VENICE ACCESSIBLE
OVERVIEW OF VENICE
One of the most romantic and characteristic cities in the world.
Venice offers an atmosphere of tranquility, capable of catapulting you into a distant era, when machines did not yet exist, no one was in a hurry and technology was not sovereign.
Venice in a wheelchair… well… it’s a bit different. The atmosphere is always the same, its beauty indisputable, but I assure you that touring Venice in a wheelchair is not an easy task!
We had already visited Venice four years ago and the city was really impassable in a wheelchair. We decided to go back because we heard about that Venice had decided to make itself accessible.
However, we have chosen to go around Venice in the “traditional” way and Andrea has done all the steps of all the bridges.
The beauty of Venice lies in its streets, exploring each district and sneaking into its courtyards.
After this experience, we now want to tell you what is really feasible to do in Venice if you live with a disability.
VENICE ACCESSIBLE
the municipality of Venice has tried to make the city accessible.
They have made available a map of the areas that can be reached by wheelchair (you can download it HERE) but I’m not really sure if it’s exact and detailed.
From the map you can see that the best way to get around the city, if you want to avoid the thousand bridges with “magnificent” marble steps, is to take the vaporetto which runs along the Grand Canal and has numerous stops.
The only way to visit Venice by wheelchair is to access the main squares (which you will see on the map with the dark green color) via the nearest vaporetto stop.
Once in the squares it will be difficult to venture into the city through the secondary streets as the bridges are almost always not accessible.
That’s why I recommend that you move from one district to another again by vaporetto.
Prices if Vaporetto to get around Venice
The cost of the ticket is € 1.50 and includes a single trip for the disabled person and the companion with a duration of 75 minutes. Also valid for going to the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.
There are no day or multi-day tickets, but it is certainly the cheapest solution (the day ticket would cost € 20 PER PERSON).
On the other hand, the water buses are quite accessible and will allow you to visit a large part of the city.
They also tried to make some bridges more or less accessible with ramps or by joining the wider steps with small ramps, but they are few and still quite steep. In any case, the overcrowding of the bridges would make it difficult to use them independently.
Looking at all these people using the ramps, a doubt arose: why don’t we make these “blessed” ramps everywhere?
Because as I always say: A SIMPLE THING FOR A PERSON WITH DISABILITIES, IT IS SIMPLE FOR EVERYONE!
WHAT TO SEE IN VENICE
Here’s what I propose to see in Venice, even if only for a hit and run on the weekend.
Here is a list of the most accessible places in Venice.
- Piazza San Marco (one of the most accessible areas of the city)
- The waterfront near Piazza San Marco (very accessible with the ramps on the bridges). You will also be able to see “Il Ponte dei Sospiri” from the bridge in front.
- Fondaco dei Tedeschi Terrace, is a panoramic point just behind the Rialto Bridge that will allow you to see the city from above. It is free, but a reservation is required which you can do HERE
- Burano and Murano, I personally preferred Burano and I found it more accessible
- The area along the Grand Canal around the Santa Lucia train station and the coach station.
- Accessible gondola service (you can find information and make reservations HERE)
Here is the list of places that deserve to be visited, but which unfortunately… are not accessible.
- Rialto Bridge, certainly one of the most beautiful and famous places in the world
- Go up to the bell tower in Piazza San Marco. A disabled person and their companion can go up for free and without queuing through the priority access on the right side of the main entrance (the only problem is that this entrance also has steps…)
- A gondola ride along the internal canals of Venice
WHERE TO EAT IN VENICE
You will be spoiled for choice when it comes to eating. You will find a little bit of everything, from luxury restaurants on the Grand Canal, to take-away pizzas to cheaper restaurants.
As a general advice, you should move from the central streets and venture into the smaller calli to find places with more affordable prices, without being plucked.
WHAT TO EAT IN VENICE
To visit Venice to the full, you have to take a Spritz in one of its thousand bars along the calli.
They are served at all hours, with or without an aperitif, and cost only 3 or 4 euros!
WHERE TO SLEEP IN VENICE
This time I have no recommendations for the hotel as we rode with my parents to save money.
In any case, I would recommend that you sleep in Mestre and reach Venice comfortably by train. Especially since finding an accessible hotel in Venice is possible, but you can’t be sure that you can really reach it by wheelchair!!
CONCLUSIONS
Unfortunately, the accessibility of Venice is poor, perhaps the least accessible city by wheelchair, but I assure you that it does not lose its charm and is truly romantic.
Look at the weather to avoid days of rain and high water, arm yourself with a little patience and goodwill and set off to discover this timeless city!
For any curiosity or additional information about Venice you can write me a comment below, contact me with the form HERE or on INSTAGRAM.
If you want to tell me about your experience in Venice or give some advice, leave a comment and tell me yours!
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