UNESCO World Heritage since 2014
Medieval towers, a Palio with roots in the 13th century and the home of Barbera and Moscato d’Asti: you can reach Asti from Turin by direct train. Here's what to see in town, how to get into the wine cellars of Canelli and which wine tastings in the Monferrato are worth it.
from€13.00per person
See the Asti walking tour
Asti lies east of Turin on the Tanaro river and is the capital of the province of the same name. The old town is compact: medieval towers and fortified houses, a large Gothic cathedral and Baroque palaces along Corso Vittorio Alfieri. In September everything revolves around the Palio, the horse race on Piazza Alfieri.
Around the town begins the Monferrato, a hilly area of vineyards, villages and castles. Three of the six components of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato" (since 2014) are here:
What about the Langhe? Barolo, Barbaresco and Alba lie further south and make a separate day trip. If Barolo is your main interest, read our page on Langhe & Barolo from Turin. Asti and the Monferrato are the choice if you want to visit a wine town without a car – or would rather taste Barbera and sparkling wine than Nebbiolo.
In one day you can manage Asti plus a detour into the Monferrato. Important for planning: only Asti is easy to reach by train.
| Destination | Getting there from Turin | Go for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asti | Direct train, usually 35–50 minutes according to the timetable | Old town, towers, museums, the Palio in September | Station a few minutes' walk from the old town |
| Canelli | Car, or train to Asti then bus/taxi | Underground sparkling wine cellars (UNESCO) | Cellar visits by reservation only |
| Nizza Monferrato & Barbera hills | Car; Nizza also by regional train from Asti | Barbera wineries, wine tastings | Wineries are outside the villages |
| Infernot (Cella Monte & surroundings) | Car | Rock cellars, villages, views | Hardly doable without a car |
Journey times according to timetable information, as of 1 October 2026. Current departures on trenitalia.com.
Asti is the easiest destination in the Monferrato because it lies on the Turin–Genoa railway line.
Which Turin station is closer to you is explained on our page on train stations in Turin.
In the Middle Ages, Asti was a wealthy trading town. Families built towers as a sign of their power. According to the tourist office, of around seventy old towers about a dozen still stand – among them the Torre Comentina, the Torre Rossa and the Torre de Regibus. A walk links them with the most important churches and palaces.
The tower on Piazza Medici, also called the Torre dell’Orologio, is 44 metres high and the only one you can climb. 199 steps take you up to a view over the town's rooftops.
The Gothic cathedral was built between 1309 and 1354 and is one of the largest in Piedmont. The Romanesque bell tower dates from 1266. Inside you'll find frescoes from the late 17th and 18th centuries, works by Gandolfino da Roreto and Guglielmo Caccia and, in the presbytery, an 11th-century mosaic floor. Daily 08:30–12:00 and 15:00–17:30 outside Mass times, free entry.
The church of the town's patron saint was built between the 13th and 15th centuries. This is where the Carroccio, the town's banner cart, stands, and where the Palio banners are handed over. The relics of St Secondo lie in the crypt. Daily 07:30–19:00 outside Mass times, free entry.
The old town's main street links several museums. The poet Vittorio Alfieri was born in Palazzo Alfieri in 1749, and the museum shows his apartment and the room where he was born. Palazzo Mazzetti houses the civic museum and the Pinacoteca with paintings, furniture and temporary exhibitions. In the Cripta di Sant’Anastasio you'll see a 12th-century crypt and finds from Roman times to the 16th century.
The civic museums belong to the Fondazione Asti Musei. According to the foundation, they are open daily 10:00–19:00, last admission at 18:00. Only groups and guided tours need to book.
| Ticket | What's included | Official price |
|---|---|---|
| Single ticket | One museum, e.g. Torre Troyana or Palazzo Mazzetti | €5.00 full price |
| Smarticket | Palazzo Mazzetti, Cripta di Sant’Anastasio, Palazzo Alfieri, Museo Guglielminetti, Domus Romana, Torre Troyana, Complesso di San Pietro; one visit per site, valid 7 days | €10.00 full price, €8.00 reduced (65 and over, under 18, students) |
| Free entry | Children under 6, holders of the Torino + Piemonte Card and the Abbonamento Musei | €0.00 |
The Complesso di San Pietro is currently closed for restoration. Other sources give Monday as the Torre Troyana's closing day – check the times on museidiasti.com before your visit. As of 1 October 2026.
Both experiences take place in Asti – you get there by train.
A walk of around an hour and a half through the old town with churches, squares, arcades and Baroque palaces. The meeting point is Piazza Vittorio Alfieri 34 in front of the tourist office – within walking distance of the station. Tour in Italian and English.
from €13.00
Details & booking
A three-hour cooking class: fettuccine, Piedmontese agnolotti with black truffle and tiramisù, followed by a shared meal with wine or soft drinks. Languages: English, Italian. Not for children under 6. More classes on our page Cooking classes in Turin.
from €138.00
Details & bookingFree cancellation up to 24 hours in advance according to the provider.
The Palio di Asti is run on the first Sunday in September. The first written record dates from 10 August 1275. In the afternoon, a procession of 1,200 people in medieval costume makes its way from Piazza Cattedrale through the old town. They represent the town's districts and the municipalities of the province. Then the jockeys ride bareback on the 450-metre track on Piazza Alfieri: three heats of seven horses each, with nine starting in the final.
In 2026 the Palio took place on 6 September. By this rule, 2027 would be 5 September – the official date and ticket sales are published on visit.asti.it. Book grandstand seats early.
Around the Palio, Asti celebrates all September:
After September the calendar continues: on Bagna Cauda Day, 20–22 and 27–29 November 2026, restaurants in Asti and all over Piedmont serve the garlic and anchovy fondue. From 14 November to 20 December 2026, Asti hosts the Christmas market "Il Magico Paese di Natale" – more on our page Christmas in Turin. All the year's dates are under Best time to visit Turin.
Canelli lies south of Asti in the Belbo valley and is considered the capital of Asti Spumante. Beneath the town, kilometres of tunnels run through the rock, lined with brick vaults. Sparkling wine has been maturing here since the second half of the 19th century. Because of their size they are called the "Cattedrali sotterranee" (underground cathedrals). The temperature stays at 12 to 14 degrees all year round. This is where the oenologist Federico Martinotti developed a new method for sparkling wine, later refined further as the Charmat method.
Four historic wineries open their cellars to visitors – always by reservation only:
Above the town stands the Castello Gancia, owned by the Gancia family. The Sternia, an old cobbled lane, leads up to it. We didn't find a ready-made ticket for the Canelli cellars on the big booking platforms – book directly with the winery.
In the northern Monferrato, in the hills near Casale Monferrato, residents carved small rooms into the rock beneath their houses: the infernot. The stone is called Pietra da Cantoni, a golden-white sandstone found only here. Without light, at a constant temperature and humidity, families stored their best bottles. Every infernot is different, and all were dug by hand.
Most infernot lie beneath private houses and wineries. Without a car or a tour they are hard to reach. One option is the quad tour further down, which stops at a winery with an infernot.
While Nebbiolo rules in the Langhe, Asti and the Monferrato are the land of Barbera and Moscato. These are the wines you'll come across at a tasting.
| Wine | Grape | Origin | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbera d’Asti DOCG | Barbera | Hills of the province of Asti, stronghold Nizza Monferrato | Grown for more than 500 years, Piedmont's most important red grape |
| Nizza | Barbera | Around Nizza Monferrato | Barbera from Nizza's World Heritage area; in the glass at the Agliano Terme tasting |
| Barbera del Monferrato | Barbera | Monferrato around Casale, infernot area | According to the World Heritage association, made differently from Barbera d’Asti |
| Moscato d’Asti DOCG | Moscato Bianco | Around Canelli | Sweet, aromatic, only lightly sparkling and low in alcohol |
| Asti Spumante DOCG | Moscato Bianco | Same zone as Moscato d’Asti | Fully sparkling, with a mushroom cork; DOCG since 1993 |
| Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG | Ruchè | Castagnole Monferrato and surroundings | Red wine from the Monferrato with its own DOCG |
| Grignolino | Grignolino | Asti and Monferrato Casalese | Red wine; often poured at tastings in the Monferrato Casalese |
Sources: World Heritage association paesaggivitivinicoliunesco.it, Consorzio Asti DOCG, Consorzio Barbera d’Asti e Vini del Monferrato, Province of Cuneo. As of 1 October 2026.
In our research we didn't find a tour with pick-up in Turin that heads specifically to Asti or the Monferrato. These experiences start right at the winery – you get there by car or by train and taxi.
At the Bussi Piero winery in Calosso, not far from Canelli, a guide shows you round the vineyard and cellar. Then you taste seven wines – from spumante to Barbera d’Asti and Nebbiolo to Moscato d’Asti – with small bites. Tour in English, Italian and French.
from €20.00
Details & booking
In the World Heritage area of Nizza Monferrato and Barbera: at the Filippa winery in Agliano Terme you see the fermentation and barrique cellars and taste six wines, including Barbera d’Asti, Barbera d’Asti Superiore and a Nizza. With cured meats and cheese. Tour in English and Italian.
from €30.00
Details & booking
A small family winery in Albugnano, according to the provider around 40 minutes from Turin and from Asti. Tour of the vineyard and cellar, four wines with cured meats, cheese, roasted hazelnuts and grissini. The provider lists a transfer to the winery as included, but no pick-up point – clarify this before booking. Tour in Italian and English.
from €39.00
Details & booking
Three and a half hours by quad bike with a guide through the hills near Conzano in the Monferrato Casalese, including a visit to a winery with an infernot. The meeting point is Tenuta San Rocco in Conzano. Drivers need a driving licence and must be at least 18. Insurance is paid on site, wine tasting at extra cost. If you drive, you don't drink. Maximum ten people, in English and Italian.
from €75.00
Details & bookingFree cancellation up to 24 hours in advance according to the provider. Travel to the meeting point not included, except for the winery in Albugnano (see above).
Drink-drive limit: In Italy the limit is 0.5. If you've had your licence for less than three years or are under 21, you may not drink at all. If you're driving, just taste and spit – that's normal at tastings.
According to the Fondazione Asti Musei, entry is free with the Torino + Piemonte Card, and Turismo Torino lists Palazzo Mazzetti and Torre Troyana as card partners. Note: the 24-hour card covers a maximum of three museums, and each attraction counts only once. The card pays off if you also visit other museums in Turin.
Langhe, Roero and Monferrato together form the World Heritage Site. These pages will help you plan.
Barolo, Barbaresco, La Morra and Grinzane Cavour: wine tours with pick-up in Turin and tastings at the winery.
The truffle fair, truffle hunting with dogs – also in the Monferrato near Cocconato – and Alba's old town.
Sacra di San Michele, Lake Maggiore, the Aosta Valley and more: all day trips from Turin at a glance.
The easiest way is by train. From Torino Porta Nuova, Regionale Veloce and Intercity trains run without changing, usually in 35 to 50 minutes according to the timetable. From Porta Susa, the SFM6 suburban train takes around an hour. Asti station is a few minutes' walk from the old town. By car, take the A21 towards Piacenza.
Yes, if you want to see a compact old town with medieval towers, a cathedral and museums and don't have a hire car. For wineries and the Canelli cellars you'll also need a car, taxi or bus.
On the first Sunday in September. In 2026 it was 6 September; in 2027 the first Sunday in September falls on 5 September. The town publishes the official date and tickets on visit.asti.it.
Yes. The four historic wineries Bosca, Contratto, Coppo and Gancia show their cellars, but only by reservation. At Gancia the tour of the historic cellars takes around an hour, or around an hour and a half with a tasting.
A small wine cellar, carved by hand into the Pietra da Cantoni sandstone beneath a house. They are found in nine hill villages in the Monferrato near Casale. The Ecomuseo della Pietra da Cantoni in Cella Monte shows public infernot.
Both are made from Moscato Bianco. Asti Spumante is fully sparkling and has a mushroom cork. Moscato d’Asti is only lightly sparkling, sweeter and lower in alcohol.
We didn't find a tour with pick-up in Turin that heads specifically to the Monferrato. The wine tastings on this page start at the winery. Wine tours with pick-up in Turin are available for the Langhe – see Langhe & Barolo from Turin.
Yes, according to the Fondazione Asti Musei, entry to its museums is free with the card; Turismo Torino lists Palazzo Mazzetti and Torre Troyana. With the 24-hour card you get a maximum of three museum visits in total.
A single ticket costs €5.00. The Smarticket for seven sites costs €10.00, reduced €8.00, and is valid for seven days. Children under 6 go free.
September is the busiest month, with the Palio, the Festival delle Sagre and the Douja d’Or. In autumn the vineyards change colour. In November and December, Bagna Cauda Day and the Christmas market draw visitors. The museums are open all year round.