Tuscany Tour: Lajatico, San Gimignano & Pisa Tours

Only one hour and a half to reach the medieval village of San Gimignano, passing through the most wonderful Tuscan countryside. The rolling slopes are covered with vineyards and silvery green olive grows, like a picture. Only this spectacle would be more than enough to enjoy this tour! Fortified walls and watchtowers show power and prosperity in the Middle Ages.

Only thirteen of the town’s original 76 towers remain. Enjoy your time to stroll the narrow cobbled streets taking San Gimignano’s sights, Piazza della Cisterna, the Collegiata in Piazza del Duomo, a Romanesque cathedral known.

La Sterza, one of its hamlets (frazioni), is the natural door between these two geographical areas. The Sterza, Era, and the Ragone rivers form natural borders, placing Lajatico in a very central position to reach Tuscan cities and seaside resorts. Lajatico is however best known as the hometown of tenor Andrea Bocelli. His annual concerts at the Teatro del Silenzio are attended by people from all around the world, every year. The Teatro del Silenzio (or Theatre of Silence) is an Italian open-air amphitheatre which is located in Lajatico, Tuscany — the hometown of Andrea Bocelli.

In 2006, Bocelli influenced the municipality of his hometown Lajatico to build the outdoor theatre, and contributed greatly towards its construction. Bocelli performed for one night only. The theatre hosts a concert once every July. Bocelli, the honorary president, has agreed to sing once a year for five years in the open air theatre, with the theatre remaining silent for the rest of the year.

Andrea Bocelli was born 22 September 1958 in Lajatico (La sterza), to Alessandro and Edi Bocelli. They lived on the family farm, selling farm machinery and making wine in the small village of La Sterza, a frazione of Lajatico, Tuscany, Italy, which is about 40 km south of Pisa. Bocelli’s mother and younger brother Alberto still live in the family home. Bocelli’s father died in 2000. As a young boy, Bocelli showed a great passion for music. His mother has said that music was the only thing that would comfort him.

At the age of six he started piano lessons, and later also learned to play the flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, harp, guitar and drums. Bocelli would also spend time singing during his childhood. At the age of 14, he won his first song competition, the Margherita d’Oro in Viareggio with O sole mio. After finishing secondary school in 1980, he studied law at the University of Pisa. To earn money Bocelli performed evenings in piano bars. He completed law school and spent one year as a court-appointed lawyer. It was there, in 1987, that he met his future wife, Enrica.

It was evident at birth that Bocelli had problems with his sight, and after visits to many doctors, he was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma. In 1970, at the age of 12, he lost his sight completely following an accident during a football game.

• Comfortable walking shoes recommended.