Florence hosts exhibition celebrating Carlo Collodi's bicentenary

To mark the bicentenary of the birth of Carlo Lorenzini, known by his pseudonym Collodi, an exhibition titled ‘C’era una volta… Un Re! Carlo Lorenzini detto ‘Collodi’ tra satira, giornalismo e letteratura per l’infanzia’ has opened in Florence.

Housed at the Archivio Contemporaneo ‘Alessandro Bonsanti’ in Palazzo Corsini Suarez, the exhibition runs until June 15, 2027. Organized by the Gabinetto Scientifico Letterario G. P. Vieusseux in collaboration with the Collodi Foundation and the Società Dante Alighieri, the display aims to portray Collodi not only as the creator of Pinocchio but also as a sharp journalist and social observer.

The collection features original documents, rare volumes, and artworks, including the 1883 first edition of Pinocchio and an 1865 autograph signature from Lorenzini. Other notable items include twelve oil paintings by Vinicio Berti and volumes that survived the 1966 flood.