Antignano
An introduction to the province of Asti
Hello everyone! Today I would like to talk to you about the province of Asti, one of the provinces of Piedmont, which has approximately 207,700 inhabitants. The provincial capital is Asti, a historic and beautiful city. The province borders the metropolitan city of Turin to the northwest, the province of Alessandria to the east, Liguria (province of Savona) to the south for just 3 km in the municipality of Serole, and the province of Cuneo to the west.
A brief history of the province of Asti
The province of Asti has a rather ancient history. The earliest records date back to 1620, when the province was composed of 42 municipalities, although many of them no longer belong to the current district. In 1622, the province expanded to include 87 municipalities, some of which belonging to the Alba area.
During the period of the French Republic and the Napoleonic Empire, from 1797 to 1814, the province of Asti was part of the Marengo department with the capital of Alessandria. It returned to being a province aggregated to the administrative division of Alessandria after the fall of foreign domination and the restoration of the House of Savoy dynasty in 1814.
From 1842 to 1847, the province of Asti was part of the general intendency of Casale, before being aggregated again to Alessandria until 1859, when the Kingdom of Italy was divided into provinces, districts, mandates, and municipalities. The Asti district was established, which included the same municipalities, forming part of the province of Alessandria with Acqui, Casale Monferrato, Novi Ligure, and Tortona.
The province of Asti was then re-established in 1935, with 105 municipalities and the capital in Asti. After World War II, some municipalities were recognized as autonomous entities and the province reached 120 municipalities.
During its history, the province of Asti has suffered heavy damage from the floods of 1948, 1968, and 1994, which also caused some deaths.
Tourist Attractions
The province of Asti has many tourist attractions, including the city of Asti itself, with its well-preserved historic center and the famous Palio festival, which takes place every year in September. Other interesting towns are Alba, famous for white truffles, and Canelli, the "underground village of wine."
For wine lovers, there are many wineries in the Monferrato area, where some of the best wines in Italy are produced, such as Barbera, Dolcetto, and Asti Spumante.
The province of Asti is also rich in castles and historic palaces, such as the Castello di Costigliole d'Asti, the Castello di Rivoli, and the Palazzo Ghilini in Asti. There are also many museums, including the Civic Museum of Asti and the Horse Museum of Vinchio.
Cuisine and local products
The province of Asti is famous for some typical food products, such as Barbera wine, white truffles, fassona (a type of beef), and Asti biscuits, called "baci di dama." There are also many other culinary specialties to try, such as bagna cauda, a dish made with anchovies and garlic served with vegetables, and "fritto misto alla piemontese," a dish made with mixed fried meats and vegetables.
Events and Festivals
The province of Asti has many events and festivals throughout the year. In addition to the Palio festival of Asti, there are many truffle and wine fairs, such as the International White Truffle Fair of Alba and the Douja d'Or, a wine event in Asti. There are also many music and theater festivals, such as the Festival delle Sagre in Moncalvo and the Asti Teatro theater review.
Conclusions
The province of Asti is a very interesting tourist destination, offering many cultural, food and wine, and natural attractions. If you are in the Piedmont area, I recommend visiting it! I hope this article has been useful and has piqued your interest in the province of Asti. Until next time!
