Pinocchio on the road | San Miniato Basso

For 14 years, on three Thursdays in June, San Miniato Basso, whose residents are called ‘pinocchini’, has been celebrating the famous puppet with entertainment, dancing, fairy tales, music, games, and street shows with the customary ‘Giant Pinocchio’ along Via Tosco Romagnola Est.

From 8.00 p.m. the streets come alive with, games, entertainment, extraordinary opening of shops and craft market.

Thursday 15 June. Summer Carnival, parade of floats, masks and colours
Thursday 22 June : PINOCCHIO AT THE TABLE animated dinner in the street
Thursday 29 June : Music street, music and animation

Why are the inhabitants of San Miniato Basso called ‘pinocchini’? It seems that Carlo Collodi was inspired by the places in and around San Miniato! Carlo Collodi’s father worked as a cook in San Miniato and often, on his return from his travels, his son would visit him in that locality, which at the time was called Pinocchio (a name that remained until 1924): a peculiar name, certainly, that perhaps derives from the fact that long before this place was called Ponte ai Pidocchi (from here many people passed through, including poor, ragged people, the so-called pidocchiosi). Later the name would be changed to Pinocchio because of a large pine tree that stood in the centre of the village.