Asti

Access

Asti, located in the Piedmont region, is easily accessible thanks to its strategic position along important communication routes. The city is mainly served by the Turin-Caselle airport, located about 50 km away, which is the nearest airport for domestic and international flights. An alternative, although further away, is the Milan-Malpensa airport.
For those travelling by train, Asti is a well-connected railway hub. The city's main station, located along the Turin-Alessandria-Genoa line, provides quick access to the main centres in Piedmont and northern Italy. Rail connections include regional and intercity trains, offering diversified options for business and leisure travellers.
By car, Asti is easily accessible thanks to the motorway, which connects it directly to Turin, Alessandria and Piacenza. This motorway artery, integrated with the and the , offers quick access from both west and east. The provincial road network is extensive, with well-maintained state and provincial roads that pass through the surrounding areas, connecting the city centre with neighbouring municipalities and rural areas. This road system makes it easy to explore the surrounding area, known for its wine and landscape.
In general, the combination of rail, motorway and air transport makes Asti an easily accessible destination and well connected to the rest of Piedmont and northern Italy.

Introduction

Asti, located in the middle valley of the Tanaro river in Piedmont, is a city with a rich historical and cultural heritage. Lying between the confluences of the Borbore and Versa torrents, this town is spread over a flat and hilly area, with an urban centre that has preserved its ancient medieval charm. Known for its importance in the wine sector, Asti is also a cultural and tourist reference point.

Description

The territory of Asti is characterised by a varied landscape that alternates gentle cultivated hills with vineyards, agricultural fields and urban areas. The Tanaro river flows through the city, giving it a unique natural identity and providing a valuable landscape context. The historical centre, known as the 'Recinto dei Nobili', rises in the highest part of the city, once surrounded by medieval walls. The surrounding hills offer panoramic views and are home to nature reserves such as Valleandona and Valle Botto, which contain important palaeontological remains.
Asti's origins date back to Roman times, when it was known as Hasta. Having become a municipality, it was a strategic point in the control of communication routes. Over the centuries, the city went through phases of economic prosperity, thanks to trade and banking activities, and of difficulties, marked by political disputes between Guelphs and Ghibellines and occupations by various powers. Asti was a nerve centre during the medieval period and an active free commune. The dominion passed successively to the Angevins, the Orléans, the Visconti and the Savoys, who contributed to its development until it became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia.
In economic terms, Asti is internationally famous for the production of quality wines, including Moscato d'Asti and Asti Spumante. The wine sector is the core of the local economy, flanked by the cultivation of cereals and vegetables, and the rearing of Piedmontese cattle. Industry has developed around the food, engineering, textile and chemical sectors, integrating with a solid agricultural tradition. Food and wine tourism, strongly linked to the promotion of DOC wines, is a further pillar of the local economy.
Asti's culture and traditions are deeply rooted in popular celebrations and artistic events. September is the month dedicated to local festivals, including the Palio di Asti, a horse race with roots in the Middle Ages, and the Festival delle Sagre, celebrating the area's gastronomic tradition. Events such as Astiteatro and Asti Musica enrich the city's cultural scene. Asti is also the birthplace of illustrious personalities such as the poet Vittorio Alfieri, whose house is now a museum.
The city and its surroundings offer numerous opportunities for hikers and nature lovers. Asti's hills are ideal for walks and wine tourism routes, while the surrounding villages preserve fascinating historical and architectural evidence. Asti itself is known as the 'city of a hundred towers' for the many medieval buildings still standing, including the Troyana Tower and the Regibus Tower. Art and history enthusiasts can visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Baptistery of St. Peter and the Alfieri and Mazzetti palaces, which house art collections and museums of national importance. 
This combination of history, culture, landscapes and traditions makes Asti a destination of great interest for travellers and scholars, who can discover an area rich in authenticity and charm.

Information

Area: 151.31 sq km
Altitude: 123m
Maximum elevation:
Number of inhabitants: 76173
Name in dialect: Ast
Inhabitant name:Astesi, Astigiani
Patron Saint: Saint Second (first Tuesday in May)
Website: www.comune.asti.it
Webcam:
Bordering municipalities: Azzano d'Asti, Baldichieri d'Asti, Calliano, Castagnole Monferrato, Castell'Alfero, Castello di Annone, Celle Enomondo, Chiusano d'Asti, Cinaglio, Cossombrato, Isola d'Asti, Monale, Mongardino, Portacomaro, Refrancore, Revigliasco d'Asti, Rocca d'Arazzo, San Damiano d'Asti, Settime, Tigliole, Vigliano d'Asti
 Villages and hamlets: Beccati, Bramairate, Bricco Fassio, Bricco Roasio, Ca' dei Coppi, Caniglie, Canova, Casabianca, Castiglione, Migliandolo, Mombarone, Mongardino Stazione, Montegrosso Cinaglio, Montemarzo, Poggio d'Asti, Portacomaro Stazione, Quarto, Quarto Superiore, Revignano, Rioscone, San Grato di Sessant, San Marzanotto, San Marzanotto Piana, Santo Spirito, San Vito - Poggio, Serravalle, Sessant, Torrazzo, Trincere, Vaglierano, Valenzani, Valfea, Valgera, Valle Andona, Valle Tanaro, Valmaggiore, Valmairone, Valmanera, Valterza, Variglie, Valbella, Viatosto