Venice for the almost handicapped?

Message 8 of 33

Venice is on my short list of places to go while I can still get around. I've got a badly damaged hip and knee and a compressed spine, so I can only walk about 2 blocks or climb 1-2 flights of stairs before having to sit down. That means a wheelchair for any serious sightseeing, and I've been told that Venice is really a city that can be best appreciated only by those people who can walk. Does that mean that most of Venice is, for all practical purposes, off limits to me? Are there any sights or sites that are just unaccessable to me? Does anyone have any suggestions on I can get the most of out Venice given my limitations? Or suggest a hotel or B&B with either ground floor rooms or a lift?

Many sincere thanks!

MM

posted by MarketMama

I haven't been to 'travel in Italy' for a while, so I didn't see your message. My husband and I were there in May, and I have to agree, it's not handicap accessible. I absolutely loved Venice, but it was hard for me, who does not have a problem, to get in and out of a gondola, and if you wanted to walk, that was ok if you didn't want to cross the 'street'! It's all bridges with steps. And the walkways in parts were like alleys, not very wide (I'm thinking of the wheelchair.) Of course I wasn't looking for places where a person could get from one area to another without steps, but I can't say that I saw any. Oh, and the hotels we stayed in (with a tour) were 4-star, and they were VERY small, not much room to move around, and we didn't have a wheelchair. I was NOT impressed with Italy in general, for handicap accessability. Everywhere we went it was walking, walking, walking, and climbing, a lot of climbing. Sorry I can't give you good news!

posted by mkmkm
about 1 year ago

I have a bad leg and have developed a long, messy, list of hotels near vaporetto stops.
I have stayed at H. Campiello, on Campiello d. Vin, San Zaccaria Jolanda Vaporetto stop. It is as good as it gets. Perhaps a half a step up at the entrance, lift, and a very good cold breakfast. Coffee hot of course.
They take credit cards for up to one week. After that you must pay in advancw with a bank draft. Which is not convenient, so I won't go there again. The Jolanda is also close.

Suggest you email me: gfmueden@verizon.net
Will be in V the first two weeks in May. ===gm===

posted by gfmueden
8 months ago

Wow! Sincere thanks for your offer! I've taken you up on your kind offer, so please check your email.

MM

posted by MarketMama
8 months ago

I just got back from 10 days in Italy with my son...the typical hot spot trip. I noticed the lack of handicapped accesibility. I am not sure what to tell you, but perhaps there are some websites for travelers with such disabilities that have links to services or ideas? That would be my advice.

posted by leftymn
7 months ago

My lifelong dream is to one day visit Italy. I am recovering from total knee replacement right now, but I would think you could find some sort of bus tours in Italy where it would take you to places and you could at least see different things. What about a greek island cruise?