On Sunday, September 7, one of Asti’s most eagerly awaited events returns: the Palio di Asti, which this year celebrates its 750th anniversary!
A milestone that places the Palio among the oldest festivals in Piedmont and makes it a major attraction—not only for residents and locals from the Asti area, but also for the many tourists who seize this occasion to discover the beauty of Asti and its surrounding hills.
The Palio di Asti: How It Unfolds
The highlight of the Palio is the bareback horse race, with jockeys competing in three heats of seven horses each, leading up to the final victory. But around this tradition, rooted in the Middle Ages (with the earliest documented records dating back to 1275), many other side events unfold, making the celebration truly unique.
The day begins at 10:00 AM with the blessing of the horses and jockeys, followed by a performance from the flag-throwers and the grand historical parade, featuring 1,200 costumed participants representing the city’s districts, boroughs, and surrounding municipalities that compete in the Palio.
Full Program of the 2025 Palio di Asti
10:00 AM – Local parish churches
Blessing of the horses and jockeys
11:00 AM – Piazza San Secondo
Performance by the A.S.T.A. flag-throwers (Associazione Sbandieratori di Tradizione Astigiana)
2:00 PM – Piazza Cattedrale
Start of the historical parade, along the following route: Piazza Cattedrale, Via Caracciolo, Via Carducci, Via Giobert, Corso Alfieri, Via Gobetti, Via Garibaldi, Via Gardini, Piazza Alfieri. The parade is led by the Palio Captain’s group and the flag-throwers.
4:00 PM – Piazza Alfieri
Palio horse race
5:00 PM – Piazza Alfieri
Performance by the flag-throwers
6:00 PM – Piazza Alfieri
Final race with nine horses and the awarding of the Palio
Events Surrounding the Palio
To mark the 750th year of the Palio, a rich calendar of events has already begun and will continue throughout September.
Here are the upcoming highlights:
August 10: Palio’s Birthday
In memory of the 1275 race, held on the feast day of San Lorenzo, a celebratory toast will take place on August 10 along the city’s ancient walls, in collaboration with the Asti DOCG Consortium.
September 17–23: The Asti Medieval Festival
Themes such as the Palio and the figure of the patron saint, horses, divine favor, and medieval conflicts will be explored through lectures and discussions dedicated to the Asti Middle Ages, with the participation of experts and academics from across Europe.
A Weekend Between the Palio di Asti and the Hills of Langhe and Monferrato
The Palio di Asti is the perfect opportunity to discover the city’s history and traditions, and also to enjoy a weekend exploring the beauty and food-and-wine treasures of the surrounding region.
Just half an hour from Asti, on a panoramic hill with a particularly mild climate, you’ll find Cocconato, one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages.
Cocconato is the perfect destination to immerse yourself in a fairy-tale landscape and discover the traditions, flavors, and stories that have shaped the village, and the region, over the centuries.
Stories and flavors that await you at the Bava Winery, where you can take a journey through past and present, among relics and wines that embody the identity of Cocconato and Monferrato.
Visit the historic cellar and choose your ideal tasting experience—or create your own personalized visit.