Taking place every year in September, the Palio di Asti involves 21 towns and villages of the area surrounding this Piedmont town, the capital of Monferrato, one of Italy’s most important wine regions, 55 km west of Turin.

Except for brief interruptions, the Palio di Asti has been run every year since medieval times, and it’s considered the oldest in Italy. It originated as part of the celebrations in honor of Asti’s patron saint, San Secondo. The earliest record dates to 1275, cited by Guglielmo Ventura, who also reports that the first race took place in rival Alba, as a gesture of challenge and ridicule, also causing extensive damage to the vineyards.