Along Stage 29 of the Via Francigena, the evocative “water variant” departs from Altopascio, an alternative route immersed in the wetlands of the Padule di Fucecchio (Fucecchio Marsh), among canals, aquatic vegetation and atmospheres suspended in time. This itinerary runs along Ponte Buggianese and into the largest inland marsh in Italy, a paradise for birdwatchers and nature lovers. Here, it is possible to walk, bike, horse ride or even sail aboard traditional barchini, guided by local associations. The flat route, over 18 miles (30 kilometers) long, leads to Ponte a Cappiano, where it reconnects with the official way. An original and immersive variation, ideal for those seeking a different experience along the Via Francigena.

Rising between the 16ᵗʰ and 17ᵗʰ centuries when the gradual draining of Lake Fucecchio rendered the once submerged countryside habitable, Ponte Buggianese was founded as a settlement dependent on Buggiano. Over time, it acquired its own social and religious identity, eventually becoming an autonomous municipality in the late 19ᵗʰ century. Today, the village is deeply connected to the nearby Fucecchio Marshes, making this an ideal starting point for nature trails among canals and bodies of water. Its jewel is the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Buon Consiglio, with a Baroque façade and arched portico, famous for its frescoes painted by Pietro Annigoni and his students since 1967. On the premises next door is a small museum that preserves relics, sacred texts and liturgical furnishings from the 17ᵗʰ and 18ᵗʰ centuries. The village is likewise home to a number of works by sculptor Jorio Vivarelli, which enrich the center with a touch of contemporary art.

In the heart between Valdinievole and Montalbano, between the provinces of Pistoia and Florence, lies the Fucecchio Marsh—the largest inland marshland in Italy, a unique 4448-acre or 1,800-hectare environment where water and vegetation intermingle in a fragile and extraordinary balance. A refuge for more than 200 species of birds, including cranes, black storks and seven different types of herons that form the most important colony in central Italy here, the marsh is a haven for naturalists and birdwatchers. Alongside biodiversity, the landscape also preserves traces of human intervention, visible in the canals, locks and the historic Medici bridge at Cappiano. The past then resurfaces in the places marked by the 1944 massacre and in the craft traditions associated with working with marsh grasses.

Fucecchio was founded in medieval times thanks to the Via Francigena and the bridge over the Arno, becoming a strategic point as early as the 10ᵗʰ century, when the Cadolingi built the Salamarzana Castle there. Having become a free municipality then an agricultural center during the Medici era, the village retains important memories in the Palazzo Corsini complex, now home to the Civic Museum, Library and Historical Archives. Equally worth visiting are the San Salvatore Abbey, with medieval and Baroque works, and the Collegiate Church of San Giovanni Battista, with a 16ᵗʰ-century panel. Modern culture gathers at Palazzo Montanelli Della Volta, home to the Fondazione Montanelli Bassi, sought after by the journalist to preserve his archives and studies.