From Sancti Damiani Oppidum to be a city: San Damiano d'Asti, the “villa nova” jewel of the High Monferrato.
Landscape.
San Damiano d'Asti is a city in the High Monferrato.
It covers an area of 47.87 km² (it is the second-largest municipality in the Asti area) and has a population of about 8300 inhabitants.
It is about 15 km from Asti, the provincial capital, and 45 km from Turin, the regional capital.
History.
San Damiano d'Asti was founded in 1275 by the Astesi.
It was the domain of the Marquises of Monferrato, the Visconti, the Gonzaga, and finally the Savoy (in 1631).
Towards the end of the eighteenth century, the dismantling of the walls and the subsequent expansion of the city began.
Administration.
On January 31, 2018, San Damiano d'Asti was given the title of city by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella.
San Damiano d'Asti is home to the Unione di Comuni Terre di Vini e di Tartufi.
Food and wine and typical products.
San Damiano is known as a land of great wines, truffles, sweets (famous for the “sandamianesi”), and, above all, for its capon.
Opportunities to taste them are the Fair of Saint Giuseppe (Fiera di San Giuseppe), the oldest food and wine fair in Piedmont, the Fair of the Saints (Fiera dei Santi), the patronal festivals of Saint Giulio and the one dedicated to the saints Giacomo and Grato, and the Borgo Rondò Festival (Festa del Borgo Rondò).
The La Barbera incontra festival is dedicated to the wines, three days with concerts, cultural meetings, entertainment, art, gastronomy and tastings; for truffle lovers, instead, the Regional Truffle Fair is worthy of note, in November.
Lastly, in December, the San Damiano d'Asti Local Capon Historical Fair (Fiera Storica del Cappone Nostrano di San Damiano d'Asti).
To be seen.
The urban fabric of San Damiano d'Asti developed on a preordained medieval layout.
The Sandamianese artistic heritage is very rich and with original shapes, such as the remarkable staircase that connects Piazza Camisola to Piazza 1275, where the presence of the Foro Boario is noted.
Returning to the historic center, the most prestigious buildings are Casa Castelli, Palazzo Vagnone, Palazzo Carlevaris (seat of the municipal building), Palazzo dei Conti Ceca di Vaglierano and Casa Demarie.
Staying nearby, the Clock Tower is also worth a visit.
In the north of the city, we find the Former Mandatory Prison, used as a prison until 1964 and now home to the Enoteca Colline Alfieri dell’Astigiano.
Palazzo Pescarmona and Casa Daneo, on the other hand, represent the two most prestigious buildings in the southernmost area of San Damiano, that is the area of the Montebello rampart.
In San Damiano there is also a civic museum and two castles: of the first, founded by Astesi in the Middle Ages, only the base of one of the circular towers remains.
The Castle of Lavezzole stands in the hamlet.
Now reviewing the patrimony of ecclesiastical assets, an important place is occupied by the parish church of Saints Cosma e Damiano, the Confraternity of Santissima Annunziata, the Church of Saint Giuseppe, and the parish Church of Saint Vincenzo Martire.
In the hamlet of San Giulio, we also find the Church of Saint Giulio.
Finally, for lovers of the outdoors, the presence of giant pencils and chairs and the “Sagrinte nen” street art path should be noted.
Curiosity.
San Damiano d'Asti is the most significant example of the locus novus of Asti Monferrato.
Information synthesis and/or re-elaboration was taken from the website of the Municipality of San Damiano d'Asti
Cover image source: Provincia di Asti