Valdinievole

Earth, Europe, Italian region, Central Italy

Introduction

Valdinievole, sometimes written as Val di Nievole, is a geo-cultural region in the southwestern part of the province of Pistoia, bordering the province of Lucca and the metropolitan city of Florence. The name of the valley derives from the Nievole stream, which runs through its central-eastern sector, passing through the comuni (municipalities) of Marliana, Pieve a Nievole, and Monsummano Terme. The origin of the name Nievole has been linked by some scholars to the Latin word nebula (“fog”), while others suggest it stems from amnis (“river”) in a diminutive form.

Area (km² / sq mi)

265.96 / 102.68

Geography and economy of the Valdinievole

The whole area belongs to the Arno river basin and is considered a side valley of the Lower Valdarno. While the Nievole is the most visible stream in the center-east, the main watercourse is actually the Pescia Maggiore river, also known as Pescia of Pescia, accompanied by the Pescia Minore river or Pescia of Collodi in the west. All waterways in the region, including smaller torrents, flow toward the Padule di Fucecchio, a large wetland that forms the southern boundary of the valley along with the Cerbaie Hills, near the edge of the Florence province.

The northern and eastern parts of Valdinievole are hilly or mountainous. To the north rise the pre-Apennine hills, which gradually give way to the Mountains of Pistoia, located just south of the Apuan Alps and part of the broader Tuscan-Emilian Apennine chain. To the east stands the Montalbano ridge, which separates the valley from the Firenze-Prato-Pistoia Plain. In the west, the landscape is marked by soft rolling hills that gently transition into the Lucca Plain.

Several towns are either partially or entirely located in the mountain section of Valdinievole. These include Massa e Cozzile, Marliana, Montecatini Terme (especially the historical core of Montecatini Alto on Mount Catino), Monsummano Alto, which rises on a former volcanic hill, Serravalle Pistoiese, Buggiano Castello, and the Valleriana region, made up of ten fortified villages north of Pescia. The local economy is highly diversified, with both traditional and nursery-based agriculture (notably in Pescia’s flower district), a strong presence of artisanal small and medium enterprises, and a flourishing tourism sector, particularly focused around the spa town of Montecatini Terme.

Political divisions of the Valdinievole

The following comuni fall entirely within this geo-cultural region:

• Buggiano
• Chiesina Uzzanese
• Larciano
• Lamporecchio
• Massa e Cozzile
• Monsummano Terme
• Montecatini Terme
• Pescia
• Pieve a Nievole
• Ponte Buggianese
• Uzzano

Furthermore, other areas of the following comuni may also be considered part of this region:

• Altopascio
• Capannori
• Cerreto Guidi
• Fucecchio
• Marliana
• Montecarlo
• San Marcello Piteglio
• Serravalle Pistoiese 
• Villa Basilica
• Vinci