Discover Collodi

Collodi brings together the world of Pinocchio, the architectural history of Villa Garzoni, the Storico Giardino Garzoni and a medieval hilltop village. Small houses cascade down a steep slope, shaping the village’s appearance. If you’re planning a hotel stay in Collodi, you might first consider whether you’re most interested in Pinocchio, garden and architectural history, or the village’s historic character.

The world of Pinocchio: art and education

Parco di Pinocchio was developed between 1956 and 1987 as an educational theme park for children. One artistic highlight is the Paese dei Balocchi, where 21 bronze sculptures by Pietro Consagra depict characters, events and settings from the story. The works thus bring to life different elements of the tale.

At the beginning of the route through Parco di Pinocchio is the MIP – Museo Interattivo di Pinocchio, established in 2020. It brings key settings from the story to life through multimedia, interactive experiences and play. Parco di Pinocchio also offers a route shaped by art and nature, creating the impression of a living fairy tale.

Parco Monumentale di Pinocchio offers daily storytelling walks, educational workshops through play, and puppet theatre performances for visitors. As the programme may change, check the latest dates before your visit.

Villa Garzoni and garden design

The Villa Garzoni complex as it stands today is the result of a redevelopment project that began in the mid-17th century and involved the owner, Romano Garzoni. The project’s architect was Ottaviano Diodati. Behind the villa, a striking red building stands amid greenery. Designed by Filippo Juvarra, it can be considered one of the most significant examples of Baroque architecture in Tuscany.

The Storico Giardino Garzoni also offers tangible examples of historic design: it includes artificial grottoes and theatres formed from boxwood hedges. For visitors interested in garden architecture, the grottoes and hedge theatres stand out alongside the red building and the history of the villa.

Butterflies and nature observation

Another attraction is the Casa delle Farfalle in Collodi. Hundreds of tropical and equatorial butterflies live there, moving freely through a lush replica tropical garden. The species on display and exhibition conditions may change.

Visitors can observe every stage of development, from egg to adult butterfly, and compare diurnal butterflies with nocturnal moths. This comparison draws attention to two different aspects: the animals’ development and their differing activity times.

The medieval hilltop village

Collodi is documented as a medieval village dating back to the 12th century. Small houses cascade down a steep hill, making the slope a distinctive feature of the village’s appearance. The history of the village also includes the Rocca of Collodi and the Pieve di San Bartolomeo.

The Rocca has a large enclosed area and several towers. One of them was converted into a bell tower. The Pieve di San Bartolomeo stands at the top of the castle of Collodi and offers a remarkable panorama. These features give the village’s history both an architectural and a landscape dimension.

A designated trekking route

The Sentiero Valleriana 51 is designated as an easy trekking route in Collodi. As route details may change, check the current trail before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Vellano, Pietrabuona, Sorana, San Quirico, Monte A Pescia, Castelvecchio, Fibbialla, Aramo.

For the broader travel overview: Pescia.