vinrouge

While in Paris last summer I experienced the city in all it's glory,with few obstacles. Is it possible to circumnavigate the stairs ,bridges,and steps that a wheelchair encounters while in Venice? gondolas? Anyone with tips or encounters ?

elaine

try these

http://goeurope.about.com/travel/goe...e/aa980202.htm and
http://www.tour-web.com/accessibleitaly/infovene.htm are articles about being a disabled traveler in Venice

dutyfree

In my personal opinion, Venice would be one of the worst places to be in a wheelchair. I say this as someone who travels alot and also with a mother in a wheelchair so I know whats involved.There are too many little bridges to cross over that connect places,etc.Is there somewhere else that has been calling you that might be easier to navigate for you and your traveling companion?

dorkforcemom

My husband & I visited Venice for several days. While neither he nor I use wheelchairs, our daughter does. She wasn't with us but I'm always aware of environs and their accessibility. I think Venice would be extremely difficult to navigate and exhausting in the process. I hate to be discouraging as I understand you would want to experience it for yourself. I'm very glad your Paris experience was positive.

PalQ

Yeh though most of Europe is very wheelchair accessible Venice, due to its old nature, is not. Lots of bridges with steps - steep bridges. that said you probably could board the vaporetto - boats that act as buses in Venice - with a wheelchair and then tool around St Marks from the boat dock - but not to go anywhere else much. But on the boats you can take all around Venice and to Murano, Burano, etc. yes - so i wouldn't say such a visit isn't possible just not wheeling around Venice itself.

ira

Hi vin,

Check the maps at www.viamichelin.com and www.mppy.com.

You will see that Venice is a set of small islands.

As noted, you will be able to get on/off the vaporettos to see particular sights, but you will have to plan your route carefully.

vinrouge

Thanks for the helpful suggestions concerning creative solutions in triumphing over the wonderfully ancient maze that Venice remains.I had a feeling that a marine assault of the cities sites would be best,as well as time spent in St. Marks.A mans gotta do what he has to do, and this man must see Venezia....some way.

ira

Go for it, Vin.

PalQ

Yes and take the boats to Burano and all over the lagoon - the vision of Venice hovering on the water from afar is unique - think of what medieval seamen must have thought when they entered the lagoon and saw the visage of Venice, then a wonder of the world, as it is now, looming in the distance.

TexasAggie

Oh yes, definitely go for it! Just plan your route carefully and you can experience the magic that is Venice Just seeing San Marco, the piazza, the campanile, and the Doge's Palace are magnificent... all the ambience one could ever desire. Be sure to have a drink in the evening at one of the cafes that line the piazza. The "dueling orchestras" from the surrounding cafes are marvelous entertainment. There are no steps or such hindrances in the main piazza.

sagetraveling

Hi vinrouge, I recently visited Venice in my wheelchair and used the vaporetto to get around the city. I've posted travel advice and videos of me getting on and off the boats here: http://www.sagetraveling.com/Venice-...le-Travel-Tips

caroline_edinburgh

I've given some thought to this issue as my MIL is in a wheelchair and DH and I are planning to move to Venice next year, at least for a while.

I agree with some other posters, you will be able to get around quite a bit with very careful planning - as well as being able to get vaporetti, it is possible to get around within many localised areas with the aid of a very good streetmap which shows all the bridges. When I used to stay at La Calcina, I sometimes used to think I could be quite happy without leaving that block - I could access my favourite ice cream shop, my favourite wine shop for a galss of wine & cicchetti, and a couple of favourite restaurants all without crossing a bridge !

There does seem to be a programme of work to improve accessibility with ramps being added to some bridges, although to a limited extent so far. The only one I know is one over the Rio Malpaga, at the top of Rio Tera Ognissanti I think, but I think there are a few more. I also seem to think I may have seen stair lifts over a couple of bridges in the areas most heavily populated by tourists, the Riva degli Schiavoni near St Mark's Square and perhaps somewhere near the Rialto. It may be worth checking the Comune of Venice website to see if there is 'official' guidance there.

Speaking of La Calcina, one issue to look out for is that many hotels in Venice (including that one) don't have a lift due to being historic buildings, and few have ground floor rooms due to winter flooding. Even ground floor apartments are likely to have 1 or 2 steps up, so I hope you can cope with that ? Hopefully some of the websites iothers have suggested will have suggestions for accessible accommodation - I'm sure there must be some.

One more hazard which may be worth mentioning is with the vaporetti - if the water is particulatly low there can be a big drop between the dock and the boat, which may make boarding impossible for you. But it's unlikely to be an issue more than very occasonally - I've probably noticed such a big drop on just 2 individual occasions in 6 visits and may vaporetto rides.


I'd really encourage you to go for it - get a really good street map (( I find the Rough Guide map good enough for almost all purposes) and enjoy planning !

ira

Hey Guys,

You are responding to a 6-year old post.

tarquin

Caroline, there are now ramps over the Rio di San Vio bridge on the Zattere - it's the one to the left of La Calcina as you exit the door. So much more of the Dorsoduro is now easily accessible by wheelchair.

Our friends with a disabled son stay in the Hotel San Cassiano which has its own boat dock.

julia_t

OK, I realise this is a 6 year old thread, but obviously the issue is still a current one, so here's my tuppence worth...

Venice is horrendous with a wheelchair. That is not to say impossible, but it is very difficult indeed.

Trust me on this, because in 2005 I took my 4 children to Venice - and one was in a wheelchair (thankfully temporarily due to a foot and ankle injury).

I had already reserved an apartment on the 1st (European floor) just off Frezzeria so we could get here easily from the vaporetto stop at San Marco.

But going anywhere else was very difficult - you see, all the bridges have steps which means you cannot just push the wheelchair up and over. Some bridges have lifts - we got the key from a desk at the airport when we arrived. However these lifts are very slow, and due to humidity do not always work. Like you may get the chair up one side, and then the down lift on the other side of the bridge doesn't work.

We found our best option was for my son to get out and hop over (or use crutches) while we lugged the chair over to the other side.

Using vaporettos (vaporetti?) was easy though, just wheel on and off. We even used the traghettos (traghetti?) with son hopping on and us folding the chair and carrying it on board.

Getting into almost all the churches involves steps or stairs.

I found a website by someone called Durant Imboden who has information about Venbice with a wheelchair, and there are a very few walks that can be done avoiding bridges.

Venice can be done with a wheelchair, but it is not something to take on lightly.

caroline_edinburgh

Thanks Tarquin, that's good to know.