Things to see in Asti

Visit the Cathedral

The cathedral in Asti called Santa Maria Assunta is an absolute marvel that will make you wish you’d brought a sleeping pad and could squat for the night. On the outside the 13th century building appears very Romanesque-Gothic with massive walls, tall windows with austere semicircular arches lined in checkered red and white bricks and a few frivolous Gothic details in the shape of turrets and saints. Inside, however, the cathedral has got a full-body tattoo with frescoes everywhere. Leaning back to study the paintings and the tales they tell is like being swallowed by a 3D cartoon, so utterly fascinating, psychedelic and a little bit disconcerting.

Contemplate the Red Tower

The red tower also known as the Tower of San Secondo encapsulates 2000 years of Asti’s history and legend. The polygonal tower was originally used to mark the limit of the Roman settlement in Asti, and it has probably been part of a defensive structure with surrounding walls. In addition, the red tower is linked to the legend of Asti’s patron saint San Secondo, who was imprisoned here, before he was executed for his faith.

In the Middle Ages the red tower was given a Romanesque crowning and transformed into a bell tower for the Church of St. Catherine, before it was enclosed by other buildings and rendered practically invisible. It remained in this state until the 1930s, when the red tower was restored to its present state as symbol of the city.

Walk Through the Gates of Paradise

Compared to cities in the south of Italy, Asti has an unambiguous worldly appearance, which is why it seems strangely exotic to find a path loaded with religious paraphernalia along the sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Porta Paradisi. The path is lined with shrines and leads through the old city gate to an exact copy of the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. A rough stone contained within a wall is cherished for showing the likeness of Christ with a thorny crown. It is said that the stone was thrown at a sacred image in blasphemy, and when it bounced back it had absorbed the holy features. Finally there is a small basement chapel with a large congregation beside the main church, where you’ll find diorama of a nativity scene and the burial of Christ along with naturally sized copies of the shroud of Turin.

Feel the Fabric in Palazzo Mazzetti

Museum Palazzo Mazzetti houses the civic museum of Asti along with changing exhibitions and a permanent collection of Italian paintings from the 17th to the 19th centuries. I was particularly mesmerized by Giacomo Grosso’s painting ‘La Femme’, a stylized Art Nouveau or Liberty woman in a sensuous white dress. The subtle colours, reflections and light lead spectators to believe they can almost feel the cool, soft and fat silky fabric and smell the perfume of roses strewn at her feet. A lovely encounter in an aristocratic setting.