Collodi: the Pinocchio Park

We set off on Saturday morning for the Pinocchio park in Collodi. I had read a lot of negative opinions, but as soon as I arrived I changed my mind at once.... It is certainly an old park, opened in 1956, but that's exactly its charm... it's historic.... There are old rides... and a mechanical little theatre that tells the story of Pinocchio, really lovely, though not very well kept, as it was covered in cobwebs and dirty glass... The park ticket is perhaps a little pricey, 20 euros for the full one.... I especially enjoyed listening to the lady at the children's theatre.... she told the story of Pinocchio splendidly... The Land of Toys, on the other hand, is well kept and the statues are really beautiful, above all the whale... very original....

The park was created many years ago at the wish of the mayor, who wanted to put a statue of Pinocchio in the park, but then, not knowing how to choose among the many that had been proposed to him, he put them all in... and that's how the famous Pinocchio park came about.... There are plenty of little tables for a picnic..... The park ticket also includes a visit to Villa Garzoni and the Butterfly House... We had great fun climbing all the stairs of the Garzoni park... which is very well kept.... The villa is also called the Villa of a Hundred Windows, because it really has so many... and behind it is the old village of Collodi, truly original.... and it is here that Carlo Lorenzini wrote Pinocchio.... All in all a lovely family outing where everyone becomes a child again.... We then stayed at a dream b&b, the VALDIROSE in Lastra a Signa....