Asti

Asti ( pmt. branch) is a city in northwestern Italy with 74 320 (as of 31 December 2012) inhabitants. It is located in the Piedmont region and is the administrative center of the province of Asti.

History

Asti was founded in 89 BC as a Roman colony named Hasta. Early as the 5th century Asti bishopric and thus the most important city of Piedmont. In the 16th century Asti falls to the House of Savoy. In 1797, the Republic was proclaimed and Asti is later under French domination to the capital of the department of Tanaro.

Attractions

  • Gothic cathedral dating from the 14th century with a Romanesque bell tower from the 13th century with a crypt dating from the 8th century
  • City towers from the 13th century
  • Palazzo Alfieri, the birthplace of Vittorio Alfieri

Twinning

Asti is twinned with the German Biberach an der Riss.

Viniculture

The area around Asti is approved for the varietals Barbera, Dolcetto, Moscato, Grignolino, Malvasia and Moscato. There arise fruity wines and sparkling wines Asti Spumante or Moscato d' Asti.

The Italian oenologist Federico Martinotti, director of l' Istituto Sperimentale per l' Enologia di Asti, invented in the late 19th century a new technology for the production of sparkling wines, which later became known as Charmat.

Personalities

  • Vittorio Alfieri, one of the greatest Italian poet and playwright
  • Isacco Artom, politicians
  • Gianni Basso, jazz tenor saxophonist
  • Umberto Cagni, Italian explorer and Admiral
  • Rinaldo Capello, Italian race car driver
  • Carlo Alberto Castigliano, Italian architect, engineer and scientist
  • Giorgio Conte, Italian singer, songwriter and composer
  • Paolo Conte, Italian singer, jazz musician and composer
  • Daniele Damiano, principal bassoonist of the Berlin Philharmonic
  • Giovanni Gerbi, cyclist
  • Giovanni Goria, Italian politician and Prime Minister
  • Maurizio Lobina, keyboardist of the band Eiffel 65
  • Matteo Paro, Italian footballer
  • Mario Perniola, philosopher
  • Secondo Pia, a lawyer and photographer
  • Secundus of Asti early Christian martyr and saint
  • Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Cardinal Secretary of State, Cardinal Dean
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