The Park of Pinocchio

The Park of Pinocchio could not have been created anywhere other than in Collodi, where the picturesque medieval village has maintained its centuries-old appearance almost intact, with its maze of old houses clinging to the hillside in a cascade that stretches down to the majestic Villa Garzoni and its beautiful eighteenth-century landscaped Garden. It was here than Carolo Lorenzini's mother was born, and here that the writer spent many a childhood day at his grandparents', the Orzalis : it is a place of such a distinctive atmosphere that it requires very little effort to understand why this brilliant journalist and writer was moved to adopt Collodi as his nom de plume. The captivating imaginative power of The Adventures of Pinocchio draws its strength from this magical setting, which casts its spell far and wide and has made this story into a masterpiece transcending all bounds of time and space. Collodi is at one and the same time an apparition from the land of fable and a concrete work of man, in which history is brought to life through our imagination.
Established over a span of thirty years, between 1956 and 1987, the Park of Pinocchio is far from being a traditional amusement park. Rather, it is a creation of phantasy endowed with unique charm, a precious and harmonious collective work by renowned artists which weaves a dreamlike web around those who stroll along its paths, inspiring in visitors the impression of experiencing a living story amid enjoyment of the unspoilt pearls of nature blended with the harmonious beauty of art.
The idea of celebrating the famous puppet with a commemorative park complex was first put forward in 1951 by the then mayor of Pescia, Professor Rolando Anzillotti, who set up the Comittee for the Monument to Pinocchio and issued invitations to the most famous artists of the time, calling upon them to provide an evocative tribute to Pinocchio in his native setting. Eighty-four sculptors responded to the offer, and submitted their projects to the national competition that was launched for the construction of the Monument. The victory went jointly to Emilio Greco for Pinocchio and the Fairy and Venturino Venturi for the Square of Mosaics. Thus 1956 saw the inauguration of the great and by now famous bronze group, standing five metres tall, which offers a symbolic representation of Pinocchio's progression from puppet to little boy, while the mosaics tell the story of the main episodes with vivid originality and whimsy. This first part of the Park was designed by the artitects Renato Baldi and Lionello De Luigi. Over the course of time, the Park was gradually enriched by further valuable contributions : for instance, the Osteria del Gambero Rosso (The Red Prawn Tavern), whose red-roofed bays fancifully call to mind the pincers of a prawn, was designed by the architect Giovanni Michelucci ; together with the restaurant of the same name, it was officially opened in 1963.
On the southern side of the Park stands a later addition dating from 1972, the Paese dei Balocchi (Land of toys), a fantastical tour through over a hectare of Mediterranean evergreen vegetation. The itinerary was designed by Pietro Porcinai and embellished with twenty-one bronze sculptures by Pietro Consagra and constructions by the architect Marco Zanuso.
A small tunnel leads into the Village of Pinocchio, which is the starting point of a paved path whose borders are populated by the figures from the story : the curly-moustached Policeman blocking the road, effectively forcing children to creep between his legs, or the Talking Cricket, the Great Puppet Theatre, the Cat and the Fox, the Forest of Assassins, the Little Fairy Girl and her Little White House, with the Snail Concierge and the small bedroom where Pinocchio was examined by the three doctors.
In the nearby Field of Miracles stands the brightly shining Tree of Golden Ducats ; shortly thereafter, one comes upon the Serpent, and then the Four Rabbits who are carrying a coffin in an attempt to persuade Pinocchio to swallow the medicine. A little later, one is rewarded by the appearance of the Fairy, with her arms outstretched ; after this, the path goes on past the Crab that sprays water all around, the Nets and the Pan of the Green Fisherman, and then once more meets Pinocchio, now transformed into a Donkey in the Land of Toys and obliged to allow himself to be put on show in a circus. Finally, the path comes to the Great Whale, into whose mouth one can venture to go and look for Geppetto. Steps let intrepid visitors climb up to the top of this great monster, from whence there is a good view of the Little Goat and the Puppet waving a greeting.
At this point the story has come to an end, but the visionary journey continues with the Labyrinth, the Pirates' Cave , the Pirate Ship and the Sounding Wheels set in motion by water.
Finally, there is one more surprise awaiting visitors to the Park : the Laboratory of Words and Figures, a project conceived by Giovanni Michelucci and realized in 1986 according to a design by Carlo Anzilotti. It offers a unique venue for exhibitions showing illustrations of children's stories, works created for children by artists from the world over, educational workshops, drawings and projects created by children and schools in honour of "Pinocchio's Birthday". It thus acts as a display Centre that focuses on themes related to the subject of Pinocchio and develops these concepts over a number of years, stimulating visitors to engage in their own pursuit and rediscovery of artistic and educational values too long neglected.
The literary path that guides visitors in their exploration of the Park is a highly original blend of art and artifice, of artistic creation and the natural environment. It is a long and winding path, snaking its way through luxuriant vegetation which never ceases to surprise, and surrounded by the species of trees that most typically belong to Mediterranean evergreen vegetation. The only exceptions are the niches and glades where one suddenly comes upon a sculpted work or figure, artfully conveying a significant episode from the story : here the vegetation also changes dramatically, assuming the most bizarre and unexpected shapes, as if to signal its interplay with the story-line.
The Park, together with other important cultural activities, is one of the achievements of the "Carlo Collodi" National Foundation, an educational institution that is registered as a non-profit organization.