Most
travelers to Italy are familiar with the popular tourist spots such as
Rome, Florence, Venice, Bellagio and the Cinque Terra. But for
sheer Italian charm, the town of Asti, in northern Italy, is second to
none of the above. Located in the Piedmont region, Asti is famous
for its wine. (After all, the wine center of Asti, California was
named after it,) Best of all, Asti is not over-run with tourists,
like the aforementioned favorites.
There are numerous small piazzas in Asti, each with its own church and
museum. It also has a central piazza, but being limited in time,
Darlene and I opted for one of the smaller. Being in a wine
district, the town abounded in wine tasting bistros.
As I walked through the town with my camera and camcorder, I was
especially impressed with how happy all the people seemed to be.
There seemed to be laughter and smiles on the faces of everyone I
observed.
Because it is not a tourist hot-spot, Asti does not exactly abound in
hotels. Consequently, Darlene and I put up in a bed-and-breakfast
in a small village on the outskirts of town. Despite being
somewhat rustic, dinner was absolutely delicious, and our proprietress
prepared whatever we desired for breakfast.
|
|
