Palio, Douja D'or, Festival of the Sagre: In Asti, They Know how to Celebrate

Douja D'or, September 6-15 - 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 pitcher seen in osterias. This year, just 43 wines have been selected out of one thousand contestants examined. The Oscars, together with another 509 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 tasting and purchased at competitive prices at the Self Service Cantina. Barbera, for example, will be available in 137 different wines, from the most well-known wineries to young and emerging ones.

And the food choices leave little to desire. Every evening, a Michelin-starred chef and a master pastry chef will present a unique dish and dessert between traditional and innovative technique. Dinner is €16, including wine and a cooking show. 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, Paolo Jacci, Niccolò Fabi, Paola Turci and Alberto Fortis, Andrea Vitali and many others will be performing. Entry to the Douja D'or is free, and so are shows. Find out all the details on www.doujador.it

Festival of the Sagre of Asti - Sunday, September 8 - 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 40th edition) food and Medieval 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 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, the number of food dishes offered (86 kinds of appetizers, first and second course, and 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. Add to this two specialties from Pro Loco associations: this year, it's polenta with toma cheese from the Lanzo Valley (from Mezzenile, Turin) and penne all'amatriciana (from Valmontone, Rome).

www.festivaldellesagre.it - SPECIAL TRAINS for "Festival delle Sagre" (download the Pdf)

Palio of Bannermen – Thursday, September 12 - 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.

www.palio.asti.it

Propitiatory dinners and Palio market - Friday 13 and Saturday 14, September - Piazza S. Secondo and various locations

After binging on the great food from the Festival of Sagre, it will be harder to tuck in for another big meal. But, if you're not already full, we suggest you participate in the 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 and 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.

P.S. Don't miss the Palio Market on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13 and 14: all the various towns and communities sell unique and hand-crafted souvenirs decorated in the colors of the district to which they belong.

www.palio.asti.it/mercatino-palio

Palio di Asti – Sunday, September 15 – 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 15th are, in reality, just an appetizer for the event of all events: 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.

Tickets for the Palio di Asti 2013 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

September 6-15, 2013. Asti (AT)

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