Palio, Douja D'or, Festival of the Sagre: Celebrating September in Asti
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photo from Giò-S.p.o.t.s., Creative Commons
Ready, set, Douja! Asti celebrates September and prepares for autumn with an exciting series of food and wine events that culminates on September 21 with the famous and ancient horse race, the Palio. With so much going on, here is our list of events and information so you don't miss a minute of seasonal celebrations in the Monferrato.
Douja D'or, September 12-21 - Palazzo Enofila, Asti
For wine lovers, the Douja D'or is one of Piemonte's most important wine events, a huge competition that confers awards to hundreds of DOC and DOCG wines from all the regions of Italy. Only the best are admitted and the "Oscars" of the Douja are coveted, indicated with the golden pitcher symbol seen in osterias. This year, just 43 wines have been awarded the Oscar. The Oscars, together with another 512 wines selected by the examining commission, will be the protagonists of ten days of tastings inside the Palazzo Enofila in Asti. One of the best parts of the Douja D'or is the vast offer of Italian wines, those from Piemonte particularly standing out, that can be tasted and purchased at competitive prices at the Self Service Cantina. Barbera, for example, will be available in 115 different wines, from the most well-known wineries to young and emerging ones.
And the food choices leave little to desire. Every evening, a new master chef from the area and a master pastry chef will serve both unique and traditional Piemontese dishes and desserts. Dinner is €16, including wine and a bracing sip of grappa at the end. Don't forget to reserve a spot: www.astiturismo.it.
P.S. Between one glass of wine and the next, don't forget to perk up your ears, too: During the Douja D'or week, everything from musical shows to concerts and theatrical productions to children's events will enliven the atmosphere, including wine discussions and debates at the Cortile dell'Enofila in the evenings (Sept. 13-20). Entry to the Douja D'or is free, and so are shows. Find out all the details on www.doujador.it
Presentations and expositions, Sept. 11-12
Di Vigna in Vignetta – Palazzo dell'Enofila
At the Enofila Palazzo (pavilion 1), the Donne del Vino del Piemonte (Women of Wine of Piemonte) will be presenting their project "Di Vigna in Vignetta," a selection of vignettes and drawings by noted comics and artists, both Italian and international. They're part of the private collection of Vincenzo Buonassisi, a wine and food journalist; and important figures such as Jacovitti, Paola Grott, Antonio Guarene, and Laura Fiume have signed the works.
Asti in the 1600s – Palazzo Mazzetti
Art is the ideal pairing for wine. Don't miss this artistic exhibition of Asti in the 1600s (showing until Sept. 28), which displays and explores the extraordinary pictorial heritage that Asti enjoyed in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Bottles of Art (Bottiglie d'artista) - Palazzo del Michelerio
From Sept. 11 to Oct. 12, see the everyday wine bottle turned into art, this year side-by-side with photography. Eight artists will portray their works of great bottles through photography (Ferdinando Scianna, Maurizio Galimberti, Guido Harari, Nino Migliori, Berengo Gardin, Franco Fontana, Joe Oppedisano and Paola Malfatto).
Festival of the Sagre of Asti - Sunday, September 14 - Piazza Campo del Palio
If food is the great uniter, don't miss this union of food and history: the Festival of the Sagre (now at the 41st edition) food, parade, and period costumes. In each piazza of the city will be an unprecedented amount of food and drink that is accompanied with thousands of people dressed up in Medieval and period costumes showing off their dress on foot, in carts, and on tractors. The atmosphere of long ago is revived as visitors can indulge, or perhaps overeat, on delicious dishes prepared on site with local ingredients. What really sets this festival apart are the thousands of people from all over Italy that come to celebrate, and the number of food dishes offered (by 47 different townships, each with several dishes from appetizers and first & second course to dessert). We bet you won't leave without a full, happy belly.
P.S. During the festival, don't miss the historical parade. Every city and town of the Asti territory and their Pro Loco associations will display traditional work occupations and daily Medieval life from farming to religious rites, grape harvests to baptisms and milling grain.
P.P.S. What's there to eat during the Festival? Here's just a sample of what you get to taste: agnolotti (traditional fresh pasta, filled with meat), risotto, tagliatella and polenta in many varieties; boiled and fried meat, bagna cauda (a savory, hot Piemontese dip) and lots of menu items from the various restaurants, like the puccia (soft polenta in bean minestrone topped with butter and cheese) or the baciuà, boiled and fried pig's feet. Over thirty kinds of desserts will top things off, from creamy puddings to cookies, bunets to traditional cakes. Check out the full menu here: Festival of the Sagre Program
www.festivaldellesagre.it - SPECIAL FREE SHUTTLE for "Festival delle Sagre" (click for more info)
Palio of Asti and the event-filled days leading up to it:
Palio of Bannermen – Thursday, September 18 - Piazza San Secondo
At Asti during the Palio, competition fever runs high. Before running with their respective horses, racers representing communities, villages, and towns come out on the streets and battle with their representing banners. The Palio of Bannermen takes place on Thursday before the race.
Under the vigilant and strict eye of experts in the art of banners, and with the supervision of the Captain of the Palio, the young athletes perform exercises and spectacular formations in a competition to win the title of "paliotto." The Palio of Bannermen honors the best district group of bannermen every year. Following the manifestation, which takes place at night, is a parade of townspeople with tambourines, posters, and more banners to show support for their towns.
Propitiatory dinners and Palio market - Friday 19 and Saturday 20, September - Piazza S. Secondo and various locations
Did you think your belly would get a break this September after binging on the great food from the Festival of Sagre? Loosen your belt, because we suggest you participate in the traditional propitiatory dinners. These dinners are organized by various districts of Asti during the evening before the Palio. Expect rivers of wine, endless lines of food, and best wishes to horses and their riders for the glory of winning the standard of the Palio. The dinners take place in the streets and piazzas of the city with song, dance, libations, and friendly confrontations with rival districts. It's more than just a dinner.
P.S. Don't miss the Palio Market on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 19 and 20: all the various towns and communities sell unique and hand-crafted souvenirs decorated in the colors of the district to which they belong.
Download the event booklet here
Palio of Asti – Sunday, September 21– Piazza Alfieri
It all ends in the piazza, and all piazzas take you to the Palio. The celebrating, events, and food that animate the city before the 21st of September are, in reality, just an appetizer for the event of all events: the great horse race, the Palio! On Sunday, after weeks of skirmishes and rivalries between the districts of the citizens, after the practice runs, bets, and claims, the entire city gathers in Piazza Alfieri to assist in and watch the ultimate race. After a parade of over 1000 people dressed in Medieval costume and carrying banners, it begins.
Ticket prices for the Palio di Asti 2014 are listed here and can be reserved by contacting the ATL tourism office in Piazza Alfieri 34.
Tel. +39 0141 320978 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
See the full program of the Palio
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