Mini Hotel

Industry and Agriculture

by JLBG

The building of the Camera di Commercio (Trade Chamber) has nothing exceptional and would not be worth a photo had it not two white marble statues on each side of its main entrance. They are clad in a Roman looking tunic. The one of the left holds a heavy hammer, resting on a cogwheel. The other holds an armful of vegetables. They obviously mean Industry and Agriculture, standing together for Trade !

Vittorio Alfieri

by JLBG

Vittorio Alfieri, birth in Asti in1749, death in Florence in1803, was a poet and drama writer. He is among the top Italian writers of all times.

Quotes from Vittorio Alfieri
"The true courage is not to die but to live"
"Coups, even when they succeed, have most often ill consequences as they were built against a tyrant but not against tyranny."
"Under tyranny, fears of everybody build the cowardice of most"

Visit a Wine Cooperative

by TRimer

We visited the Viticoltori Associati Vinchio-Vaglio Serra in Vinchio to sample and purchase wines. The cooperative association was created on February 26, 1959 by 19 vine-growers from Vinchio and Vaglio Serra. It counts now 224 members, who are owners and tenants of about 320 hectares of vineyard. These vineyards are concentrated for the most part in Vinchio and Vaglio Serra. Only a resctricted part is situated in the neighbouring villages (Incisa Scapaccino, Cortiglione, Nizza Monferrato).

The cooperative is unusual as the wines are stored in large metal containers that look like gasoline pumps. Locals can come with large containers and fill up with wine by the liter.

The wines are very good. The Vigne Vecchie Barbera D'Asti Superiore is one of their best.

Reg. S. Pancrazio, 1 Vinchio

Torre Rosso and Chiesa di Santa Caterina

by Jetgirly

Open only during religious ceremonies, the Chiesa di Santa Caterina opens onto a lovely piazza with benches for taking in the sunshine. At the rear of the church is the Torre Rosso, one of the city’s medieval towers.

churches and towers

by pink63

"a medieval city"

from 1200 to 1500, Asti was most important piemontese centre. The wealth of that period is represented by the 12 remaining towers of the 125 built up by the ancients families.

"san secondo college"

a gothic church dedicated to the town saint

"the cathedral"

One of the most important example of gothic churches in Piedmont

"san pietro di consavia"

The monumental area called "rotonda di San Pietro" includes the San Pietro church, tha Baptistry and the "Ospizio dei pellegrini", which houses a contemporary art exhibition and an archaelogical museum

"torre troyana"

It is the symbol of the city, known as "the clock tower" because once houses the civic clock.

"torre rossa"

This is the Roman Tower, or Red Tower, with sixteen sides, dating back to the 1st century A.D

"torre guttuari"

Another beautiful tower in the charming Statuto square