Lajatico, an ancient town of Longobard origin, was in the past the castle of the Pannocchieschi counts and consequently of the bishop of Volterra, before being conquered by Pisa and then by Florence. In recent years the town has become an international tourist destination thanks to the tenor Andrea Bocelli, who was born here.…

It is thanks to the famous musician that every year in July - in front of the charming backdrop of the Teatro del Silenzio - a concert is held in which Bocelli himself takes part, accompanied by internationally renowned artists. The theater, founded in 2006 to host only one performance a year (hence the name) consists of a natural amphitheater that takes advantage of the formation of a hill not far from the village.
Another symbol of the area is the imposing Rocca di Pietracassia, built at the time of the Lombards to guard the road that led to the copper mines of Montecatini. Abandoned for centuries, the castle is one of the most important examples of high medieval architecture in all of Tuscany and owes its name to a crevice that opened up on a huge limestone rock that rises above the ridge on which it is located ("cassa" means "broken open").
A destination worth visiting in the area is Orciatico, whose recently restored historic center preserves a castle from whose tower you can enjoy a splendid view of Valdera and the Monti Pisani. Orciatico is also famous for its chestnut trees and two windmills, built towards the end of the 17th century and still in good condition. For those who are passionate about geothermal, it is recommended to visit the Mofette of Borboi, an area that characterize phenomena due to the emission of carbon dioxide and studied by the research institute CNR.