Carlo Collodi, the author of the Pinocchio story, was the pseudonym of Carlo Lorenzini, who was born and raised in Florence. The “Collodi” in his pseudonym was the name of the Tuscan village where Lorenzini’s mother was born.
You can visit Collodi easily, where you will find Il Parco di Pinocchio a Collodi , the Pinocchio de Collodi Park. It’s a pretty dated park from the days when creepy death-defying rides weren’t needed to enchant kids.
The park tells Collodi’s version of the Pinocchio story through sculptures, mosaics, and puppet shows. It has a museum with articles related to Pinocchio.
Note that Collodi’s version of Pinocchio is inspired by the comedy of art and is a much darker, more complex and socially relevant story than the Disney adaptation; Like many classic children’s tales, it is both an animated adventure and a social critique for adults. You may want to read Collodi’s version before you go. There is a web version in English per page per page of books that you can access from the link above.
Collodi, located in the Tuscany region of Italy, is halfway between Montecatini Terme Spa (10 km) and Lucca (15 km), and not far from Florence (60 km). Take highway 435 east from Lucca towards Florence to find Collodi. Lucca is a recommended destination as well (walk the walls around the city!)
Collodi’s other great attraction is the 17th-century Villa Garzoni, located opposite Pinocchio Park. The steeply sloping land around the Villa offers a cascading garden that combines the geometric symmetry of the Renaissance with the spectacular effects of the Baroque. The garden contains the last remaining maze between the Lucchese villas as well.
Pinocchio Park, Collodi
Ticket price at time of writing: 12 euros (6 euros for 3-14 and over 65s)
Group tickets (minimum 20 people) 8 euros each
Here is the Hours and Tickets page (in Italian).
There are spaces in the park to have lunch bags, and there is also a restaurant, the Osteria del Gambero Rosso, within the park.
Finding Pinocchio hiding in the hills
Sure, Carlo Collodi wrote Pinocchio, but who was the best illustrator ? The answer lies in a little-known corner of Italy, Vernante, the last home of Pinocchio’s definitive illustrator, Attilio Mussino. Vernante is located between the sea and the Maritime Alps in the Piemonte region.
Like Collodi in Tuscany, the town of Pinocchio, Vernante has become » il paese dello zio di Pinocchio «, the town of Pinocchio’s uncle. Here, in 1989, two citizens began painting murals based on Mussino’s work, transforming the walls of houses into treasures of the imagination, an open-air monument to the work of the master Mussino.
Stroll through the streets to absorb the history of Pinocchio; There are murals everywhere. Vernante is a charming little town, in any case, located in a narrow valley surrounded by the Alpi Marittime , the Maritime Alps.
Tip: Before leaving Vernante, stop for a sip of tea (or something stronger) at the Pub » Il Cavallino » on the square from 1’ala 20. You won’t believe your eyes. Il Cavallino is an authentic Irish pub. The owner has a passion for everything Celtic, including music. He speaks English and is happy to be able to practice with you, and it is a wealth of information about the history and festivals of the region.
From Vernante, you can visit the Maritime Alps Park or head down the coast to Liguria. Another city that I enjoy in Piedmonte is Cuneo to the north. Click for a map and surrounding information.
