Book a private tour guide in Asti
The tour of Asti begins in the square where every September takes place the colorful horse race and costume parade, called Palio. Origins of this traditional event are considered to be older than the one in Siena.
Asti, in Italy had a Jewish ghetto, one of the latest to be established in Europe. Many families of this community became, in the XIX century, prominent personalities in town.
For instance, the Ottolenghi family who engaged in urban improvement and built the theatre of Asti, still in use.
Tour of Asti, powerful walled city
The tour of Asti continues in quaint medieval streets where, more than anywhere else, the tour guide is essential to identify hidden elements and artistic decorations that could easily be dismissed as insignificant.
Visit Asti and its imposing Cathedral, the largest Gothic building in Piedmont which boasts a collection of paintings by the local artist Gandolfino da Roreto. He was one of the first in the Piedmont region to bring Renaissance techniques in its works.
Asti spumante and Vittorio Alfieri
The tour of Asti is not just about churches and history but it is a deeper look to man and women who have brought the city to be well known elsewhere. The most famous man born in Asti is arguably Vittorio Alfieri, writer considered to be a point of reference in Italian literature.
On the contrary, Secondo Pia is not a popular name but he was the first man ever to take a photo of the Holy Shroud of Turin. His pictures revealed more details about the relic, unknown until then.
The private tour guide in Asti will finally walk at the feet of the tallest tower in town, Torre Troyana. Located in the elegant Medici’s square, it is surrounded by private buildings in Liberty style. The square is named after a prominent local businessman nicknamed “the king of blue gold”.
Lastly, Asti is home of brands and artists that became particularly popular nation-wide: Saclà, a food factory and Giorgio Faletti, comedian and writer.
Asti spumante, the popular sparkling wine, is not actually produced in the town of Asti, but in the countryside where it is possible to visit renowned wine cellars.
What to see in Asti, Italy
Asti, in Italy, displays museums and archeological sites to keep visitors busy for more than a day. The fascinating 8th century crypt of Saint Anastasio is a treasure trove as well as the ancient San Pietro in Consavia, built to host pilgrims at the time of the Crusades.
On top of that, the tour of Asti can stop at the fossil museum for a look to the full skeleton of a whale found buried in a vineyard in the 1970s. A great choice for families and kids.
Palazzo Mazzetti is home of temporary art exhibitions and scattered around the countryside there are cozy Romanesque churches dating back to XI century.
The tour of Asti, in Italy, reveals the great past of a less-visited town of Piedmont.
