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Disabled Travel GuideQuayside Business Centre
Ouserburn Building
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE6 1LL
Contact
info@disabledtravelguide.com
Tel: 0191 275 50 00
Rome
Added by sean gorman
July 30, 2011
522
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Reviewed by Rome and Italy March 15, 2012
AN EXCLUSIVE SERVICE FOR DISABLED TRAVELERS
Hi friends!
Disabled travelers are now on “equal footing” with other travelers as they view all of Italy’s historic sites from a specially designed trekking-wheelchair.
Using a seat and frame with only one wheel, plus two arms in the front and back to support the chair when not in motion and allow for movement up or down hills, the chair is easily rolled and carried by two trained guides. 360° degree maneuverability around obstacles such as stones, holes, and steps allows visitors to safely navigate the country’s ancient streets and steps, areas previously off limit to disabled travelers. Shock absorbers under the chair keep the ride smooth.
The chair with two trained assistants and a tour guide are included in the price of all the excursions in our website marked with an asterisk. (*)
For any other special request or for information on rentals contact us.
Visit the dedicated section of our website for pictures and further info! http://www.romeanditaly.com/beta/tourselected.php?id=10
U.S. PRESS ARTICLES about OUR EXCLUSIVE SERVICE FOR DISABLED TOURISTS!
http://www.luxurytravelmagazine.com/news-articles/disabled-travelers-can-now-visit-italys-historic-attractions-easily.php
http://goitaly.about.com/b/2012/02/24/disabled-travelers-rome.htm
http://articles.boston.com/2012-02-26/travel/31094147_1_plastic-bricks-lego-bricks-virtual-tour
Reviewed by sean gorman July 30, 2011
The usual tourist in Rome walks four to six miles a day. The wheelchair tourist CAN do almost as much provided they do have assistance. A trip to Rome is as much about going down ancient streets as it is about going to the Vatican. The true joy of a Rome trip lies in the glimpses of rooftop gardens, the beautiful centuries old wall paintings tucked in nooks, the statues hidden in courtyards. Rome can be reasonably seen by the wheelchair traveller with assistance. The biggest obstacle a wheelchair traveller faces is the roads. Roads are made of San Pietro stone. It is a brutal surface for both traveller and wheelchair.
The majority of difficulties in traversing the roads are due to the rims of your chair wheels getting caught between the stones. If you can change your wheels to a wide wheel/tyre, then it makes life a hundred times easier.
You must be prepared to use the roads as well as the sidewalks. Many times there are no dropped kerbs or they are blocked by parked cars. Your best bet to get on and off the sidewalks are people’s private driveways. They usually aren't blocked by parked cars.
Many streets in Rome have NO sidewalks, but Roman drivers are used to sharing the road with pedestrians.
Is Rome accessible? Yes!! Sometimes things are astonishingly accessible like the Colosseum (Colosseo). Other times, the barriers are impossible to overcome, such as the church of Santa Maria della Vittorio where Bernini's the Ecstasy of St. Theresa is located. The trick is to know where the entrance isand wherever possssible, to have a helping hand.