I feel compelled to share with you the sweet, relaxing and informative “Pinocchio Park” in Collidi-across the mountain about a half hour from our place…if you take the winding road over through Bennabio (brave it if you dare…)
I have read many not so great reviews and I must protest!
I think the problem lies in the word “Adventure” in the title and the concept most Americans see in that word. I think the owners meant Pinocchio’s Adventures not YOUR adventures…his travels, his troubles, his friends and enemies he meets along the way…not roller coaster ride adventures! ha
It helps if you know the beautiful love story between the father wanna be and his boy. The book, penned by Carlo Lorenzini who spent his summers in this village (and his pen name became Collidi), is actually dark and scary at times…but thanks to Walt Disney-most families only know the sweet “movie” version. In 1956 the town decided to say thank you for his work and built the park in his honor.
Pinocchio Park is a park of trails, artwork, sculptures donated by local artists, mazes and stories…as you wonder through the self guided trails you come across different characters in the story book. In the summer they have actors who portray skits, there is a little ride park and a very very very old exhibit-these cost a bit extra so we have usually skipped them and they are for the younger kids anyway. My kid was 8 when she first visited but we go every year. We walk, enjoy the scenery, re-live the story, try to get through the maze, captain the “ship” and have a snack. It is an old place but it is worth a visit…just don’t expect a theme park.
When you are done, walk around the corner to Garzoni Gardens-the amazing Byzantine Garden and Butterfly House. One of the last gardens of its kind, it is sure to wear you and your kids out if you climb all the way to the top. The statues, fountains, flowers, fruit trees, ponds, swans…wow…to think you could grab a book or a boyfriend and be lost for hours back in the “day”. The home it belonged to is not open to visitors…to bad…I would love to see it. We have been to the garden at different times of the year and we always find a trail or statue we missed the last visit.
The exhibit in the lobby is quite interesting and the food is also excellent in the adjacent left side…however, across the street on the corner is amazing coffee… I will suggest ending with one of those before your drive back to wherever you are staying. Also the street vendors there sell Pinocchio original book in English and have all kinds of “long nose boy” trinkets to take home.
I love Collidi-I could easily live there, the people are very sweet and appreciate your business-yes, Pinocchio’s Park needs a paint job but it such a sweet magical part of Italian culture and you will learn something I promise! Maybe one day I will organise a volunteer group to offer to paint and spruce it up-wouldn’t that be a fun task! ha
The puppet shows you into the park…
The “whale” who swallows Giuseppe…you can climb inside or to the top..
This garden is lovely any time of year…
With over 100 statues..you will not get bored…
Inside the “grotto”….
View form only half way up…are you getting tired yet?
We made it to the top….
The fountain at the very top is nice and cool place to rest before the trek down.
The landscaping is fun too!
One of many sculptures throughout the trails…
Pinocchio’s “girlfriend”-should we trust which way she is sending us?
The cricket was a friend to the puppet…
The courtyard entrance has an ever changing art garden.
There is an entire piazza with a mosaic wall that tells Pinocchio’s story.
Even the fall garden is lovely.
This lady invites us to return another time…and we will.
