Asti

The town of Asti has Roman origins as evidenced by some sections of the ancient city walls in the Northern part of the city. Recently, a section of the Roman walls has been found in the centre of the city. The Medieval age saw the peak of the town's splendour since Asti became an important commercial and financial centre and many towers and palaces were built. Asti was besieged by many rulers such as Monferrato, Visconti, Orleans and in 1574 became part of the Savoy domination. The area to the North West of the city, between the centre and the Cathedral, is very rich in medieval buildings and merchants houses, and many of them have monumental towers. Asti was known as the city of 100 towers (although there were 120 in total) of which several still remain today within the old city walls. The most famous are Torre Asinari, Torre Comentina, Torre and Palazzo Gazzelli also known as Ponte di Lombriasco, Torre De Regibus, Torre Guttuari, Torre and Palazzo Natta, Torre Quartero, Torre Rossa, Torre Solaro, Torre Troyana. Other important artistic and cultural sights are: Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta (Cathedral), Collegiata di San Secondo (Collegiate Church), San Pietro in Consavia, Chiesa di Santa Maria Nuova, Chiesa di Santa Caterina, Chiesa and Santuario di Nostra Signora Porta Paradisi (Madonna del Portone, Church and Sanctuary), Chiesa di San Paolo, Chiesa di San Martino, Chiesa di San Rocco, Chiesa parrocchiale di Viatosto (Parish Church), the Synagogue and the Jewish Museum, Palazzo Alfieri, Palazzo Malabaila, Palazzo Mazzola (Municipal Historical Archive), Palazzo Ottolenghi, Palazzo del Podestà or Town hall, Palazzo Civico, Domus Romana, Palazzo Mazzetti, Palazzo Verasis-Asinari, Palazzo Zoya. Asti is famous all over the world for its sweet wines produced in the nearby hills. The main grape is Moscato Bianco (Whithe Muscat) or Moscato di Canelli (Canelli Muscat) used for the production of the famous spumante (sparkling wine), for passito wines and also for "still" wines. But perhaps the most famous wine frequently associated with Asti worldwide is the sparkling Asti Spumante (DOCG). Also important is the production of Malvasia nera and the Brachetto grapes. In 1999, the first Piedmontese Wine Route was founded in Asti known as Astesana Wine Route with 8 itineraries through 52 municipalities located in the Asti Province and in the Langhe area.