The park was built over a period of 31 years from 1956 to 1987 and today merits the epithet of being the first and foremost centre of "Pinocchiology" in the world. Facilities include a puppet laboratory where you can inspect the various stages of a puppet's gestation, from wooden block to fully-dressed marionette, as well as regular shows, exhibitions, demonstrations and other entertainment. Visitors in need of refreshments can make use of the ample picnic spaces throughout the park, or raid the snack bar and Osteria al Gambero Rosso, the park restaurant.

The park draws its artistic inspiration not from the Disney film, but from the alternative Italian Pinocchio tradition. Fans who expect to find Disney's ubiquitous little chubby-cheeked Pinocchio and his cricket companion might be in for a surprise - the Italian Pinocchio is altogether less cherubic, with a sharp nose, angular limbs and often a much less likeable expression.

Collodi is the birthplace of Carlo Collodi, the literary Geppetto to the character of Pinocchio. He was born Lorenzetti but adopted the pseudonymic surname Collodi out of patriotic regionalism.