Massaciuccoli
Welcome to Lake Massaciuccoli: The Jewel of Tuscany
Welcome to Lake Massaciuccoli! This treasure of Tuscany is located in the province of Lucca, with a small part belonging to the province of Pisa. This coastal lake is part of the beautiful Migliarino, San Rossore and Massaciuccoli Natural Park. Additionally, it is an important oasis for LIPU, the Italian League for Bird Protection, due to the numerous bird species that live here.
Geology and Hydrology
The area surrounding the lake was initially a swampy area caused by the ancient mouths of the Serchio River. Today, only a small part of that swampy area remains and is positioned to the north of the lake. The rest has been reclaimed. The lake itself is equipped with two outlets: the Burlamacca Canal, which is discharged into the port of Viareggio, and the Bufalina ditch, which drains the lake waters into the sea through a pump.
History
Lake Massaciuccoli has been known since Roman times as the lake of Fosse Papiriane on the Tabula Peutingeriana. Later, in the Middle Ages, the lake became the border between the Republic of Lucca and the Republic of Pisa. This slowed down the reclamation of the area for centuries. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the southern shore of the lake was reclaimed by the Medici and private individuals such as van der Stratt. On the southern shore of the lake, the Bellino, Val di Stratt, Prese, and Malaventre swamps were reclaimed. In the meantime, the area owned by the Grand Duchy Crown (the Vecchiano farm) underwent extensive reclamation works that continued until the 1920s. Several important roads such as the Pietrasantina and Via di Pietra a Padule were built to cross the vast swampy areas surrounding the lake.
On the Lucca side of the lake, drainage ditches were opened, such as the Bellino and Barra. On the other hand, the Tuscan part dug numerous drainage channels to drain water from the lake to the Serchio or the sea. Additionally, the Selici, Stiavola, Colle Sereno canals, and many other canals adjacent to the north shore of the lake were built.
Lake Massaciuccoli continues to be a place of great historical, geological and ecological interest. If you are in the area, do not miss the opportunity to visit this treasure of Tuscany and admire the beauty of nature that surrounds it.
