Asti

Just 15 of Asti's 100 medieval turrets and towers remain standing, marking out the onetime booming city state from the rising foothills of the Piedmont Alps behind. However, the silhouette of the hilltop jewel, surrounded by sweeping swathes of vineyard and the occasional rustic cellar door, is no less impressive for what's missing. Visitors are still enticed in by the promise of bubbling white wine tipples and encounters with glorious palazzos that stand nostalgic for the days of the Asti dukes. The summertime still means an 800-year-old palio (horse race) a la Siena, and food fests that consist of strong cheeses and excellent wines. The trattorias still cook up hearty Piedmontese fare, as truffles hide between the tagliatelle strips of the pasta dishes. Asti tour guides will also want to show you the rich religious history at the Museum and Crypt of San’Anastasio, and the sweeping panoramas of Italy's northern region from the top of the Torre Troyana.