Pici Cooking School - NarraTerra

In Monticchiello, pici are not simply a type of pasta, but the symbol of a peasant culture that has become community. Born in rural homes of the Val d’Orcia with just water and flour, they represent the essence of “simple eating”: the ability to create nourishment and conviviality from very limited resources. This tradition is proudly preserved by the Community Cooperative of the Teatro Povero. Here, the act of “appiciare” (hand-rolling the pasta) is a living bond that connects generations, the same spirit that has animated the village’s summer performances for decades. Through our Pici School, we invite you to discover this lived experience, where culinary craftsmanship meets the historical memory of the territory.

Pici are a traditional pasta from the Siena area, made from a few simple ingredients: soft wheat flour, water, and a pinch of salt. They represent the “cucina povera” (simple rural cooking) of the Val d’Orcia, where limited resources were compensated by skilled manual work and the use of local ingredients such as ancient grains and extra virgin olive oil.

In Monticchiello, the Teatro Povero Community Cooperative preserves this practice, passing it down as a key element of local identity.

Traditional preparation:

The dough: The flour is kneaded vigorously with lukewarm water until a smooth, elastic dough is obtained. Resting the dough is an essential step to make the next stage of hand shaping easier.

The act of “appiciare”: The technique lies in the movement of the palm of the hand on a wooden board. Small portions of dough are rolled and stretched until they become long, uneven strands of pasta.

Characteristics: This irregular shape, a distinctive sign of handmade production, allows the pasta to hold sauces better, such as aglione in the Val d’Orcia tradition or Tuscan bread crumbs (“briciole”).

The Pici School

In Monticchiello, the boundary between stage and everyday life is as thin as a strand of pasta. Just as our “autodrammi” are born from the stories of the community, the Pici School is created to bring you into the heart of our rural civilization. Here, food is not just nourishment—it is an act of rural storytelling. Taking part in our workshops means stepping directly into living tradition.