The Ultimate Andrea Bocelli Experience

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Each year, the famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli hosts a concert in his hometown of Lajatico, Italy at the Teatro del Silenzio (Theater of Silence). The theater, built in 2006, is an open-air amphitheater surrounded by the Tuscan hills. Once every July, the Teatro del Silenzio hosts a concert by Bocelli, then remains silent the rest of the year.

It’s a truly special event for devoted fans of the tenor, who is well-known for his unique blend of opera and pop music. For the concert this year, Bocelli returns to his most loved opera, playing the main character in ‘Andrea Chénier’ by Umberto Giordano. The concert with the great maestro will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that’s made even more memorable by the theatre’s incredible setting in the Tuscan countryside.

You should plan to stick around Italy for a few days pre and post-concert to see some more of Il Bel Paese, “the beautiful country.” Florence is just 1.5 hours away from Lajatico by car. The birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Florence is home to countless works of art by the leading artists and architects of the area. A visit to Florence would not be complete without a visit to the Uffizi Gallery, seeing the David at the Accademia Gallery, standing in awe of the Duomo, or a stroll across the Ponte Vecchio. Its markets are bursting with people selling everything from antiques, leather products, and pashminas to dried fruit.

There’s a number of incredible villas in the Tuscan countryside to choose from, but if you want to be in the heart of the city, we suggest Portrait Firenze. It sits in the shadow of the Ponte Vecchio, just minutes from the city’s iconic art, history, fashion, and food scenes.

The towns of Volterra and Siena are also located near Bocelli’s hometown and are an easy day trip from Lajatico. The historic center of Siena is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited sites in Italy. The city is centered around the Piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s greatest medieval squares, renowned for its beauty and architectural integrity. Twice a year (July 2 and August 16), the piazza hosts the Palio de Siena, one of the most illustrious festivals and horse races in the country.

If you can’t make it to Italy for the concert but are a fan of Bocelli, we can arrange a visit to the Andrea Bocelli Farmhouse for a guided tour of the cellars and vineyards adjacent to the farmhouse. At the Officine Bocelli Restaurant, you can partake in a private wine tasting experience with members of the Bocelli family, learn about the wine produced by the family, and the history behind the brand. Also available for sampling are the family’s oil and honey products. On the floor above the restaurant, you can also tour a museum dedicated to the great maestro. An easy afternoon trip from Lajatico, is Pisa where you’ll find the famous leaning tower, the Piazza dei Miracoli and Cathedral, and the Baptistry.

To round out the Andrea Bocelli experience, a private driver can take you to the Valdera region of Italy to the PPG Studios for a guided tour of the studio and insight into Bocelli’s recording process. Following the tour, you’ll have a multimedia tour of Maestro Bocelli’s recording sessions and creative development of his greatest hits, with exclusive and unpublished images and videos of the highlights of his career and his experiences inside PPG Studios. You can even record one of Bocelli’s famous hits in the PPG Studios and take the recording home with you.

To travel to Italy with Ker & Downey for the Teatro del Silenzio concert, Palio de Siena, or any other time during the year, contact your Luxury Travel Expert. 

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