I have a bad knee that makes it difficult for me to walk on cobblestones and to go down excessive stairs and hills. A few are OK and I do like to walk on flat streets.
Can anyone recommend Italian cities or towns that wouldn't require too many cobblestones, hills, or stairs?
I'll be going in late September.
Thanks!
Suggest you stay in large cities like Rome, Venice , Florence. Most towns, villages have lots of stairs, hills and uneven or cobbled streets. Also RS has a guidebk now that addresses thoise with limited mobility perhaps it would be even more helpful for you. Italy is terrific but requires flexibility, resilence and stamina.
Given your description of the knee situation, the Cinque Terre towns and Tuscany "hill towns" probably will not be at the top of your list.
Florence is quite walkable, at least the part of the historic area north of the river. There are hills, but plenty to see and do in the flatter parts, that's what I mean.
Make sure to get a hotel with an elevator. Many don't have one.
The other posters give good advice. I agree with those who suggest staying out of Rome--hills and stairs galore, though fewer cobblestones I think. Your knees will not thank you however.
Florence should be pretty good. It's compact, fairly flat, and I don't remember the cobblestones being especially difficult. If it rains, be VERY careful on the manhole covers especially. They are incredibly slick. The Uffizi has stairs but I believe an elevator also, and the Accademia is mostly flat. The rest of the sites vary, although there will be some stairs leading into just about any church.
I have to say that Florence and Milan are the only walkable cities I know of that would fit.
My wife and I always comment on how rough Italy will be when we get older so we are trying to see it as much as we can now while in good health.
An older friend told me that he hated Venice because he couldn't get around - he waited too long to see it. Rick, I hear, has been working on a book to address this. I see what he is up against. The entire country is just not set up in the same ADA way the US is.
Italy IS too many cobblestones, too many hills and too many hills.
You're going to have to get very creative to see other cities.
VENICE: use the vaporettos (water buses) for minimum stress on knees. I think it's all those bridges that kill my knees.
CT: MONTEROSSO can be navigated with a minimum of climbing. Use taxis or the local bus to get around. Much of the town is flat. Stay in one of the waterfront hotels. Use the local buses in the other towns, too. With a CT card they are free. In RIOMAGGIORE there is an elevator to the top of the town. It is possible to walk along an almost level path for about 1/2 mile to enjoy the same views available from the more rigorous paths in that area.
LEVANTO & LA SPEZIA: if you take a taxi to the waterfront or beach, walking there is level.
VENTIMIGLIA at the Italian/French border. The town is mostly flat, has a long promenade along the beach, and is small enough to walk all over. Some hotels have elevators.
VERONA: is mostly flat.
MILAN, PISA, LUCCA, PALERMO, TAORMINO: once in town, these places are flat or it is easy to stay to the flat parts.
I feel your pain. I don't normally have knee problems, however I did blow out one of my knees in Rome and struggled with it throughout the rest of the trip.
Rome was really difficult. There was a lot of walking, stairs and cobblestones everywhere. Standing at the Vatican and waiting in lines was killer. I would suggest that Rome is difficult at best for someone with knee issues.
Florence was no problem - mostly flat easy to manuver roads. Just need to take plenty of opportunities to sit if you are going to be standing in lines or touring museums.
Venice I think is doable, but as someone said above, it is the bridges that get you. They are small, steep and plentiful. If you can rely on the vaparatto's and keep the walking contained to small areas - Venice is doable.
For what it is worth, I hobbeled my way across Italy and it was worth every ache and pain. Slow and Steady. Good luck, my knee aches just thinking of it again!
DO NOT go to Venice if you have bad joints. You have to walk up and down stairs on bridges all day. I love Verona, Florence, Rome, Vicenza, Padova and Bolzano for your situation.
Lucca would be perfect. Except for the walls (which you pass under) it's absolutely flat. It's a flat Tuscan hill town!
Bologna, Milan, Verona, Ravena, Lucca, Florence, Siena, Bergamo, Pisa, Assisi (not too bad). I don't know how you are going to avoid cobblestone though, they're pretty much everywhere.
Wow, thanks for all the thorough advice, everybody. I don't mean to cut off conversation - if anyone has more, please do share it. But I wanted to express my appreciation.
Rome has the underground to rely on for less walking. There is a lift in the Colosseum, the grounds surrounding may be difficult.
In Florence there is a Hop-on-hop-off bus to all the major sites! (I believe in Rome as well)
I agree about making sure your hotel has an elevator! Double check that! I know Hotel California in Florence has one. (that's the only one I know) and it is a 2-minute walk to the Duomo.
