Rose T. Says:
How disability friendly is Italy?
IL Italy Correspondent Chip Stites Says:
Hi Rose,
Italy’s ancient cities and medieval hill towns are certainly atmospheric, but the very nature of their construction means they’re not very disability friendly. Often, the “Commune” (main administration building) has ramps, but you still need to navigate the cobblestone streets to get there.
Uneven cobblestones, steps to reach most buildings, and steep streets make it challenging, to say the least. We do see wheelchairs in the Rieti area, but always with helpers, as the main square and the medieval street are cobblestones.
A few cities provide more accessibility than others: Milan, for example, and the level cities of the Po Valley in Emilia-Romagna, especially Parma, Imola, Faenza, and Ravenna.
Ascoli Piceno, in the Marche region, and Pisa are other valley-situated cities with fairly level streets and elevator access to most public buildings. But I suggest that you have help no matter where you go.
If you go online and look up “wheelchair friendly” or “disability-friendly” in the city you wish to visit, and find more information or none at all, that will tell you something too. Generally, the more touristy the area, the more likely you’ll find access.
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