Lajatico | ||
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Comune | ||
Comune di Lajatico | ||
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Location of Lajatico in Italy | ||
Coordinates: 43°28′20″N 10°43′46″E / 43.47222°N 10.72944°ECoordinates: 43°28′20″N 10°43′46″E / 43.47222°N 10.72944°E | ||
Country | Italy | |
Region | Tuscany | |
Province / Metropolitan city | Pisa (PI) | |
Frazioni | Orciatico, La Sterza, San Giovanni | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | Fabio Tedeschi | |
Area | ||
• Total | 72.3 km2 (27.9 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 205 m (673 ft) | |
Population (Dec. 2004) | ||
• Total | 1,353 | |
• Density | 19/km2 (48/sq mi) | |
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
Postal code | 56030 | |
Dialing code | 0587 | |
Website | Official website |
Lajatico is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Pisa in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 50 kilometres (31 mi) southwest of Florence and about 40 kilometres (25 mi) southeast of Pisa. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,353 and an area of 72.3 square kilometres (27.9 sq mi). Lajatico sits in mainly hilly terrain at variable elevations from 100 to 650 metres (330 to 2,130 ft) above sea level) and dominates the end of the Valdera valley and the opening of the valley known as Val di Cecina.
La Sterza, one of its hamlets (frazioni), is the natural door between these two geographical areas. The Sterza, Era, and the Ragone rivers form natural borders, placing Lajatico in a very central position to reach Tuscan cities and seaside resorts. Lajatico is, however, best known as the home town of tenor Andrea Bocelli. His annual concerts at the Teatro del Silenzio are attended by people from all around the world, every year.
Lajatico has the following hamlets (frazioni) associated with it: Orciatico, an ancient small medieval village; Spedaletto, a stomping ground of Lorenzo de' Medici; Villaggio San Giovanni, and La Sterza. Lajatico borders the following municipalities: Chianni, Montecatini Val di Cecina, Peccioli, Riparbella, Terricciola, Volterra.
Lajatico, as the suffix “atico” indicates, surely has Lombard heritage, but the first settlements are much more ancient. Archaeological evidence suggests (a funeral stone, some urns, terracotta vases, etc.) that the village is Etruscan in origin.