Montefollonico

Art here in Tuscany is also found in the food and the gardens. We traveled again in the hill towns, with no particular destination in mind. We stopped at a gem of a village called Montefollonico, the last stronghold in the famous wars between Siena and Florence in medieval times. Today, the village is famous for its panoramic views of the Tuscan countryside and its cuisine. We ate lunch at a small family owned restaurant called "13 Gobbi". The chef still uses medieval recipes for dishes like "peposa"(Eric's choice on the menu, much to his delight), a stew made from meat from the famous white cattle here. I ordered homemade "Pici" (pasta) with pecorino cheese. The restaurant owner mixed the pasta at table side in a large, hollowed out wheel of cheese - fantastico! It is a good thing we walk a lot around here - mostly up hill. We finished our day with a stop at Church of San Biagio on the outskirts of Montepulciano, a masterpiece of honey and cream colored travertine begun in 1518.