Tuscany Tour: Lajatico, Volterra & Pisa Tours

From San Gimignano half an hour and the driver will park in the centre of Volterra. The Etruscans town sits on a rocky plateau and is protected by medieval ramparts. Takes a tour in the Piazza dei Priori, one of Italy’s most impressive squares and visit the Etruscan Museum, known all over the world. You are in a place where Italy’s history and language were born! Volterra is also known for its fine frescoes.

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. Loss of sight 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.