A cradle where art, history, animal and vegetation rarities fuse together to create a place unique in its kind. This, in just a few words, is the Padule di Fucecchio. Technically speaking the Padule is an old marshy area that was drained with various interventions, many of which through will of the Medici. It is an area of about 1800 hectares, divided between the Province of Pistoia and the Province of Florence. Albeit largely reduced compared to the old lake-padule that used to occupy the larger part of the southern Valdinievole, it nevertheless still represents the biggest Italian inland marsh.
Its only water source is the river Usciana, around which, throughout the centuries, many activities developed such as fishing and river commerce; still existing in a residual form are activities tied into the working of the marsh’s grass: the collection and the weaving of the «sarello» and the «sala» (to «coat» chairs and flasks), of the «gaggia» and toher typical plants of the humid area are still practiced by a few brave craftsmen. The nature of the place throughout the centuries has determined the type of inhabiting and also the activities around it.
The destiny of the Cappiano area was strongly influenced by the environment, touching moments of great prosperity and moments of deep decline, especially in relation to epidemics of malaria. Significant evidence still remains of the work of men, who during the centuries has moulded and shaped the very structure of the humid area: the canals and the ports system, signs of ancient and important water ways; the Medicean bridge of Cappiano, the pivot of the water regime activity and fishing, as well as important passage on the Francigena road; buildings of the industrial architecture such as tobacco dryers.
The area is particularly significant for the vegetation that is born there. The same habitat is co-habited by typical plants of hot and humid climates such as the Royal Fern and mosses, called bog mosses, that are typical of the cold climates of the north and had descended into the area ever since the Ice Age; not to speak of the Utricularia australis, a kind of carnivorous plant.
The fauna has nothing to envy the vegetation, because the Padule is a nesting place for herons, flamingos and the very rare Glossy Ibis. In the water there are peculiar type of crustaceans, which according to the pollution of the water emit differing vibrations and should still be the object of an experiment by the University of Pisa.
May.2002
Comune di Fucecchio (In Italian)
Wetlands of Northern Tuscany
Along migratory routes
Padule di Fucecchio activities (In Italian)
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