a brick facade and a bell tower known by locals as Campanon.

Canelli

Canelli is a town among the hills of Montferrat in the Province of Asti. One of the most important cities in the area since the Late Middle Ages, it is best known for its many vineyards and its rich history of wine production.

Underground Cathedrals

The so-called Undeground Cathedrals (Cattedrali Sotterranee) are a system of underground cellars running for kilometers under Canelli. These unique cellars create the perfect conditions for the fermentation of wine, and millions of bottles are stored here for years. Many wineries in Canelli allow visitors to see their underground cellars.

Castelnuovo Don Bosco

Castelnuovo Don Bosco is a small town located among the hills between Turin and Asti in the Province of Asti. While it features a few historic buildings, the village is best known as the birthplace of Catholic priest and educator Don Bosco.

Colle Don Bosco

Colle Don Bosco is a hill located south of Castelnuovo Don Bosco, hosting a series of places linked with Don Bosco. The area is dominated by the imposing Basilica of Don Bosco, which was built in the 1960s and houses some relics of the Saint. The childhood home of Don Bosco is located nearby, while some of the other buildings near the basilica host a series of museums including one dedicated to the local traditional life.

Albugnano

Albugnano is a small town at the northern end of the Province of Asti. The hamlet is known for offering a great view on the surrounding hills and for the historic abbey located nearby.

Vezzolano Abbey

The Vezzolano Abbey (Abbazia di Vezzolano) is a religious complex located among the hills near Albugnano. While the traditional founding date of the abbey is 773, the oldest documents citing it date from 1095. The church was likely built around this time, and features a blend of Romanesque and Gothic style. Various decorations adorn both the facade and the interiors of the church. Among these are some beautiful medieval frescoes, sculptures, and other artworks.