Asti National Truffle Fair: guide between white truffles, cities and Monferrato

In mid-November Asti brings the scent of white truffles to the heart of the city. Piazza San Secondo becomes the center of the National Truffle Fair, with truffle hunters, producers, tastings and a market that attracts visitors from all over Piedmont and from outside the region. Around the square, the streets of the historic center welcome agri-food excellence and wines from Langhe, Monferrato and Roero, transforming the weekend into a great itinerary of taste.

The strength of the event lies precisely in its position. You don't visit a fair isolated from the urban context: you walk among medieval towers, baroque palaces, churches, museums and porticoed streets. In a few minutes you can go from a truffle stand at the Collegiata di San Secondo, from a tasting at Palazzo Mazzetti or from a walk along Corso Alfieri to a restaurant where truffles meet Piedmontese cuisine. It is one of the most interesting times of the year to experience Asti and use it as a starting point to explore Monferrato.

The Asti National Truffle Fair takes place every year in mid-November, generally on the weekend of the third Sunday of the month. The most recent formula develops between Saturday and Sunday, with the white truffle market, the agri-food excellences and the collateral activities concentrated in the historic centre.

Masterclasses, guided tours and dinners are opportunities to delve deeper into the discovery of Asti: book the appointments that interest you.

The event takes place in Asti’s historic centre, with Piazza San Secondo as its main landmark.

The urban dimension is one of the elements that distinguish Asti from small village fairs. The marquee and stands are placed directly inside the city, among commercial activities, squares and monuments. This allows you to build a very free visit, alternating the fair with a walk, a museum or a stop in a wine shop.

The event is dedicated in particular to the prized white truffle, Tuber magnatum Pico. It is the symbolic product of Piedmontese autumn and one of the most recognizable ingredients of regional cuisine. Its scent comes from a delicate balance between soil, symbiotic plants, humidity and climate, and for this reason each season can be different.

During the fair the truffles are displayed, checked and put on sale with the support of industry experts. The Trifolau Astigiani and Monferrini Association has been collaborating with the Municipality for years in activities related to the exhibition and awarding of the best specimens.

If you want to buy, don't be guided by size alone. A good truffle must have an intense aroma, compact consistency and an intact surface. Always ask for provenance, harvest date and storage recommendations.

The advantage of the fair is being able to compare different specimens and speak directly with those who know the product. A smaller but well-ripe truffle can be much more interesting than a large but less fragrant one.

One of the most anticipated moments on Sunday is the award ceremony for the best specimens of white truffles. The jury evaluates quality, scent, integrity and overall characteristics, awarding awards to the truffle hunters who presented the most interesting pieces.

For the visitor it is a precious opportunity to closely observe high quality truffles and understand what criteria are considered by the experts. The award ceremony transforms the market into a moment of storytelling about the territory and the work of the prospectors.

Trifolau and truffle dogs

Behind every truffle on display there is the work of the trifolao and his dog. Hunting requires knowledge of the woods, terrain and seasons, while dog training comes from a relationship built over time.

In past editions, the Asti Fair hosted simulated hunting demonstrations in Piazza San Secondo, offering the public the opportunity to see how truffle dogs work. These activities may change from year to year, so they must always be checked in the updated program.

The search and extraction of truffles in Italy is recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. The recognition does not concern the product itself, but the system of knowledge, practices and traditions that allows it to be sought while respecting the environment.

The market of local excellences

A market dedicated to local agri-food products develops around the truffle. Cheeses, cured meats, honey, preserves, desserts, baked goods and wines allow you to compose a much broader gastronomic journey than just Tuber magnatum Pico.

The event is supported by the I Gioielli del Territorio project, which extends the promotion of local excellence into the following weekends. The fair thus becomes the opening moment of a period in which the Asti center continues to host tastings, products and initiatives related to taste.

Wine is a natural presence. The fair recalls labels and denominations from Langhe, Monferrato and Roero, allowing truffles to be paired with wines produced on the surrounding hills.

For those who want to know the area, the tasting can become a map. Take note of the producer and country of origin: the next day you could reach that winery or travel the roads that cross the vineyards where the wine comes from.

Among the most representative wines of the Asti area and Monferrato are Barbera, Grignolino and Ruchè. They have very different profiles and allow you to create different combinations with autumn cuisine. A guided tasting is the best way to understand the differences without transforming the tasting into a simple sequence of glasses.

During the weekend of the fair, many restaurants in the city offer dishes and menus dedicated to truffles. Eggs, fondue, tajarin, risotto and raw meat are among the most classic combinations because they allow the scent of the truffle to remain at the center of the dish.

The white truffle is normally sliced raw on the hot plate just before serving. The heat releases the aromas without subjecting it to actual cooking. If you choose a specific restaurant, book in advance: the weekend of the fair can attract many people.

Piazza San Secondo: the heart of the event

Piazza San Secondo is the historical living room of Asti and during the fair it becomes the central point of the truffle market. The Collegiate Church of San Secondo, the Palazzo Civico and the buildings that border the square create a very different setting from that of a normal exhibition space.

Spend a few minutes observing the square even outside the stands. The Gothic façade of the Collegiate Church and the surrounding urban fabric tell of a city that has preserved a medieval identity that is still very legible.

The Collegiate Church of San Secondo is one of the main religious buildings in the city and directly overlooks the fair square. The current structure is predominantly Gothic and holds a strong connection with the patron saint of Asti.

Entering the church allows you to interrupt the rhythm of the market for a few minutes. It is a simple visit to include in the day because it does not require travel: just cross the square.

Corso Alfieri crosses an important part of the center and allows you to reach museums, palaces and towers. Asti still preserves several testimonies from the medieval period, when noble families built towers as a symbol of power and prestige.

As you walk among the fair and other city attractions, look for the Troyana Tower and the other brick elements that emerge between the buildings. This vertical dimension is one of the most characteristic features of the Asti skyline.

Palazzo Mazzetti

Palazzo Mazzetti is one of the most interesting cultural stops to combine with the fair. The baroque palace hosts art collections and temporary exhibitions and allows you to go from the truffle market to decorated rooms, paintings and historical environments in just a few minutes.

If the weather is cold or rainy, the museum is also an excellent alternative to break up the day. Current exhibitions and information for visiting are on the museum website.

Asti is the birthplace of Vittorio Alfieri and Palazzo Alfieri preserves a museum dedicated to the poet and playwright. The building is located along Corso Alfieri and can easily be included in a walk between the center and the Cathedral area.

The visit allows you to add a literary and historical dimension to the day. If you have already known Palazzo Alfieri during the Douja d’Or, the Truffle Fair offers a reason to return to the city in a completely different season.

The Cathedral of Asti is one of the largest Gothic churches in Piedmont and is located a few minutes walk from Piazza San Secondo. The facade and large brick volumes are worth a quick visit, especially if it is your first time in the city.

The Cathedral area is quieter than the fair square and allows you to breathe a different rhythm. In autumn the contrast between the red bricks, the sky and the leaves also makes the place particularly interesting for photography.

Saturday is ideal for getting into the atmosphere of the fair without cramming everything into a few hours. Arrive in the morning, visit the truffle market and dedicate the early afternoon to the historic center. Palazzo Mazzetti or Palazzo Alfieri can become the main cultural stop.

In the late afternoon, return to Piazza San Secondo for a tasting or purchase and end the day with a Piedmontese dinner. If you sleep in the city, on Sunday you will be able to return to the fair early and experience the moment of the awards with more peace of mind.

Arrive early. The early hours are the best for observing the truffles, talking to the sellers and moving around the tent before it gets crowded.

After the first tour, walk along Corso Alfieri, observe the towers and reach one of the museums or the Cathedral. One or two well-chosen places are enough to give the day a much richer dimension.

For lunch, choose a restaurant in the center or a gastronomic proposal linked to the event. If you want a specific truffle menu, book before the weekend.

Check the award ceremony time and return to Piazza San Secondo. Before leaving you can buy local products after calmly comparing the different offers on the market.

The National Truffle Fair is closely linked to the I Gioielli del Territorio event, which in recent editions has extended the presence of food and wine products and initiatives in the center of Asti for several weeks.

This means that those who are unable to visit the city on the weekend of the fair can still find, in the following weekends, opportunities for tastings, purchases, masterclasses and cultural initiatives. However, the precise program must always be verified for the current year.

Asti is a perfect base for continuing your journey into the hills. With a night in the city you can dedicate the next day to a winery, a village or a route through vineyards and woods.

Agliano Terme, Montegrosso d'Asti, Costigliole d'Asti, Portacomaro, Castagnole Monferrato and other centers can be reached without long transfers. The best choice is not to accumulate too many stages: a walk, a lunch and a winery can fill the day perfectly.

The truffle seen in Piazza San Secondo grows in a landscape made up of woods, ditches, limestone soils and symbiotic trees. Leaving the city the next day allows you to connect the product to the area from which it comes.

You don't need to participate in a search to appreciate this report. A walk in the hills during autumn, among woods and vineyards, is enough to understand how much the truffle is linked to the natural environment and not just to cuisine.

The Asti Truffle Fair can also be experienced with the family. The advantage of the city is having bars, services, museums and rest areas within walking distance of the event area.

If the program includes demonstrations with truffle dogs or educational activities, they can be particularly interesting for children. However, during central hours the square can become very crowded, so it is best to arrive early with the little ones.

The market offers many subjects: truffles on display, hands of trifolau, dogs, glasses, local products and crowds under the tent. However, to really tell the story of the event, try to include the city in the images.

The Collegiate Church of San Secondo in the background, the brick streets, the towers and the facades of the center immediately give an Asti identity to the photographs. Late afternoon is particularly interesting when the light dims and the squares start to light up.

The National Truffle Fair takes place in the historic center of Asti. Piazza San Secondo is the main reference for the white truffle market, while the excellence market can extend into the adjacent streets.

Asti is easily reachable both by car and by train. The train station is within walking distance of the center and represents a particularly convenient solution if you plan to do wine tasting.

If you are arriving by car, check for any closures and traffic changes planned for the event. On busy weekends it is useful to leave the car in a car park outside the most central nucleus and continue on foot.

The center has numerous restaurants, trattorias, wine bars and clubs. During the weekend of the fair the most popular places can fill up quickly, so booking is advisable especially for the menus dedicated to truffles.

Mid-November can be cold and wet. Dress in layers, choose comfortable shoes and bring a waterproof jacket. The main part of the fair is in an urban area, so technical footwear is not needed unless you plan an excursion outside the city.

The National Truffle Fair works because it brings many stories of the territory into one square: the work of the trifolau, the woods, the wines, the farms and the Piedmontese cuisine. But the center of Asti adds a further layer of art, architecture and urban life.

Come for the truffle, take time to taste and talk to those looking for them, then keep walking. Enter a church, cross Corso Alfieri and the next day follow one of the labels or products encountered towards the hills. This is how a two-day fair can become a real journey into Monferrato.

Source: official reference of the event.