|  The
village of Collodi has since then developed into
a recognized tourist destination and boasts three distinct
attractions, which however share the characteristic of blending
harmoniously with the Tuscan landscape, and inspiring visitors'
imagination to soar into wondrous realms of never-ending
story and fable. The village follows the natural curve of
the hillside and is narrow, only two or three houses wide.
The path twists through its center, leading straight up
the mountain, with turns and stairs to facilitate the walker.
There is small road along the outside perimeter, with limited
parking along the way, giving local residents an option
from the exhausting stair-filled path.
 The
story of PINOCCHIO
Collodi is famous throughout
the world for having given its name to CARLO COLLODI
the pen-name of CARLO LORENZINI (1826-90).
Italian author and journalist, best-known as the
creator of Pinocchio the wooden boy puppet who
came to life. His nose grew larger when he told a lie and
returned to normal size when he told the truth.
The story has inspired many film makers, among them Walt
Disney, whose animation from 1943 is well known. The Italian
philosopher Benedetto Croce remarked that "the wood
out of which Pinocchio is carved is humanity itself".
Collodi is the name of the little village in Tuscany
where his mother was born. He was born in Florence, the
son of a cook and a servant, and spent his chilhood as much
in the rough and tumble of the streets of his native Florence
as in the classroom. No doubt this stood him in good stead
in his two periods as a soldier - once in 1848 when Tuscany
rose in revolt against its Habsburg rulers, and again in
the war between Italy and Austria in1859.
Collodi starded his writing
career as a newspaperman: he wrote for other papers, and
also started his own satirical paper Il Lampione (The Lanter)
- but the government closed it down. Later he became a government
official himself, working as a civil servant for the education
department and trying to push through much-needed educational
reforms.
In the 1850s, he began to have a variety
of both fiction and non-fiction books published. Once, he
translated some French fairy-tales so well that he was asked
whether he would like to write some of his own. The result
was his fist major success, Giannettino, which is a kind
of educational fairly- tale. He now devoted himself to writing
for children" becouse adults are too hard to please"!
In 1881, he sent to
a friend, who edited a newspaper in Rome, a short episode
in the life of a wooden puppet, wondering whether the editor
would be interested in publishing this "bit of foolishness"
in his children's section. The editor did, and the children
loved it. The adventures of Pinocchio were serialized in
the paper in 1881-2, and then published in 1883 with huge
success. The fist English-language version was just as successful
on its publication in 1892. The 1940 Walt Disney cartoon
has ensured that the character of Pinocchio remains familiar:
but the book is far richer in the details of the adventures
of the naughty puppet in search of boyhood.
The park of Pinocchio
Useful informations:
where is this park: Collodi, Pistoia tuscany Italy
Size of the Park: 30.000 mq.
Visitors every year (approx.): 200.000
Address: Via San Gennaro, 3 51014 Collodi (PT)
Phone: +39 0572-429342
Fax: +39 0572-429342
Other references: Fondazione Nazionale Carlo Collodi, Via
B. Pasquinelli, 6 51014 Collodi (PT)
Phone: +39. 0572-429613, fax +39 0572-429614
Opening period: From Gennuary 1th to December 31th. everyday
with no exceptions !
Opening times: Form 08,30 AM to sunset.
Prices: Full ? 8,50 ? Ridotti ? 6,50 - Groups: Full ? 5,50
? Ridotti ? 4,50
Official website: www.pinocchio.it
E-Mail: fondazione@pinocchio.it
For tourists informations: Call the "Comune di Pescia"
office - phone: +31 0583-978205
Far from the noisy and crowded towns,
visiting the small
village Pescia and Pinocchio's birthplace: Collodi
is appreciated by lovers of quietness and relaxation. |
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