Once upon a time, there was, “A King!” No, children, you are mistaken. Once upon a time, there was a piece of wood.”
At the entrance of Pinocchio Park, there is a marble plaque, engraved with the opening lines of the book The Adventures of Pinocchio, written by Carlo Collodi in 1883. Wandering around the Park, you’ll be forgiven for thinking you’ve stepped into a fairytale.
The sun shines through the leafy canopy; puppeteers prepare a show, while children play around statues depicting Pinocchio and the other characters of the tale. There are gypsy wagons and merry-go-rounds, the Fairy’s little house, a pirate ship with treasure cave, and even a giant fish-shaped fountain.
Carlo Collodi wasn’t the author’s real name. He was born Carlo Lorenzini, and took his nom de plume from his home village in the Tuscan hills not far from Florence. The book soon became a classic, and after Disney’s 1940 rendition Pinocchio achieved worldwide fame. Nowadays, Collodi is dedicated to all things Pinocchio. A giant Pinocchio statue greets visitors at the entrance of Pinocchio Park, and the streets in the lower part of town are lined with stalls selling Pinocchio toys and souvenirs.
Pinocchio Park was opened in 1956; it’s more than an amusement park, it allows visitors to walk through the story, following paths lined with mosaics, small buildings, and statues of Pinocchio characters. The statues and other artworks in the park are the work of Italian artists; making the Park a great place to visit for the whole family.