The Fucecchio Marshland covers an area of about 1800 hectares, divided between theProvinces of Pistoia and Florence. In spite of it being drastically smaller than the ancient lake-marshes which once covered most of the southern Valdinievole area, it is still the largest inland marsh in Italy today. From a naturalistic point of view, the most interesting areas are situated near Larciano, Ponte Buggianese and Fucecchio. The Marshes form a more or less triangular basin lying in the Valdinievole area, south of thePistoia Apennines between Montalbano and the Cerbaie Hills. The main water supply comes from slopes of the Apennines.
The only river that flows out from the Marshes, the Usciana Canal, runs more or less parallel to the River Arno for 18km before eventually joining it near Montecalvoli (near Pisa). This area is made even more interesting by the fact that it borders other areas of great environmental value such as Montalbano, the Cerbaie Hills and the little Sibolla Lake which is connected to the Marshes through the Sibolla Trench. The Nature Reserve "Padule di Fucecchio" is also well set-up to welcome visitors. For example, there is an observation hut converted from one of the characteristic Marshland cabins.
The only river that flows out from the Marshes, the Usciana Canal, runs more or less parallel to the River Arno for 18km before eventually joining it near Montecalvoli (near Pisa). This area is made even more interesting by the fact that it borders other areas of great environmental value such as Montalbano, the Cerbaie Hills and the little Sibolla Lake which is connected to the Marshes through the Sibolla Trench. The Nature Reserve "Padule di Fucecchio" is also well set-up to welcome visitors. For example, there is an observation hut converted from one of the characteristic Marshland cabins.
