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Asti

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About Asti

Piedmont’s beautiful provincial capital, Asti, is probably best known for its sparkling wines, and annual Palio — the historic bareback horse riding race run through the city’s central square. We think that Asti is a great destination for foodies, wine lovers, those with an interest in historic architecture and picturesque bits of Italy. Our pick of the best places to stay in Asti are on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by rolling vineyard and rural views, as well as in the historic centre of Asti. We’ve discovered some really charming villa conversions — and a palazzo, a castle and a monastery, plus guesthouses and traditional hotels.

Asti sits in the saddle of two hills, Monferrato and Langhe, both covered in vine rows, which are shaded somewhat by their hillside locations, and equate to a requirement to do some of the annual grape harvesting by hand — join in if you fancy it! The location also creates a picturesque backdrop to enjoying the final fruits of all the labour, the Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti wines. Robust red wines are produced around Asti too, in fact around 40% off all Piedmont’s wine comes from this region. You can also find a high percentage of the region’s Michelin-starred restaurants around Asti, including some of the hotel restaurants from our Gurus’ list of the best places to stay in Asti.

The city of Asti has had two golden ages, at least: a medieval boom, which saw the creation of a number of impressive buildings, including the Gothic-style Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, the Romanesque San Secondo Church, and streets worth of impressive merchant’s houses in between; and another especially wealthy period around the beginning of the 17th century, when Asti's second historic centre was built, this time in Baroque style, centring around the Plaza Alfieri. The Plaza Alfieri hosts the dramatic Palio on the third Sunday in September, just after the annual Festival delle Sagre, which celebrates the region’s culinary traditions — the plaza also hosts a food market every week. Asti’s calendar is pretty busy with food festivals… Asti has some impressive Roman ruins too, including a first century Roman amphitheatre, and the original town walls. It’s easy to see why our Gurus have found the best places to stay in Asti both inside and outside the city proper.

The Best Places to Stay in Asti

For Foodies

  • The Sunstar Piemonte is a stunning castle, converted into a 14 room hotel overlooking its own vineyards. This is a romantic spot — the larger rooms have four poster beds, beamed ceilings and wonderful murals — but some of the smaller of its 20 rooms and suites are also affordably priced if you’re saving all your euros for the restaurant, which is known for its locally sourced produce, some from the castle’s own gardens, and outstanding regional menu. And of course it has an excellent wine list. The gardens are also beautiful. This is a perfect spot for foodies, close enough for a pleasant day trip to the vineyards of Barolo and the markets of Alba.

In Asti’s Historic Heart

  • If you want to be in the historic heart of town, consider staying at the Relais Cattedrale, a stylishly converted 18th century palazzo, with seven individually decorated guest rooms, and a seriously romantic atmosphere. Some of the rooms are more ornately, or historically, decorated than others; one has original mosaics, several have four poster beds. All share a peaceful terrace and gardens, and a welcoming lounge filled with inviting books. There’s also a communal dining room.

For Family-Friendly Romance

  • The Relais Sant’Uffizio Wellness & SPA Hotel is a gorgeous, four-star hotel converted from a monastery, that’s divinely elegant with its simplicity, and set in its own grounds. The facilities here are really something: there’s a spa so large it has three distinct zones, the hydropool area, the wet area and the treatment and beauty zone; the restaurant is run by a multi-Michelin-starred chef; the wine cellar is vast, and the hotel offers tastings —along with cooking classes; there’s a beautiful outdoor pool with a sun terrace, and tennis courts surrounded by the hotel’s gardens and grounds. The decor is a lovely blend of historic features and contemporary design, with the Sant’Uffizio suite offering original frescoes and reams of space. Two of the suites are ideal for families.

For a self catering apartment or private villa

  • If you’re looking for a self-catering option browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

  • The closest airport to Asti is Turin Airport, which is about an hour away by road. Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate are also very close: both of Milan’s airports are about an hour and a half away by road. Turin and Milan are also good stations to head for if you want to travel by train.
  • If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
  • Asti can be quite rainy in May and November, so, unless you have a good reason to travel during these months, it might be worth crossing them off your list. The Asti harvest season runs between August and September, so it’s an understandably popular time to visit. The Palio di Asti is usually run on the third Sunday in September. Piedmont is very lively in autumn; pumpkins, chestnuts and hazelnuts grow here, and are harvested as well as the wine grapes, and this is a fantastic time to visit for foodies. The lazier late spring, early summer days are also extremely pleasant, though, and it’s at this time of year that you’ll have the best access to local wine experts and tastings.

Still not sure where to stay?

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Best Hotels in Asti

  • Relais Sant’Uffizio Wellness & SPA Hotel Asti (14030 Cioccaro di Penango) 41 rooms from €112

    Total relaxation  -  Relax and recharge at the peaceful and serene Aquanatura SPA – choose from a host of treatments including massages and wraps
    Weddings  -  Not only an elegant venue for your special day, this stunning hotel has all the facilities you need to make everything perfect
    Spa  -  Aquanatura Spa is divided into different sections including the hydro pool zone, wet area, and massage and beauty area
    Outstanding location  -  Located in Monferrato area known for its cuisine, fine wines and glorious countryside
    TennisSpaRestaurantSwimming PoolGardenPet friendlyParking

    Gorgeous 4* hotel in a restored 16th-century monastery features beautiful rooms and suites blending contemporary décor with historic features. Add an Italian garden, a gourmet restaurant with Michelin chef and first-class spa and you have the perfect recipe for a romantic getaway or family holiday. See More

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  • Relais Cattedrale Asti 7 rooms from €130

    Sights nearby  -  Close to Asti's historic monuments - Cathedral, Baroque Palazzo Ottolenghi, Romanesque Red Tower of San Secondo - and museums
    Full of character  -  Six gorgeous rooms, each with their own unique ambience
    Local markets  -  Good for local colour.
    Romantic  -  Good for couples.
    Garden

    Artfully combining historic features with contemporary chic, this stylish hotel in an 18th-century Palazzo is a haven of peace in the medieval heart of Asti. With seven rooms, each decorated in a different style, it's ideal for romantic getaways. Guests can also enjoy the terrace and large garden. See More

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  • Sunstar Piemonte Asti (Frazione Villa) 20 rooms from €200

    Foodies  -  Over 50 Michelin starred restaurants to choose from in Piedmont, as well s day trips to the vineyards of Barolo
    Sights nearby  -  Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Gottardo di Asti
    Local markets  -  In nearby Alba
    Opulent
    RestaurantSwimming PoolGarden

    Stunning castle hotel overlooking vineyards. The large rooms have four poster beds, murals, beamed ceilings and big bathrooms. Outdoor pool, manicured gardens, terrace and library. Outstanding menu of locally sourced produce, excellent wine list. Ideal for a stop on a foodie trip of the region. See More

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