Pinocchio Park in Collodi, located in the province of Pistoia, is celebrating a significant milestone in 2026: the seventieth anniversary of its establishment and the bicentennial of the birth of Carlo Collodi, the pseudonym of writer Carlo Lorenzini, who is credited with the creation of the renowned marionette. The park was established in 1956 as a result of a national competition won jointly by sculptor Emilio Greco and artist Venturino Venturi. Over time, it has evolved into a significant cultural and tourist destination that is dedicated to the arts, literature, and children. The structure’s internal path leads visitors through the fairytale with statues, installations, and themed spaces—from the Dogfish to the Field of Miracles, from the Pirates’ Cave to the Hall of the Talking Cricket—adjacent to the 16th-century Garzoni Garden, designated as a National Monument, and the Butterfly House, a monumental greenhouse opened in 2007. In celebration of this double anniversary, the complex is now embarking on a new chapter. The Fondazione Nazionale Carlo Collodi, under the presidency of Giordano Bruno Guerri, is currently in the process of relaunching a new project aimed at transforming Collodi into a significant contemporary cultural hub by integrating preservation, research, and new forms of enjoyment.v
News Source: 9Colonne
