Asti, Piedmont’s lively provincial capital, is famed for its sparkling wines, medieval palaces, and the thrilling Palio horse race in Piazza Alfieri. If you’re here for history and nightlife, the city centre brims with boutique hotels tucked inside elegant palazzi. For vineyard views and a slower pace, countryside villas and charming farmhouse stays are perfect. Whether you want a budget-friendly guesthouse, a stylish design hotel, or a luxurious castle retreat, Asti offers something unforgettable for every traveller.

The city itself wears its history beautifully, with Gothic and Romanesque churches, medieval merchant houses, and a grand Baroque centre around Piazza Alfieri. This square comes alive during the Palio in September, a thrilling horse race that follows the food-filled Festival delle Sagre, and it also hosts weekly markets. Add in Roman ruins, a first-century amphitheatre, and lively food festivals throughout the year, and Asti offers plenty of reasons to linger — whether in the heart of town or among the vineyards just beyond. It’s the birthplace of sparkling Asti Spumante and sweet Moscato d’Asti, though the region also produces robust reds that make up nearly half of Piedmont’s wine. With that much fine wine flowing, it’s no surprise that Asti also boasts an impressive number of Michelin-starred restaurants, many tucked into the city’s best hotels.