Roman route
Discovering a lost world
Immerse yourself in a journey to discover the Roman roots of Asti.
“Hasta”, the ancient Roman name of the city, experienced a particularly flourishing period in the classical era, the remains of which give us a precious testimony to be discovered, known, preserved, and promoted. Corso Alfieri, the main street of the city, once corresponded to the decumanus maximus (the road that united the east and west part of the city in Roman urban planning) and formed a square perimeter of 700 meters
Route details
Explore the stages
I stop
Red Tower and Roman Domus
It starts from one of the oldest monuments in the city, the Red Tower, whose initial construction dates back to the 1st century BC. and which represents a splendid example of a sixteen-sided Roman tower, which stands where the ancient Roman gateway to the city once stood (where today the Church of Saint Catherine is located), and continues with a visit to the Roman Domus and its splendid original mosaic floors.
II stop
Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption
Near the Domus, a visit to the Cathedral is a must. Although its style is mainly Lombard Gothic, the cathedral has elements dating back to the Roman age: The four statues on the external side, carved in Roman marble; two large Corinthian capitals from the 1st-2nd century AD on which two baptismal basins rest; the nine Roman marble columns on which the De Gentis baptismal font rests.
III stop
Diocesan Museum of Saint John and Crypt
The Roman charm continues with the visit of two splendid crypts. The first one is in the Diocesan Museum of S. John, built with materials from the Roman and early medieval times, with its four columns and Corinthian capitals.
IV stop
Museum of Saint Anastasius and Crypt
Not far away from the Diocesan Museum of S. John, there is the Museum of Saint Anastasius, with its extremely fascinating crypt, recovered and inserted in a very elegant underground museum context.
V stop
Roman Amphitheater
One would not expect to access the remains of an ancient Roman amphitheater from a fur shop, yet, as if crossing a portal of time, from the Gallizzi fur shop you can go down to a basement (by appointment, thanks to the sensitivity of the shop owners), where in 1987 the remains of an amphitheater from the second half of the 1st century AD were found.
