L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 16 L'Italo-Americano LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE C ollodi is a small y e t c h a r m i n g v i l l a g e i n T u s - c a n y , b e t w e e n the well-known towns of Lucca and Pistoia. Located about 15 kilometers from Lucca, it is a popular stop for travelers exploring the rolling hills and historic towns of Tuscany. But what makes it even more interest- ing to the eye of its visitors, is its connection to one of Italy's most beloved literary c h a r a c t e r s , P i n o c c h i o , a l o n g w i t h i t s o w n d e e p historical roots. The village's name, Collo- di, is derived from the Latin word collis, meaning "hill," which perfectly describes its topography: built on a steep hillside, Collodi stretches u p w a r d i n a s e r i e s o f m e d i e v a l s t o n e b u i l d i n g s a n d w i n d i n g s t r e e t s . T h e name also became famous due to Carlo Lorenzini, the author of The Adven- tures of Pinocchio, who adopted "Collodi" as his pen name. Lorenzini's mother was born in the village, and he spent much of his child- h o o d t h e r e , g i v i n g h i m a s t r o n g c o n n e c t i o n t o t h e town; indeed, his association with Collodi made the vil- lage a place of pilgrimage for fans of the famous wooden puppet. T h e f i r s t a t t e s t a t i o n o f C o l l o d i ' s e x i s t e n c e d a t e s back to the Middle Ages, when it was established as a f o r t i f i e d s e t t l e m e n t . I t s strategic location made it a v a l u a b l e o u t p o s t f o r t h e nearby cities of Lucca and Florence, and traces of its medieval past can still be seen in the village's archi- t e c t u r e : i n f a c t , C o l l o d i r e t a i n e d m u c h o f i t s medieval layout, with nar- r o w a l l e y s a n d s t a i r c a s e s that offer stunning views of the surrounding landscape. The town's upper section is p a r t i c u l a r l y c h a r m i n g , thanks to its architectural and historical connotations. The cultural centerpiece of Collodi is Villa Garzoni, a grand 17th-century man- sion that overlooks the vil- lage, surrounded by magnif- i c e n t I t a l i a n - s t y l e gardens known for their beauty and artistry. Built in a Baroque style, they feature fountains, statues, and ter- raced levels that lead visi- tors through an exquisitely d e s i g n e d l a n d s c a p e . T h e g a r d e n s o f V i l l a G a r z o n i were a major influence on Italian garden design and r e m a i n o n e o f t h e f i n e s t examples of this art form in Tuscany. Visitors can wan- der through the lush green- e r y , a d m i r e t h e e x o t i c plants, and also explore the butterfly house, a modern addition that houses hun- dreds of species of butter- flies from around the world. Another major attraction in Collodi is the Parco di P i n o c c h i o , a w h i m s i c a l park dedicated, of course, to t h e w o r l d o f P i n o c c h i o . Opened in 1956, it offers a magical experience for visi- tors, with sculptures and installations that bring the s t o r y o f f a m o u s w o o d e n p u p p e t t o l i f e . W a l k i n g through the park, visitors can follow his adventures as they encounter and become familiar with characters like the Blue Fairy and the mis- chievous Fox and Cat. The p a r k i s a t r i b u t e t o C a r l o Lorenzini and his timeless c r e a t i o n , a n d h a s b e e n attracting families and liter- ary enthusiasts from around the globe since its opening, almost 70 years ago. But in Collodi, you won't find "only" literature and h i s t o r y : i f y o u l i k e g o o d food, this is the place to be ... In the end, we are in Tus- cany! Food here is simple a n d r u s t i c , a n d r e l i e s o n h i g h - q u a l i t y i n g r e d i e n t s from the region. Traditional dishes include pappardelle al cinghiale (pappardelle pasta with wild boar), ribol- l i t a ( a h e a r t y v e g e t a b l e s o u p ) , a n d b i s t e c c a a l l a f i o r e n t i n a ( F l o r e n t i n e steak). Local olive oil, fresh vegetables, and truffles also play a key role in local dish- es and culinary traditions. Wine lovers will find excel- lent Chianti and Monte- carlo wines in nearby vine- y a r d s , p e r f e c t accompaniments to the local dishes. Collodi is truly a village full of surprises, rich in both history and charm. Its blend o f m e d i e v a l a r c h i t e c t u r e , stunning gardens, and liter- ary significance makes it a must-visit destination for those looking to experience a more off-the-beaten-path tourism and, why not, get to know better the eternally y o u n g P i n o c c h i o — t h e most famous puppet in the world — just here, where it was created. T ruffle hunting is an ancient tra- dition rooted in R o m a n t i m e s , w h e n t h e Romans regarded truffles as a delicacy, and attributed their mysterious growth to divine forces. While truffles have been prized for millen- nia, the formal tradition of truffle hunting as we know it t o d a y l i k e l y b e g a n i n t h e Middle Ages. Truffles are a type of sub- t e r r a n e a n f u n g u s t h a t grow symbiotically with the roots of certain trees, such as oaks, hazelnuts, and poplars; they thrive in calcareous soils a n d a r e h i g h l y v a l u e d f o r their rich, earthy aroma and flavor, which makes them a valued ingredient in gourmet cuisine. Found primarily in Europe, particularly in Italy and France, truffles are diffi- cult to cultivate, adding to their rarity and high cost. Truffle hunting is famous- ly associated with regions like Piedmont, Tuscany, U mbria, and Marche, with the northern town of Alba in Piedmont being particularly well-known for its white truf- fle, considered one of the most valuable truffles in the world. T h e p r a c t i c e t y p i c a l l y takes place in autumn and winter, which is prime truffle s e a s o n s . H u n t e r s , k n o w n as trifolau, use specially trained dogs (such as Lagot- to Romagnolo) to sniff out t h e t r u f f l e s , w h i c h g r o w underground near the roots of certain trees. Historically, p i g s w e r e u s e d f o r t h e i r strong sense of smell, but dogs have become the pre- ferred choice since they are easier to control and don't eat the truffles they find. The process of truffle hunting requires deep knowledge of t h e l a n d a n d p a t i e n c e : many trifolau keep their best locations secret, passing the k n o w l e d g e d o w n t h r o u g h generation. Today, truffle hunting is n o t o n l y a v i t a l e c o n o m i c activity for certain regions but also a cultural and culi- n a r y t r a d i t i o n t h a t d r a w s enthusiasts from around the world. Annual truffle festi- v a l s , s u c h a s t h e F i e r a I n t e r n a z i o n a l e d e l Tartufo Bianco d'Alba (Alba White Truffle Fair), the Fiera del Tartufo di San Miniato (San Miniato T r u f f l e F a i r ) , a n d the Mostra Mercato del Tartufo Bianco di San Giovanni d'Asso, celebrate this centuries-old tradition, while showing the best truf- fles and honoring the skill and dedication of the truffle hunters. Truffle hunting in Abruzzo (Photo: Sung Yee Tchao/Dreamstime) S e a r c h i n g f o r g o l d … u n d e r h a z e l n u t t r e e s : t h e a u t u m n tradition of truffle hunting Collodi, the home of Pinocchio A view of Collodi (Photo: Pxlxl/Dreamstime) and, bottom right, the Pinocchio Park's entrance gate (Photo: Oversealand/Dreamstime)

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