Nature as the protagonist of the Reserve of Padule di Fucecchio

You are just a few kilometres from a Tuscan protected natural area, placed between the two provinces of Florence and Pistoia, which deserves to be visited: it is the Natural Reserve of Padule di Fucecchio, which is considered the naturalistic gem of Montalbano. The naturalistic value of this area is increased by its vicinity to other valuable areas, among which there are the hills of Cerbaie and the lake of Sibolla.

The charm of this area is unquestionable: just imagine a wide humid area populated by over one hundred and fifty bird species – such as the different types of herons (the blue, cattle and squacco ones) nesting in colonies, and the visitors such as the crane and the black stork – and with extremely remarkable floristic species, such as the Royal Fern and some species of water lilies: here nature dominates, and is capable of sending into raptures birdwatching lovers and not only them.

The gradual lifting of the Arno riverbed due to the alluvial materials deposits has started the development of the Padule swamp: in fact, alluviums have hindered the normal flow of the Valdinevole basin waters, thus leading to the area swamping. In the past, Padule was wider than now, but it still holds the record of being the biggest Italian inland swamp: in fact, this formation measures one thousand eight hundred hectares. Being a humid area, it is teeming with animals and plants, starting from micro-organisms up to mammals

During your visit, you will certainly meet many boreal, alpine, upper mountain and Euro-Siberian botanical species: they were taken to this area between Florence and Pistoia from the farthest North, through the ice that formed during the Quaternary period in an area of Southern Europe and that found here the possibility of adapting and surviving. On this point, we inform you that, during some certain periods of the year, the Tourism Agency of Montecatini Terme/Valdinevole promotes guided tours discovering the Natural Reserve of Padule di Fucecchio: you will be guided between its flora and fauna by expert guides and you will stop at the fauna observatory “Le Morette” for the birdwatching activities. For information and guided tours, please contact the Centre of Study, Research and Promotion of Padule by calling the number 0573 84540 or write to fucecchio@zoneumidetoscane.it