Dimore Pulcino a Montepulciano

It may appear an usual occurrence come visiting these parts of Tuscany, submerged by the very traditions that have made our regional culture famous worldwide. It is easy to take for granted the simple and honest cuisine, the marvel of old town centres rejuvenated to their former glory and inviting wine cellars ready to welcome willing tourists. However in the 1960’s nothing of what you experience in this part of the world was here. The concept of cultural values and hospitality was still unborn. Few were the places where tourists could go and sample our traditional cuisine. In the shopping streets, the badly maintained workshops and coffee bars were open to the public but often only exclusive to local residents. Enthusiastic travellers would be met with a sight of decaying buildings, with just the memory of their former glory to admire. With the end of the great noble families, who had so much weight in the development of the city, the climate of survival of this area, that over the centuries had its great economic and cultural development due to the foresight of its citizens, remained tangible. All the right ingredients were there. There was just a need to mix them the exact way and retrieve environments from oblivion so that they could be opened to the world. For this very reason Pulcino, at the beginning of the 1960’s, had the inspiration to restore the Old Guard Post at the entrance of the town, Porta di Bacco. He revived the traditional dishes of bruschetta and cannellini beans, humble fayre long forgotten. It was a success and the beginning of an itinerary beset with hard work, commitment and sacrifice.