The village of Collodi, with its stone houses that descend from the rock to Villa Garzoni.
Collodi is a medieval village perched on a hill between Lucca and Pistoia, famous for its connection with Carlo Lorenzini, the author of Pinocchio, who chose "Collodi" as his pen name. Today, it is an ideal destination for families and travelers seeking a blend of landscape, history, and fantasy..
The town of Collodi has medieval origins and is located on the slope dominated by the ancient fortress, in a strategic position overlooking the Pescia Valley and the roads connecting Lucca and the Valdinievole..
The town's name is linked to the writer Carlo Lorenzini, who spent part of his childhood here and decided to sign his works as "Carlo Collodi," making the village world famous thanks to The Adventures of Pinocchio.
Today, Collodi retains its medieval layout with steep alleys and stone houses, while downstream are the noble Villa Garzoni, its historic garden, and the Pinocchio Park, the heart of the area's tourism..
IPinocchio Park is an open-air theme park inaugurated in 1956, conceived as an artistic and cultural journey dedicated to the world's most famous puppet. With bronze sculptures, mosaics, installations, and puppet shows, both adults and children retrace the main episodes of the book, immersing themselves in a fairytale atmosphere..
At the foot of the village stands Villa Garzoni, a 17th-century residence overlooking a magnificent Baroque garden with scenic staircases, fountains, statues, and water features. The garden is considered one of the most beautiful in Tuscany and also hosts a Butterfly House, a tropical greenhouse populated by hundreds of butterflies from around the world.
The upper part of Collodi is a maze of steep alleys, arches, and stone houses that preserve the atmosphere of a medieval village, with splendid views of the countryside. The Church of San Bartolomeo and the Rocca are worth a visit, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding hills and the geometric garden of Villa Garzoni..
Collodi's cuisine reflects the traditions of the Valdinievole and central Tuscany: simple dishes, generous portions, and seasonal produce, from extra virgin olive oil to mushrooms, wild boar, and chestnuts..
One of the most popular first courses in local trattorias is pappardelle with wild boar, wide egg pasta topped with a slow-cooked ragù flavored with red wine, herbs, and juniper berries..
Many restaurants offer ribollita, bread and vegetable soup with black cabbage, and other peasant soups based on legumes, as well as grilled meat dishes such as Florentine steak and wild boar stew..
Among the local desserts, standout are the Lamporecchio brigidini, thin, crispy aniseed wafers, and the torta coi becchi, a rustic tart filled with rice and chocolate, popular throughout the valley. In Collodi and the surrounding area, you can also find excellent cantucci, almond biscuits that pair perfectly with Vin Santo..
