San Martino Alfieri
Welcome to San Damiano d'Asti!
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about San Damiano d'Asti, a town of 8,221 inhabitants located in the province of Asti, in Piedmont. It is only 15 km from the provincial capital of Asti, 45 km from Turin and 50 km from Cuneo. San Damiano d'Asti is a town in the upper Monferrato, almost in the center of the Alfieri Hills, a territory made up of the extreme strips of the Langhe and Monferrato.
Physical Geography
The town extends over a low hill and develops around the historic center, consisting of three main villages: Borgo Rondò to the northeast towards Asti, Borgo Piano to the west and Borgo San Rocco to the south. Among the vineyards of the surrounding hills, there are numerous farmhouses and fractions of the town.
San Damiano d'Asti is crossed by the Borbore stream and other waterways such as the Valmaggiore, Maggiore, Coasso, Blesio, Cravina, Priocca and Sghiarotta streams. The city is classified in zone 4 (irrelevant seismicity) and enjoys a temperate climate, with a maximum limit of heating ignition of 14 hours daily during the period between October 15 and April 15.
History
San Damiano d'Asti has an ancient and interesting history. In 1275, during the conflict between the Republic of Genoa and Charles I of Anjou, the Castles of Gorzano, Castelnuovo, Lavezzole and Marcellengo were conquered and razed to the ground by the people of Asti. In the surrounding areas, a new village was founded in which the villagers of the destroyed villages were forced to live. The settlement took the name of San Damiano from a pre-existing little church dedicated to that saint and from then on always remained faithful to the commune of Asti.
From the mid-fourteenth century, San Damiano d'Asti was annexed to the Monferrato states, following the changing events of the wars between the Visconti of Milan, the princes of Savoy-Acaia and the so-called "preponderance wars" between Spain and France. In 1631 San Damiano d'Asti passed to the House of Savoy, which enfeoffed the Marquises of San Martino d'Agliè and then the Aleramic Counts Carlevaris. Their residence is now the Town Hall. Since then, the history of San Damiano d'Asti coincided with that of the Kingdom of Sardinia first and the Kingdom of Italy later. San Damiano d'Asti was also the city of origin of the noble Roberti di Castelvero family.
Symbols and Honors
The coat of arms, the banner and the flag of the municipality of San Damiano d'Asti were granted by decree of the President of the Republic on March 7, 2001. In 2018, President Sergio Mattarella conferred upon San Damiano d'Asti the title of city in Italy.
Monuments and Places of Interest
The historic center of San Damiano d'Asti is truly surprising. It reflects the original ''Sancti Damiani Oppidum'', the ''villa nova'' built in 1275-1276 by the Genoese Oberto Spinola, then Captain of the People of Asti, as a Roman military camp. Both the castle and the church of San Damiano d'Asti have been the subject of restorations and renovations over the years. The Civic Tower, the Town Hall, and the Triton Fountain are other beauties to admire during a visit to San Damiano d'Asti.
The Cathedral of San Michele Arcangelo, dating back to the eighteenth century, is also a must-see for tourists visiting San Damiano d'Asti. It is located in the central square of the town and was restored in the 1990s.
The surrounding hills are another marvel of the landscape of San Damiano d'Asti. The panorama of vineyards, woods, and fields is a breathtaking spectacle. The area is one of the most famous in Italy for producing fine wines, including Barbera d'Asti, Dolcetto d'Alba, and Barolo. The city is also famous for its typical products, such as Piedmont hazelnuts, cold cuts and cheese.
Conclusions
In conclusion, San Damiano d'Asti is a small hidden gem in the heart of Piedmont. With its ancient history, monuments, breathtaking landscapes, and typical products, this city definitely deserves a visit. I hope to have intrigued you enough to convince you to take a trip to San Damiano d'Asti and discover in person all its beauties!
