Guide to the surroundings of Asti

1.Canelli

2.Nizza Monferrato

3.Monferrato hills

4.Vineyards in Asti

Asti

5.how did i get there?

Surroundings

Canelli

1.The castel of Gancia

2.The Musa museum

3.La Sternia, The road of loves

Canelli and its historical origin

How was it born and when?

The territory of Canelli was already occupied in prehistoric times by settlers from Liguria. In Roman times it became a center of some importance, surrounded by numerous farms on which vines were cultivated. After the Roman era Canelli fell into a long decline, but was already being called a citta (town) by the year 961. in the 1613 it started the siege of Canelli On the night of 5 November 1994 the town was badly hit by a violent flood of the river Belbo that affected a large part of the town, devastating the local economy and causing some casualties.

4.Champagne(UNESCO)

5.Commemoration Siege of Canelli

Canelli

1.The castle of Gancia

2.The Musa museum

3.La Sternia, The road of loves

The musa Museum

What you can in the museum?

Not only does M.U.S.A. (South Asti District Multimedia Museum) tell the story of a town and a territory, it is also a journey through over 150 years of Italy's winemaking vocation. The museum can be visited only on request.

4.Champagne(UNESCO)

5.Commemoration Siege of Canelli

Canelli

1.The castle of Gancia

2.The Musa museum

3.La Sternia, The road of loves

The castle of Gancia

The history of the castle of Gancia

The castle, now privately owned by the Gancia family, has an ancient and important history. Built to defend the commercial route that connected Asti to the port of Savona, the structure, modernized and enlarged, has been enriched by architectural and sculptural elements over the centuries. In the 17th century, during Monferrato’s war of succession, the castle and the fortress were, to a great extent, destroyed by Spanish troops and immediately rebuilt. In 1676, the Marquis Ambrogio Antonio Scarampi Crivelli carried out the building’s first true restoration, giving it the look of a severely elegant building as was the fashion of the time. Beginning in the 18th century, the castle changed hands several times until 1929 when it was acquired by the Gancia family who entrusted the architect Arturo Midana with the responsibility of giving the palace back its ancient splendor.

4.Champagne(UNESCO)

5.Commemoration Siege of Canelli

Canelli

1.The castel of Gancia

2.The Musa museum

3.La Sternia, The road of loves

The street of love

How was it born and when?

Easy city walk that from the lower part of Canelli leads to the foot of the castle, where there is a panoramic terrace, for a journey back in time along the "Stërnìa", a characteristic paved road dotted with painted houses. It has in fact become the Lovers’ Road in honor of the French illustrator Raymond Pynet, creator of “Les Amoureux”, which became “The Sweethearts” in Italian. Here in Canelli the artist painted one of his paintings and the city decided to pay homage to him by dedicating its most important street to him. Along the walk you will encounter several installations with themed works by local artists until you reach the Unesco Belvedere, where the lovers’ bench is located.

4.Champagne(UNESCO)

5.Commemoration Siege of Canelli

Canelli

1.The castel of Gancia

2.The Musa museum

3.La Sternia, The road of loves

The Gancia family and the champagne

How is it born?

During the 19th century in Piedmont, several attempts were made to produce a sparkling wine fermented in the bottle. In 1850, Carlo Gancia began experimenting with a sparkling technique similar to that used for French champagnes after a stay in France. However, he used a white grape variety that produced a sweet grape with an unmatched aroma, widespread throughout Southern Piedmont: it is the "moscato bianco di Canelli." After extensive experimentation in the cellars of Canelli, he was the first to create the new wine in 1865, giving birth to the first Italian sparkling wine in Canelli. On June 22, 2014, Canelli and Asti Spumante were proclaimed UNESCO World Heritage sites, as an integral part of the Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato.

4.Champagne(UNESCO)

5.Commemoration Siege of Canelli

Canelli

1.The castel of Gancia

2.The Musa museum

3.La Sternia, the road of loves

The Siege of Canelli

What happen in the siege?

If you are lucky enough to visit Piedmont in the month of June, and that visit falls on the third weekend of June then this event is a must see. Every year the town and it's inhabitants are joined by enthusiasts from around the world to re-enact a historical siege of Canelli. In 1613 Canelli broke the siege laid by Carlo I, later the Duke of Mantua, as part of a war of succession with the Duchy of Monferrato. The town's defenses were manned by soldiers from the Duchy of Savoy, actively supported by the citizens: Carlo's troops were unable to break through them. This heroic action is celebrated in a re-enactment that takes place every year in the third weekend in June - the Assedio di Canelli (Siege of Canelli).

4.Champagne(UNESCO)

5.Commemoration Siege of Canelli

Nizza Monferrato

1.Canelli

2.Nizza Monferrato

3.Monferrato Hills

Nizza Monferrato

How was it born and when?

In Nizza Monferrato, San Carlo Borromeo si celebrated . The patronal feast is in the month of november.Located between cities of Alba, Asti and Alessandria , it is an important agricoltural and commercial country located in the heart of Monferrato, one on the best-know Italian places or Wine production in the world , especially as regards red wines and sparkling wines. A UNESCO world heritage site for its landscape assets and barbera wine, after the capital it is together with canelli, the most important of the province and the belbo valley

4.Vineyards in Asti

History

5.How should I get there?

The Monferrato hills

1.Canelli

2.Nizza Monferrato

3.Monferrato Hills

The Monferrato hills

The best wine and the best food

All this is Monferrato, region of Piedmont between the provinces of Alessandria and Asti, UNESCO heritage since 2014, famous all over the world for its landscapes and its food and wine products. Here are produced among the best wines of Italy, to be enjoyed together with typical dishes, mushrooms, hazelnuts, cheeses and truffles. Visiting the Monferrato is a wonderful experience that satisfies all the senses. Here are produced among the best wines of Italy.

4.Vineyards in Asti

4.How should I get here ?

Vineyards in Asti

1. Canelli

2.Nizza Monferrato

3.Monferrato Hills

The production of wine

The winery of Contratto

The story of the winery is started in 1867 when he began vinifying moscato from Monferrato, producing one of the first Italian sparkling wines refermented in the bottle. During this same time the Contratto family began building its historic cellars, that would finally be finished in the beginning of the 20th century. The Contratto family remained at the helm of the company until 1993 when the Bocchino family, who owned a distillery of the same name.In 2014, an important recognition was awarded to the Contratto winery: the historic Wine Cathedral was officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

4.Vineyards in Asti

5.How should I get here ?

How should I get there?

1. Canelli

How should i get there from the centre of city?

2.Nizza Monferrato

What can I use to get there and how?

• Canelli: you can get there with the train. You can use it on Tuesday the travel last in for 11h and 56m or you can use the car 30m from the centre of AstI
• Nizza Monferrato: You can come from Asti to Nizza Monferrato with the bus on piazza Alfieri (1h and

4m)

3.Monferrato Hills

4.Vineyards in Asti

5.How should I get here ?