The Pinocchio Park in Colllodi, in the Tuscan village find the fairytale park that has made entire generations of children dream. The entrance to the park is € 21 the full ticket.
A few kilometers from Pistoia, there is a medieval village that bears the stage name of the Florentine writer Carlo Lorenzini, Collodi, famous for having told the adventures of Pinocchio, a fairy tale character who has now become a symbol of Italy abroad. But is it really interesting to visit it or is it just a tourist gimmick?
First of all, if you have been careful, I wrote that Collodi is from Florence but he spent his entire youth in this beautiful town on the outskirts of Pescia, which for years has been the Orange Flag of the Italian Touring Club. Walking through its narrow streets, you can recognize the signs of the ancient past, in which the wars between Lucca and Florence for the conquest of the territory were harsh.
There are also tourist sites of interest for young and old: obviously the Pinocchio Park for fans of the fairy tale, the Butterfly House for lovers of butterflies and the Villa Garzoni with its well-preserved Italian garden for those who don't want to give up a cultural stop.
Let's start with the main reason why we stop in Collodi: Pinocchio. The theme park dedicated to him has been open for decades and I remember well the first visits, when as a child, I was a bit rested to enter the mouth of the huge whale. We walk among the houses and characters of the famous fable, reliving the atmosphere of Collodi's book.
Al Pinocchio Museum the interesting sketches of the illustrations for the various editions of the work and in the Virtual Library, you will find out how he became famous around the world. There is also theOsteria del Gambero Rosso, where there are special menus and a space, called the Land of Toys, reserved exclusively for children. I passed it many times, but unfortunately I have never tried it yet!
They are then organized workshops and thematic workshops for children and do not forget the souvenir shop: in addition to the usual magnets and wooden capri, you will find real gems. I jealously keep my (fake) gold sequin, as if it had been a gift for me too by Mangiafuoco.
La Butterfly House instead it will make you change your setting: leave the enchanted forest to get to the middle of the equatorial jungle. In fact, in this sort of elegant greenhouse, a tropical environment has been recreated, in which hundreds of species of butterflies live freely.
Here, in the midst of plants and flowers, butterflies have found their proper habitat, as a biological balance has been ensured thanks to the introduction of small birds, which feed on spiders and insects, otherwise harmful. Walking into the Butterfly House you can get a close look at this colorful world and learn more.
It is said that once, before industrial pollution, Collodi was inhabited by a large number of butterflies and that now, with the Butterfly House, they have returned home. Whether it's a fairy tale or not, it is a beautiful environment to visit, both for families and for animal lovers.
Il Corsini Garden then it is one of the most beautiful examples of an Italian garden that you can admire in our country. From the sixteenth to the eighteenth century, a luxuriant hunting forest was transformed into this architectural work that combines water features, exotic plants, artificial caves.
The adjacent Villa is still under restoration and cannot be visited, but the garden is truly a jewel and once again wrapped in a folk tale. It is said that all couples who manage to face the Labyrinth together are guaranteed marriage: well, in this case, it's up to you to take the risk!
The Garden and the Park are open all year round, but in low season it is necessary to book if you want to visit them during the week. The Butterfly House closes from November 2 to February 28, while in the rest of the year, observe the opening hours of the other two: from 8,30 to sunset.
The full cumulative ticket, in high season, costs 21 € andd is what I recommend not only for saving, but above all to enjoy an unusual and particular fairytale day.
