Have you watched the TV series about the Medici family and, now, wish to revalue Tuscany? If you’re looking for a destination that’s rich in alternatives able to satisfy everyone’s taste and needs, with special consideration for accessibility, this is the right place! Indeed, despite the medieval structure of many cities, the region has been committed for years to ease the life of residents and tourists with reduced mobility.

Florence

Let’s start from the Tuscany county seat, Florence, one of the richest cities in history and art, not just in Italy. Moving into the city through public transport is advisable, since both buses and trams are fully accessible both for people with motoric and sensory disabilities. As regards monuments, museums and other attractions to visit, you are only spoilt for choice. The most important churches in the city (starting from S. Maria del Fiore Cathedral) are accessible to everyone and can be visited for free. Are you interested in museums? The Uffizi have elevators to ease the access for visitors with motoric disabilities and a tactile route for blind and partially-sighted people. For deaf visitors, we must recommend “InSegnami l’Arte”, an ad hoc route inside the museum, with guides and educational videos in sign language. Palazzo Pitti’s Museum is accessible as well, without too many issues, thanks to the presence of elevators: by the way, it’s advisable to contact in advance the staff, so that someone can open the door which communicates with the galleries, that’s normally locked up. Do you want to have a tour at Boboli’s Garden? If there’s someone helping you, it won’t be too hard. Furthermore, keep in mind that most of the city museums can be visited for free by disabled people and their companions (even jumping the queues!), just showing your invalidity certificate.

Sienna, the Palio

Would you prefer to pop round to Sienna, maybe for the Palio, that attracts thousands of tourists at Piazza del Campo and its surroundings? Here as well, churches and museums have been adapted to make them accessible and usable also by disabled tourists (apropos, I recommend you the interesting and evocative “Turismo dei Suoni”- “Sounds Tourism”- project, aiming to enable also visually impaired tourists to enjoy the most important attractions in the city) and by families with children.

Pisa, Piazza dei Miracoli

I bet you won’t miss Pisa, with its suggestive Piazza dei Miracoli and the very well-known leaning tower, right? The square can be reached also by car and, once you’ve arrived, the accessibility to each step of the museum itinerary (Baptistery, Cathedral, Tower and monumental Cemetery) is granted by ramps and tactile routes. Unfortunately, the leaning Tower interiors aren’t accessible to people with motoric disability, but you can always enjoy it from outside!

Maremma

But Tuscany doesn’t just mean art and history. The region also offers a great number of parks, oasis and protected forests and most of them are fully accessible, thanks to itineraries designed to satisfy every kind of visitors’ needs.

There would be many more to say about the accessible beauty of this enchanting land. For more info also about other destinations, you can refer to this website, in addition to those of the local administrations. There is nothing left for me to do but wish you a nice holiday!