Pici, a thick and hand rolled spaghetti like pasta, is easy to find in a number of towns in Tuscany. One such place is the lovely hilltop town of Montepulciano. Montepulciano is located in southern Tuscany on the border with Umbria.
Pici al ragu is a fabulous local dish which can be incredibly filling and works well with the local wines, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano or the Rosso di Montepulciano. Pici are somewhat harder to find in the United States but don’t despair.
Should you choose to go to Montepulciano, this period of time is perfect as you can attend the Bravio festival, an ancient rite which was brought back in the 1970s. Strong men roll huge wine barrels up and down the hills of the city in a race to the finish line, the Duomo in Piazza Grande.
The city is divided into eight contrade (neighborhoods) and is currently in the middle of a week long holiday with renaissance costumes, drummers and flag twirlers giving exhibitions on a daily basis. Each contrada serves lunch and dinner for one week in their local headquarters. Locals dress in the colors of the contrada and the streets are decked out with flags.
Pici are on almost every menu and can be eaten with different sauces but the classic combination is with the homemade ragu. The ragu can be made with pork, beef, wild boar or sausage. While this dish sounds heavy for the summer months, it can actually be light and delicate. It is also extremely filling and therefore can be a great meal for lunch followed later in the day by a lighter dinner.
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