Page 231 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SUMMER 2024 LIMA

Ever wonder where Andrea Bocelli grew
up?
I’d be impressed if you said La Sterza,
an otherwise nondescript hamlet in the
heart of Tuscany that’s only 15 meandering
miles down from Volterra, surrounded by
rolling hills as far as the eye can see and
redolent with stone buildings dating back
to the 7th Century.
Our traveling troupe was treated to
leisurely pasta lunch and wine tasting at
Officine Bocelli, the Bocelli’s family’s un‐
derstated, elegant café and adjacent vine‐
yard tucked away in the nearby village of
Lajatico, a few miles down a narrow road
that our bus barely navigated.
On this day, the other maestro wasn’t
there, but we were greeted by his adult-
aged nephew, who bore a striking resem‐
blance to the world’s most celebrated
opera performer.
With a dash of impertinence, someone
(me) asked the fellow if he’d been gifted
with a singing voice like that of his uncle.
He replied that no; he wasn’t, but that Un‐
cle Andrea didn’t much know how to make
wine, either.
Our next stop took us to the Teatro de
Silencio (Theater of Silence), a stunning
open-air amphitheater built in 2006 not far
from the family’s vineyard and café.
Each year, usually in July but only once
a year (thus, silence), the 5,000-capacity
venue presents a bravura concert hosted
by Bocelli himself, joined by world-
renowned performers he personally invites.
As we exited the bus, the wind was
howling at over 50 mph, reminiscent of the
mistral winds in Southern France known to
drive people crazy.
In homage, it wasn’t long before it was
time to say goodbye.

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