Italy celebrates Carlo Collodi bicentenary with exhibitions and workshops

Various cultural institutions in Italy are organizing events to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of Carlo Collodi, the author of ‘The Adventures of Pinocchio’.

The University of Siena will host an exhibition titled ‘Un burattino in battaglia. Collodi in marcia con UniSi e le terrecotte di Marco Bonechi’ from September 18 to October 30, 2026. Located at the Rectorate building, the exhibition features terracotta sculptures by artist Marco Bonechi that reinterpret Collodi’s characters. The display also highlights the historical connection between the author and the University, noting his participation in the Battle of Curtatone and Montanara in 1848 alongside students and professors.

In Bitonto, the ninth edition of the Oltre Lirica Music Festival has launched a series of educational workshops called ‘Collodi 200’. Supported by the University of Bari Aldo Moro, these workshops are designed for primary and secondary school students to explore the author’s literary universe. The program includes sessions at the ‘Galileo Galilei’ Scientific and Artistic High School and at the Officine Culturali di Bitonto.