Can anyone give advice/information on traveling with a wheelchair and a person with limited walking strength? The trip is to Italy. I know there are a lot of stairs and when my husband and I were in Italy last month we were not "observant" as to elevator access or access on the trains. I know there are travelers that are physically limited and I would like to know how they travel. Cinque Terre IS doable on the boats if you stay in the right town that has a flat area for boarding the boat. Venice Vaporettos are accessible. I'm sure there are B&B's that are on the ground level. All of ours were up many flights of stairs and I did not see an elevator. I'd like to be enlightened since I've had this brought to my attention. Thank you.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Hi Miss B. Click Favorite Links above, then Special Interests, it will take you to several websites on this exact subject, lots of info there.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
When my wife and I were in Florence, the CT and Venice this year, I did notice the extreme lack of consideration for the disabled and handicapped. You will never see special sidewalk access. In the older and more historic area of Florence, streets and sidewalks are narrow and uneven. Elevators at are not at every train station and you often have to go down about 25 stairs and back up another 25 stairs to change platforms. In Venice, you can get around on the Vaporettos but forget about trying to get across the canals in a wheelchair. Additionally, elevators in hotels are really small altough they probably would accomodate a wheelchair. In the CT, you have to walk down stairs to get into the towns (except Corniglia where you have to go up). At the main train station in Venice, they don't even have the wherewithall to place a handicap ramp on their 6-8 concrete stairs in front of the station. Being from California where handicap access is law and a high priority, Italy is not even on the same planet.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Larry, it isn't just Italy, I find France just as bad,, no ramps at sidewalk intersections, etc. Bathrooms "downstairs" etc.
Canada , like the States seems quite advanced in this area, and it surprised me to see how tough it must be for the Europeon citizens who live with this lack of consideration that we all take for granted here.
MissB,, I am not trying to discourage you though, it IS discouraging , BUT, not impossible, you will just have to do alot of homework!
Posted by
OP
525 posts
Hi Pat,
This information isn't for me. I just "met" a friend on this site that has some physical limitations and I was interested in how one travels as my husband and I did not "notice" people in wheelchairs other than Venice. We also did not notice people with any kind of physical limitations other than a very old looking, stooped over lady walking with a cane at Vatican City.
When we do not have physical problems we aren't aware. I give credit to the person who will travel no matter what their limitations are.
Thanks for responding.