Inside Andrea Bocelli’s Family Farm In Tuscany

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At dawn, the road to Lajatico in Tuscany winds through a dreamy world of rolling hills covered in vineyards that gently spill down into medieval villages frozen in time. As the sun begins to peek through the fog-shrouded valley, driving down Main Street reveals how deeply this small town honors its most famous resident and singing legend, Andrea Bocelli.

This could be called Bocelliland after all, as tour buses pile in, filled with admirers hoping to connect with the singer. They wander the Bocelli Museum, toast with glasses of the Bocelli family wine, and dine in the large Officine Bocelli Food Hall. On occasion, Andrea has been known to ride his favorite black stallion down the streets of the town, much to the surprise of the visitors.

The family farm is located near Pisa, where music, wine, and a long family history have created a legacy stretching back nearly two centuries. Andrea spends his free time here when not traveling the world performing, while his younger brother Alberto and his family quietly tend to the 300 acres of grain fields, vines, and olive trees, safeguarding the land their ancestors once farmed as sharecroppers.

A Land Honoring Tradition

In the 18th century, the Bocelli family worked the Spedaletto farm for the Corsini Princes. But in 1831, Gaspero Bocelli bought his own small estate, Poggioncino, ending the family’s days as sharecroppers. Seven generations later, the tradition continues- including the firstborn sons names all beginning with the letter “A.” Anselmo, son of Gaspero, great-grandfather Antonio, his son Anselmo, grandfather Alcide (an electromechanical expert and inventor), Alessandro (father of Andrea, born 1958), and Alberto (born 1961) the tradition continues with Amos, Andrea’s eldest son, and Alessio, Alberto’s eldest son.

The estate has grown with each generation. Grandfather Alcide devoted his life to the farm, father Alessandro modernized it, and today, Alberto, together with his wife Cinzia, has transformed it into a thriving agro-tourism destination.

There is much more to the Bocelli family empire than just the farm life. Once a year, nearly 10,000 fans gather nightly for a week of concerts in a nearby natural amphitheater called Teatro de Silenzio. Designed by the family, it is set among travertine stones and fields—and created as a special space for fans to see Andrea Bocelli perform under the stars. After the week’s events, the stage is dismantled, returning the land to its peaceful state.

I had the chance to meet the maestro himself on my first evening as he was warming up for his concert. With his beautiful wife Veronica Berti always by his side, he is soft-spoken, generous, and dedicated to his Andrea Bocelli Foundation, which gives back to those suffering from illness, poverty, and social exclusion.

The Bocelli family also owns the luxurious Alpemare Beach Club in nearby Forte dei Marmi. This iconic location is one of the most exclusive (and expensive) beach clubs in Italy. Previously an old bathing establishment from the 50s, it was transformed by the family as if it were a private home. The beach offers up 120 historic renovated cabanas, each with its own private area.

Andrea and Veronica have a summer residence in Il Forte near the beach club. Formerly an 1800s guesthouse, they renovated the space into a 10-bedroom villa, including three pianos and a recording studio. During the Summer, you can often find Matteo, the tenor’s second son, performing at special events here in the massive garden.

The Son Also Rises

Finding a quiet corner in the bustling Bocelli headquarters was no easy task, with fans crowding in for wine tasting and shopping. Beneath the banner of their BOCELLI 1831 label, produced in partnership with Zonin1821, Alberto Bocelli and his son Alessio joined me to share stories of the land they vow they will never leave, as we sampled their sustainable wines- Terre di Sandro, Alcide, Ed, and their newest addition, a Prosecco DOC.

As the firstborn son of his generation, Alessio has always understood that the future of the family business would one day rest on his shoulders. “I didn’t know how or when,” he says, “but I always felt that the responsibility of carrying on our family’s legacy would fall on me.” His commitment is anchored by his loyalty to the place he calls home. “I feel a deep pride in our long history and in who we are, along with a profound sense of responsibility for those roots. That alone has kept me close to our land.”

Now, as the face of the company that guests meet when visiting, Alessio makes hospitality personal. “Whether it’s for a wine tasting, curious tourists, or Bocelli fans, I’m the one who welcomes them into our home,” he says. “I make them feel like true guests and friends under the family roof.”

For Alberto, the journey has been one of dual devotion- to his brother Andrea’s musical career and to the family farm. “I’ve always had a very close relationship with my brother, and since we were young, I’ve tried to help him whenever he needed it,” he says. “When his artistic career began, I eventually realized it was necessary to slow down my work as an architect to stay close to him.” The shift became permanent. “Over a short period, I became his consultant and trusted advisor, and I’ve now been in that role for nearly thirty years.”

His dedication to the land runs just as deep. “As a boy, I used to help my dad. And when he sadly fell ill at a young age, I decided to take over the management of our farm,” Alberto recalls. “After he passed away, Andrea and I decided to modernize and take things to the next level, especially in wine production and olive oil.”

It’s clear the father-son relationship is also built on mutual respect. Alessio’s knack for marketing and managing export partnerships suggests a natural leadership in the company, though Alberto resists making predictions. “From a young age, my son has been exposed to the ups and downs of the family farm,” he says. “Eventually, it will be up to him to decide the future of the company and the brands we have built. But I believe that, having grown up with a deep awareness of what’s been built over generations, he’ll do everything he can to keep improving and carry on this wonderful tradition.”

Alessio smiles at the thought. “I’m grateful to have my parents by my side. I’ve learned not just about business, but about patience, pride, and how every detail matters.”

For Alberto, the land holds a lifetime of treasured memories, “I’ll never forget the harvest and threshing days from my childhood,” he says. “We’d gather for an amazing dinner on long makeshift tables, sharing simple but delicious dishes with meat and vegetables from our farm. There were plenty of laughs and teasing—-and, of course, my brother would often sing, standing on a small bench like it was a stage.”

One building in particular is close to his heart. “Over the years, my family has acquired many buildings, and because of my deep attachment to tradition, I’ve always restored them,” he explains. “The one I feel most connected to is where my grandfather’s childhood wine cellar was. About twenty years ago, I decided to give new life to the storerooms above it. Every Sunday, I worked on it myself, demolishing part of the roof to bring in light, creating tables and shelves from reclaimed wood, and painting with a technique I invented. It became my new architecture studio, and it represents me more than any other place.”

The Bocelli’s story is one of artistry and agriculture, music and soil – like a cherished duet between past and present. As Alberto puts it, “We’re lucky to live in a place where our history surrounds us in every stone, every vine, every glass we pour.” And as father and son walk through the vineyards together, Alessio adds with confidence, “The roots run deep here- and they’re not going anywhere.”

*Interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Andrea Bocelli