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All Italy Collodi Pinocchio Park

Pinocchio Park

Walk through a fairytale in Tuscany.

Collodi, Italy

Added By
ser flac
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Inside the giant whale fountain (Flickr/Jorden rundt og hjem igen)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinsen-jor...
Pinocchio’s face in the landscape of the park  
A mosaic interprets the story (Flickr/Jorden rundt og hjem igen)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinsen-jor...
  Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
  Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
  Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
  Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Mosaic depicting the “swallowed by a fish” story   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
2017, this scupture now features an inflateable tongue   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
The whale.   chateauesque / Atlas Obscura User
  Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Carlo Collodi published the first Pinocchio story in 1883, introducing the puppet and his extending nose to Italian audiences.

Although Disney’s version from 1940 featured the same basic premise as the original, Collodi’s Pinocchio was a dark fantasy tale that posed an entire different world than the story that was embraced by families and children throughout the 20th century. In Pinocchio Park, near the town of Collodi, visitors can wander through this dark world, envisioned by the original author. Born Carlo Lorenzini, his pen name was actually taken from his mother’s place of birth, Collodi, Tuscany. Today, a park near the town pays homage to the writer and his story.

In 1951, the concept of creating a monument to Pinocchio was presented, and 84 artists from around Italy submitted works for approval. Although only a few were chosen, the Pinocchio Park was born. In 1956, the park opened its doors, featuring a wide range of artistic expressions of the classic story. As the park evolved, artists added a number of mediums, working with mosaics, statuary and even fountains.

The most popular work in the park is the fountain of the Terrible Dogfish, a creature envisioned by Collodi and portrayed as a whale in the Disney film. Visitors can actually stand inside the monster to simulate the capture of Pinocchio by the great sea beast. Given the variety of the works, Pinocchio Park works to properly portray and honor the great story Collodi penned before the turn of the century.

Walking the winding paths of the Park, visitors can lunch amidst the adventures of the wooden hero in the Land of the Toys and Pinocchio Village. Each detail of the park is meant to involve visitors in the classic tale. As a word of warning for vain tourists, telling lies on the park’s premises is not advised.

Related Tags

Outsider Art Peculiar Fountains Horticulture Plants
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Community Contributors

Added By

serflac

Edited By

Dr Alan P Newman, grazianolenci, atimian, chateauesque

  • Dr Alan P Newman
  • grazianolenci
  • atimian
  • chateauesque

Published

September 20, 2011

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  • http://goeurope.about.com/cs/italy/a/pinocchio.htm
  • http://www.holidaytuscany.it/eng/visit-tuscany/pinocchio-park.php
Pinocchio Park
Via di San Gennaro
lucca
Collodi, 55012
Italy
43.897943, 10.63711
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Tallest Wooden Pinocchio in the World

Collodi, Italy

miles away

Oak of the Witches

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miles away

Montecatini Terme Funicular

Montecatini Terme, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Collodi

Collodi

Italy

Places 2

Nearby Places

Tallest Wooden Pinocchio in the World

Collodi, Italy

miles away

Oak of the Witches

Capannori, Italy

miles away

Montecatini Terme Funicular

Montecatini Terme, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Collodi

Collodi

Italy

Places 2

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