Asti and Monferrato day trip from Turin or Langhe
A day trip to Asti and the Monferrato from Turin or the Langhe: Asti's Roman Torre Rossa, the Gothic cathedral, the Torre Troyana, the Collegiata di San Secondo and Piazza Alfieri in the morning, lunch in the old town, then the underground spumante cellars of Canelli and, late in the afternoon, Nizza Monferrato under the Campanon. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Asti and Monferrato in 1 day
Day 1
Torre Rossa
Sixteen-sided tower of red brick on Roman foundations, once part of a city gate, linked by tradition to Saint Secondo.
Asti Cathedral
Large Gothic cathedral of brick and stone, its interior covered in eighteenth-century frescoes, one of the biggest churches in Piedmont.
Torre Troyana
Tall medieval tower with a clock near San Secondo, one of the best-preserved of the many towers of old Asti, with views from the top.
Collegiata di San Secondo and Piazza San Secondo
Gothic church of Asti's patron saint on its square by the town hall, the heart of the Palio celebrations.
Piazza Alfieri
Asti's large triangular main square with the statue of the poet Vittorio Alfieri, where the Palio horse race is run each September.
Underground cathedrals of Canelli (Contratto cellars)
Brick-vaulted tunnels dug deep into the hill under Canelli, where spumante has aged for generations, part of the UNESCO vineyard landscape.
Historic centre of Nizza Monferrato (Campanon)
Wine town of arcaded streets around the town hall and its tall Campanon tower, home of the Nizza Barbera, good for an evening glass.
Watch: Asti and Monferrato
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
From Turin, trains to Asti take about 30 minutes to an hour, and the old town is a ten-minute walk from the station; Canelli and Nizza Monferrato are easiest by car, about half an hour south of Asti. From the Langhe, Asti is about 45 minutes by car from Alba, and Canelli is closer.
Staying in Turin or Langhe? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Asti and Monferrato
Spring and autumn are the best seasons, with mild days among the vineyards. September is Asti's big month: the Palio, a bareback horse race through the town, is run on the third Sunday, and the Festival delle Sagre fills the town with country food stalls. The grape harvest is from late August to October, and winter is foggy and cold.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Asti and Monferrato on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Asti and Monferrato on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Asti and Monferrato on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Asti and Monferrato
- The Canelli cellars are seen only on guided tours: book ahead, and leave a driver who doesn't drink after the tasting.
- A car is the easy way to link Canelli, Nizza Monferrato and Asti; trains reach Asti from Turin, but the wine towns are harder by public transport.
- The Torre Troyana can be climbed only on some days in the warmer months: check before you go.
- Try the local Barbera, Moscato and Asti spumante, and in Nizza ask for dishes with the cardo gobbo, the local cardoon, in season.
- Churches close at lunchtime: see Asti Cathedral in the morning or after mid-afternoon.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Asti Cathedral: Maltoni Elio, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Historic centre of Nizza Monferrato (Campanon): TeKappa, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Torre Rossa: Incola, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Torre Troyana: Incola, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Underground cathedrals of Canelli (Contratto cellars): Davide Papalini, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
