Piemonte: Asti

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Asti is an important wine center. It is a truly lovely city. The largest square in town is the Piazzo del Campo del Palio. Each September there’s a medieval horse race/Palio similar to the one in Siena (in Tuscany). The Piazza Cattedrale is a grand square with a 14^th century Romanesque/Gothic cathedral. The façade is brick and inside there are Baroque paintings. The bell tower/campanile dates to the 13^th century. The Battistero di San Pietro (10^th century) is Romanesque in style. The San Pietro in Consavia (church) has terracotta adornment on the façade and cloisters and frescoes on the inside. The Collegiata di San Secondo (Asti’s patron saint) is a 13^th century church with frescoes. The statue you see in Piazza Alfieri is of Vittorio Alfieri (the poet/dramatist). You’ll see many towers around town – erected in a family’s honor – many are still standing. There’s a market Monday through Saturday in Asti.