Explore & Experience

Ancient Arts & Skills. Renaissance colour palettes. Hilltop villages that haven't changed in centuries. Welcome to your home away from home — where the soul of Monferrato meets the stillness of quiet luxury. This isn’t just a vacation — it’s a return to what matters.

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Things to Do During Your Stay

Cityscape view of historic buildings in Asti with a tall clock tower in the centre topped with a weather vane against a clear blue sky.

Immediate Local Treasures

In Moncalvo known as Italy’s smallest city, it sits dramatically on a nearby hilltop. Go on a Thursday morning for its traditional local market, or visit any evening to walk its medieval ramparts and look out over the panoramic views and sip cocktails at Bar Roma. It’s also famous for its white truffles and excellent traditional trattorias.

A lakeside view from Lake Maggiore seen through a balcony with stone columns and arches, with cacti in terracotta pots and tall cypress trees on the balcony, and a mountain and village in the background.

Lakeside Arches

For a classic taste of northern Italian lakeside glamour, a day trip to the historic town of Stresa on the shores of Lake Maggiore is effortless. Just over an hour’s drive from the retreat, Stresa welcomes you with its elegant Belle Époque promenade and classic wooden water taxis which transport you to Isola Borromeo for an unforgettable lunch.

View of a City Centre, Italy seen through a castle window, with a Cathedral prominently in the center, including its iconic dome, and other historic buildings in the cityscape.

Italys’ First Capital City

You cannot spend a week in Piedmont without spending a day in its grand, aristocratic capital, Turin (Torino). Often called the "Paris of Italy" due to its royal Savoy architecture and tree-lined boulevards, its home to world class museums and eateries and don’t get us started on the gelato.

A landscape view of farmland with a single green tree in the center, surrounded by fields with different crops, and a winding road through the fields.

Winding Trails to Nowhere

Some paths weren’t made to be planned. Follow overgrown tracks past crumbling towers and vineyards. Lose the map and find a deeper kind of clarity in the wild, open landscape.

A rocky coastline with orange cliffs and green trees, overlooking a calm blue body of water with a white boat floating near the rocks.

Secret Wine Cellars

Cella Monte & The "Infernot" Cellars. This is officially ranked as one of the Borghi più belli d’Italia (Most Beautiful Villages in Italy). The houses here are constructed from unique local sandstone. It is famous for its Infernot—deep, hand-carved underground wine cellars dug into the rock beneath local homes where families age their finest wines.

Rooftop of the ancient wine city of Asti famous for its sparkling wines, red wines of barbera, nebbiolo and grignolino

Sunset Views in Cinque Terre

Asti. A gorgeous medieval city defined by historic red-brick towers, elegant baroque palaces, and vast piazzas. Asti is a cultural hub, famous worldwide for its Asti Spumante sparkling wine. It’s a wonderful place for an afternoon stroll through the pedestrian shopping streets, stopping for an aperitivo in Piazza San Secondo.

Hillside town with houses and buildings overlooking a body of water, with a buoy floating in the water.

A Day Trip to Turin

A narrow, cobblestone street in an Italian village with stone and stucco buildings, some with shuttered windows and small potted plants outside. The sky is cloudy in the background.

The Paris of Italy

Often called the "Paris of Italy" due to its royal Savoy architecture and tree-lined boulevards, it offers a distinct contrast to the rural peace of Alfiano Natta. Stroll the 19kms of covered porticos browsing elegant boutiques and stop in a traditional cafe some Bicerin.

Close-up of an olive tree branch with green olives and silvery leaves against a blue sky.

Culture Capital

Visit the world-class Egyptian Museum (the largest collection outside of Cairo), explore the opulent chambers of the Royal Palace, and take the glass elevator up the Mole Antonelliana for an unrivaled view of the city cityscape..

Vineyard with rows of grapevines, a white building, and mountain range in the background under a blue sky.

The Home of the Bicerin

Spend an hour sitting under the historic royal porticoes at Caffè Torino or Caffè Al Bicerin to try a Bicerin—Turin's traditional layered espresso drink made with hot chocolate and whole milk.. Life is good.

Colourful village with pastel buildings, a church, and a small harbor with boats, situated along the cliffs overlooking the sea under a partly cloudy sky.

A Lakeside Village Time Forgot — And You’ll Never Want to Leave

For a classic immersion into northern Italian lakeside glamour, a day trip exploring the neighbouring shores of Stresa and Baveno on Lake Maggiore is effortless. Just over an hour’s scenic drive from the retreat, this elegant pairing captures the true essence of la dolce vita. Begin your morning along Baveno’s tranquil, historic promenade, famed for its charming pink granite architecture, peaceful lakeside avenues, and the striking, Romanesque-style SS. Gervaso e Protaso church complex. A mere five minutes down the shoreline lies Stresa, welcoming you with its grand Belle Époque villas, majestic luxury hotels, and vibrant, café-lined piazzas perfect for a mid-day espresso. From either town's main pier, traditional wooden water taxis stand ready to whisk you across the azure waters to the legendary Borromean Islands. Here, you can wander through the opulent baroque palace and meticulously terraced gardens of Isola Bella, where white peacocks roam freely, before catching a boat to the narrow, winding cobblestone lanes of the historic fishing village on Isola dei Pescatori for an unforgettable lunch of freshly caught lake trout. Blending dramatic Alpine views, rich aristocratic history, and relaxed waterfront charm, it is an essential day trip that offers our guests an exquisite taste of the Italian Lakes.

A scenic view of a river with a sailboat in the middle, surrounded by a hillside with numerous buildings. On the right side, part of a white historic building with statues on the roof is visible. In the foreground, green leafy bushes and a stone railing are present.

For a Night Out in Asti

A plate of assorted cheeses, cured meats, fresh grapes, and a halved fig on a red and white checkered tablecloth.

Intimate Dining at Vicolo Battisti

Tucked away down a charming, narrow alleyway in the historic heart of Asti, Vicolo Battisti offers an incredibly atmospheric and intimate setting for dinner. This highly-regarded restaurant seamlessly blends traditional Piedmontese flavours with creative modern flair, serving beautifully presented dishes like hand-rolled agnolotti and perfectly slow-cooked meats sourced from local farms. The chef Fabio Buttacci as recently as 2025 won the award honouring the Top 50 Pizzerias in Italy.

Seafood dishes including a bowl of seafood stew with bread, clams and mussels in a creamy sauce, and another bowl of seafood pasta with clams and mussels, on a black speckled table.

Local Character at Il Bugianen

For a relaxed, authentic evening immersed in local culture, a short drive to the outskirts of Asti brings you to Il Bugianen. Taking its name from a classic Piedmontese dialect term meaning "the one who doesn't move" (a nod to the proud, stubborn character of the region's people), this lively spot is where locals go to socialize. Celebrated for its welcoming, unpretentious atmosphere, it is the ideal place to enjoy hearty, rustic local fare, share regional wines, and experience the warm hospitality that defines the countryside surrounding the city.

A bowl of pasta with black mussels, cherry tomatoes, and fresh greens on top, placed on a wooden table with other dishes in the background.

Chic Cocktail Sipping

To round off the evening with sophisticated flair, bar Lo Stregato is Asti’s premier destination for expertly crafted drinks. Known for its stylish, upbeat ambiance and creative mixology, this chic lounge turns cocktail-making into an art form. Whether you are looking for a perfectly balanced classic Italian Negroni, an innovative signature creation infused with seasonal local botanicals, or a crisp glass of regional spumante, sipping drinks here offers a vibrant, fashionable slice of Asti's contemporary nightlife.