Accessible Venice
Whether resident or visiting, getting around in Venice is certainly not easy for the disabled.
The almost 400 bridges which are a distinctive characteristics of the city
are the main obstacle for the person with impaired mobility or vision. However,
knowledge of the services available enables you to organise your visit, not
only with a travelling companion. Venice is more accessible for disabled
tourists than you might think!
Public transport service
Road and water-based public transport services in Venice are managed by
the ACTV - Azienda del Consorzio Trasporti
Veneziano .
For more information on timetables and routes, contact
the Hallo Venice service on (+39)-041-2424 or
visit the site http://www.actv.it .
Since April 2004, boat transport is free for the wheelchair-bound
BOAT SERVICES
Venice is without doubt more accessible than you might think. All vaporetto
landing stages are accessible to the disabled. Problems may, however, arise
during particularly high tides when the access ramps may slope excessively.
Lines 1 and 82 boats which cover the majority of canals
in the city can carry up to two wheelchairs at a time, always with accompanying
carer.
Boats on lines 6, 12 and 14 connecting the city with Lido
di Venezia and the Cavallino - Punta Sabbioni littoral are also accessible.
Two ferry boats operate between Tronchetto and Lido di Venezia,
with lifts and toilets for the disabled.
Groups can hire a vaporetto or motorboat complete with crew
to organise excursions, conferences, etc. To book or for information, telephone
the ACTV office at (+39)-041-2722421.
BUS SERVICE
Not all urban bus lines have facilities for transporting the disabled.
There is, however, a "Bus Facile" (Easy Bus) service
which guarantees that all urban bus routes operated by lines 2, 4,
4/, 5, 6/ and 15 (covering a large part of the mainland and guaranteeing
a connection with Venice ) operate with buses with low floor and pull-out
platform.
Bridges with platform lifts
In the historic city centre of Venice and on the islands of Burano and Murano, Venice City Council has installed a number of platform lifts on a number of bridges to enable the wheelchair-bound to move about more easily.These are platforms which move obliquely in parallel to the steps.
You will need
a key to operate these platform lifts: keys can be obtained from APT Tourist Information Offices and City Council URP (Public Relations Offices) and Informahandicap offices.
The instructions and a map showing the location of the bridges can be downloaded directly from internet (see 'More infomration' below).
Location of the platform lifts.
Historic city centre of Venice:
- Ponte Goldoni (near Testolini and the Hotel Bonvecchiati)
- Ponte Manin (near the Rialto landing stage and the Banca d'Italia)
- Ponte del Teatro (near the Cinema Rossini)
- Ponte dei Frati (on Campo Sant'Angelo)
- Ponte Novo (on the Rio della Tana)
- Ponte de Mezo (Fondamenta Vetrai)
- Ponte degli Assassini (near Piazza Galuppi)
- Ponte Terranova (near the primary school)
Where to obtain the keys for the platform lifts:
Venice APT Tourist Offices
tel. (+39)-041-5298711 - fax (+39)-041-5230399
every day except Christmas Day and New Year's Day
- Marco Polo Airport
tel. (+39)-041-5415887 - fax (+39)-041-5415887
- Santa Lucia Station
- Piazzale Roma inside the ASM Garage
- San Marco, 71/f Venice
- San Marco Venice Pavilion - Giardini Reali
- Lido - Gran Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta 6/a - from 1 June to 30 September
Venice City Council
- Public Relations Office
Mestre
Centro Culturale Candiani , piazzale Candiani 5 -tel. (+39)-041-2749090
closed first Monday of the month
Venice
Cà Farsetti , San Marco 4136 - tel. (+39)-041-2748080
closed first Monday of the month
- Informahandicap service
Mestre
Centro Culturale Candiani , piazzale Candiani 5 -tel. (+39)-041-2746144
Venice
Cà Farsetti , San Marco 4136 - tel. (+39)-041-2748144
More information:
Venice City Council
Direzione Centrale Relazioni Esterne e Comunicazione
Informahandicap service
A certain number of tactile maps can be downloaded.
It is also possible to apply directly to the office for mobility assistance.
e-mail: informahandicap@comune.venezia.it
internet: www.comune.venezia.it/informahandicap