Asti

Asti is the provincial capital of one of most important wine areas in Italy and lends its name to some illustrious wines. The city dates to pre-Roman times and still a few ruins remain. In the 10th-13th centuries, Asti rose economically and politically to become one of the most powerful independent cities in Western Italy, with extensive trading rights granted by the Holy Roman Empire.

The old medieval town still maintains many of the historic palaces and towers built by the rich families -Asti was known as the "city of 100 towers". Eventually power struggles between Turin and Milan led to Asti’s demise as an independent city and the city changed hands frequently over a 300 year period until it fell under control of the House of Savoy in 1575, regaining some of its former glory.

The city is divided into the new Baroque town centred around the Piazza Alfieri named after one of Italy’s most famous poets who was born in Asti and the medieval town centred on the Piazza San Secondo with the Romanesque San Secondo Church and Crypt. Today Asti is the main commercial centre of Piedmont's wine area, but still retains a friendly small town feel and is a good base for touring Piedmont. Asti is 40 minutes drive from Turin and one hour from Milan.

Central Asti is quite compact and there is a large and reasonably well preserved historical centre which is easy to walk around. The train station is close to the centre and there are 2 large and convenient parking spaces in the centre at Piazza Alfieri and Campo di Palio. Also parking in the old city at Piazza Roma and Piazza Catena, but be cautious of restricted streets.

Some sections of the ancient city walls remain on the North side of the city and in the late 20th century building work uncovered a section of Roman wall in the center of the city. The area to the NW of the city, between the centre and the Cathedral, is very rich in medieval palaces and merchants houses, many with monumental towers.

Asti was known as the city of 100 towers of which several still remain today within the old city walls. The most known are the Tower of the Comentini, the octagonal Torre de Regibus and Torre Troyana, as well as the ancient Rossa di San Secondo, built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus.