Isola d'Asti
Discovering Asti
Hello everyone, today I want to talk to you about the beautiful city of Asti. Asti is an Italian municipality with a population of about 73,326 residents and is the capital of the province of Asti, in the region of Piedmont.
Physical geography
Asti is located about 55 kilometers southeast of Turin, in the Tanaro river valley. The city is surrounded by the famous hills of Langhe and Monferrato, known worldwide for wine production. According to the results of the 16th edition of "Urban Ecosystem" by Legambiente, Asti ranks 26th in the virtuous ranking in environmental and ecosystem fields, thanks to the ratio resulting from PM10 values, differentiated waste collection and the ratio of carbon dioxide emissions per public transport passenger. In addition, the city is classified as zone 4 (irrelevant seismicity).
Climate
Asti's climate is protected by the relief and is not influenced by either the Mediterranean Sea or the Atlantic Ocean. The rainiest periods are in April and November, while January is the coldest month, followed by August and, in some years, July. Summer thunderstorms tend to be few but strong. Winter is characterized by scarce precipitation and lower temperatures than the regional average. The general average annual temperature of the last twenty years is 12.7°C, with the warmest month in July and the coldest in January.
History of Asti
Asti has a long and rich history. Roman municipality known as "Hasta", the city became the seat of the Duchy of Asti, Lombard Duchy of Neustria (Lombards), before becoming a free commune in the Middle Ages, with the right to "mint coins". During the 12th and 13th centuries, the city's merchants developed trade and credit throughout Europe, making Asti one of the most important commercial centers of the time.
Tourist attractions in Asti
Asti is famous for many reasons, but the main one is probably the production of its sparkling wine, Asti Spumante. Every year, in September, the Douja d'Or Enological Competition is celebrated, one of the most important wine competitions in Italy. In addition, the city hosts the famous Palio di Asti, one of the oldest events in Italy, which also takes place in September and culminates in a horse race ridden "bareback" (without a saddle).
Asti is also known for its beautiful caryatids, the sculptures of the 25th Chapter of the Asti Cathedral, along with the Ottolenghi Palace, the Piea Castle and the Church of San Secondo.
Wine and food tourism in Asti
It's impossible to talk about Asti without mentioning its excellent wines. Asti produces many famous wines, such as Barbera, Barolo and Barbaresco, but the most famous of all is Asti Spumante. There's something for everyone, from dry white wines to deep reds, accompanied by local culinary delicacies such as Bagna Cauda, Vitel Tonné and Vitello Tonnato.
Conclusions
Asti is a city rich in history, culture and natural beauty. With its scenic hills, famous wine production and fascinating history, Asti is definitely worth a visit. Come and discover the beauty of the Piedmont region and you won't be disappointed.
