The claim to fame of the lovely small town of Lajatico, 25 miles south of Pisa, is that it is the birthplace of world-famous tenor Andrea Bocelli. While Bocelli now lives on the Tuscan coast in Forte di Marmi, you can spot the house (with big red shutters) he bought for his mother in Lajatico. In 2006, Bocelli persuaded the local government to build an outdoor theater in the peaceful, rolling hills of the town.
Every July since 2006, Bocelli has performed at for one night at the open air venue — called Teatro del Silenzio — accompanied by fellow musicians such as Placido Domingo, Sarah Brightman, Kenny G and Chris Botti. Fans come from around the world for the performance. The theater remains silent the rest of the year. The venue features a small lake surrounded by travertine blocks and modern art by Igor Mitorai and Arnaldo Pomodoro.
If you plan ahead, you can purchase tickets to the July performance — in 2012, it will take place on July 12th. But this beautiful outdoor space is worth a visit no matter what time of year you visit this corner of Tuscany.
By Kathy McCabe
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