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Fucecchio Marshes, near Ponte Buggianese

Ponte Buggianese

a quiet hamlet in the heart of the Valdinievole

Ponte Buggianese is a quiet village located in the low land of the Valdinievole, built not before the 16th century as a result of the shrinking of lake Fucecchio and the ensuing population of the plains of Uzzano and Buggiano. At that time a number of churches began to be built in the territory bordering the Padule and particularly in Ponte Buggianese, where a small parish church was built. From that time the village began to consolidate its identity as a religious community of the plain. 

As the process of populating the marshy countryside corresponded with the rise of a distinctive feeling with respect to Buggiano, a sense of belonging arose which soon became evident with the increasingly frequent claims to autonomy, both in the church and in local affairs. In the 1700s Ponte Buggianese passed under Leopold's rule, and at the end of the 18th century it broke away from the municipality of Buggiano, becoming completely autonomous. 

Along a walk through the town, a visit to the Santuario della Madonna del Buon Consiglio (Sanctuary of the Madonna del Buon Consiglio) is worthwhile. The Sanctuary, in addition to its Baroque facade, preceded by a three-arched portico, owes its importance to the cycle of frescoes painted by Pietro Annigoni and his pupils starting in 1967. Given its proximity to the Padule di Fucecchio (Padule Marshes), Ponte Buggianese is an excellent starting point for excursions through the fascinating natural area. 

 

What to see in Ponte Buggianese

During a walk through the village, a visit to the 17th-century Sanctuary of the Madonna del Buon Consiglio, with its Baroque facade, preceded by a three-arched portico, is a must. The place owes its importance to the cycle of frescoes painted by Pietro Annigoni and his students starting in 1967. In the premises adjoining the church sacristy is the small Museo del Santuario della Madonna del Buon Consiglio (Museum of the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Buon Consiglio) in which objects of local and nonlocal origin are preserved, including numerous holy vestments from the 1600s-1700s, some sacred statues from the 1600s, reliquaries from the 1700s, church objects, and several ancient texts including an 1832 edition of the Promessi Sposi. 

Around the village are post-modern works by the sculptor from Pistoia Jorio Vivarelli. 

During a walk through the village, a visit to the 17th-century Sanctuary of the Madonna del Buon Consiglio, with its Baroque facade, preceded by a three-arched portico, is a must. The place owes its importance to the cycle of frescoes painted by Pietro Annigoni and his students starting in 1967. In the premises adjoining the church sacristy is the small Museo del Santuario della Madonna del Buon Consiglio (Museum of the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Buon Consiglio) in which objects of local and nonlocal origin are preserved, including numerous holy vestments from the 1600s-1700s, some sacred statues from the 1600s, reliquaries from the 1700s, church objects, and several ancient texts including an 1832 edition of the Promessi Sposi. 

Around the village are post-modern works by the sculptor from Pistoia Jorio Vivarelli. 

In the surroundings

Ponte Buggianese is located in the Valdinievole area. Because of its proximity to the Padule di Fucecchio, it is an excellent starting point for exploring the natural beauty of what is Italy's largest inland marsh area, despite the fact that it is now largely reduced in size compared to the ancient lake-marshes that once occupied much of the southern Valdinievole. The Padule is a true paradise for birdwatchers and a natural gem with large areas protected by Nature Reserves. Adding to the charm of the place are the still-visible testimonies of the works carried out here over the centuries by the Medici and Lorraine families. 

Just a few kilometers separate the town from Montecatini Terme, a UNESCO World Heritage city, which owes its fame to the therapeutic properties of its waters, the refinement of its buildings, and the architectural heritage built around the springs.

Ponte Buggianese is located in the Valdinievole area. Because of its proximity to the Padule di Fucecchio, it is an excellent starting point for exploring the natural beauty of what is Italy's largest inland marsh area, despite the fact that it is now largely reduced in size compared to the ancient lake-marshes that once occupied much of the southern Valdinievole. The Padule is a true paradise for birdwatchers and a natural gem with large areas protected by Nature Reserves. Adding to the charm of the place are the still-visible testimonies of the works carried out here over the centuries by the Medici and Lorraine families. 

Just a few kilometers separate the town from Montecatini Terme, a UNESCO World Heritage city, which owes its fame to the therapeutic properties of its waters, the refinement of its buildings, and the architectural heritage built around the springs.

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