Asti, Italy

ASTIis the capital of Italy's sparkling wine industry and the most famous producer of spumante. Each September, this small, averagely attractive town becomes the focus of attention as it gears up for its Palio. Though it's taken nothing like as seriously as Siena's famous pageant and race, and has been revived to some extent for tourists, you should make an effort to see it if you're near here at the right time. On the day of the race itself, the third Sunday in September, there's a thousand-strong procession of citizens dressed as their fourteenth-century ancestors, before the frenetic bare-backed horse race around the arena of the Campo del Palio – followed by the awarding of the palio (banner) to the winner and all-night feasting and boozing.