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Fonbliu Considered one of the best Thalasso and Wellness centres in Italy. Located just outside the historical centre of Florence, the atmosphere ensures harmony between mind and body. Cave enclosed pool, Hammam, hot tub as well as Pilates courses and full gym. Find out more... Studio Pardini, Antuofermo & Stelfox Complete legal service for those wishing to purchase property/carry on business in Tuscany. Contracts in English and access to network of trusted professionals. Avvocato Stelfox, a native English speaker is registered at the bar in the UK and in Tuscany Find out more... AA Architects Italian and Irish architecture team provide complete advice and a professional service on purchase, reconstruction and new build projects. UK and Italy registered, based in the historical town of Lucca. Find out more... | Tuscany Local Reference INFOrmation
Overview of where to go and what to do if you are mobility, sight or hearing impaired - a wheelchair or cane user - and living in or visiting Tuscany. Information on the Italian organisations and facilities.
Disabled Travel & Transport in ItalyTrainsItalian trains have a few reserved seats for wheelchair passengers, though passengers must be able to transfer from their wheelchair to the seat. Otherwise, some trains have compartments that can accommodate a wheelchair. The Italian Railways offers services to disabled people to assist them during their train journey. These services can be arranged through a Blue Hall (Sala Blu), an information point located in 14 main train stations. 251 smaller stations make up the Assistance Circuit which provide more abbreviated services. Staff at the Blue Hall can provide information, book seats, and arrange for a wheelchair, guide and assistance carrying 1 item of hand baggage.
It is suggested to make special arrangements at least 24 hours prior to travel for international travel and for e-mail requests. Arrangements should be made at least 12 hours in advance for travel between or with connections at Assistance Circuit stations. For travel from 08:00-22:00 between main Blue Hall stations, notification should be given at least 1 hour before departure. Travellers should arrive at the assistance point in the station no later than 30 minutes before departure. A special free Blue Card (Carta Blu) provides fare reductions to Italian residents entitled to Italian mobility allowance, including blind people and war invalids. These cards can be obtained from a Blue Hall or station ticket counter.
Italian international airportsEU regulations establish that people with reduced mobility should have free, special assistance when needed in airplanes, airports, baggage check- in and with flight connections. Responsibility has been passed to the airports to accommodate the needs of the disabled traveller. Air companies are at liberty to provide services to people with reduced mobility. In all major Italian airports there is a special service providing assistance to disabled people: wheelchair service, assistance during boarding and landing. The assistance will be arranged through the airline once the airline is notified by the passenger.
Each airline company has its own internal procedures, describing the type of disability they may accept as well as the specific services offered on board and on ground. The disabled passenger should always notify the company about their specific needs when booking the ticket. It is also important to be present at the check-in desk at least one and a half hours before boarding. Bus travelThe website bus.it (in Italian) provides information by region on companies renting buses adapted to disabled people.
Boats and ferriesThe boat companies operating between mainland Italy and the Italian islands have made most of their boats accessible to disabled people. It is necessary to notify the type of disability when booking the ticket in order to get specific assistance when going on board. Among the companies offering special assistance for disabled are:
Cars and motorwaysThe accessibility of Italian motorway service areas, restaurants, bathrooms and various amenities to disabled people is under development. On the national and provincial roads, this accessibility varies according to the area. For more information contact the Handicap Documentation Centre Association ( Associazione Centro Documentazione Handicap/CDH).
ParkingCars parking in disabled parking spaces must display the blue disabled parking card or a European Community blue badge. Contact the local town hall for information on obtaining a blue badge. The blue badge is a standardised European Community disabled person's parking permit which provides parking entitlements to badge holders in all complying European countries - a blue badge from one country is valid in another. A person coming to Italy from another EU country may find it easier to apply in their home country for this universal badge which allows the use of reserved parking. Things to keep in mind:
Drivers with a blue badge from another European country may display this translation beside a badge written in another language (text from the UK Automobile Association):
Adapted vehiclesThe following transport companies have a fleet of buses specifically designed to accommodate the disabled.
Access to no-drive areas of FlorenceTo gain permission to drive in Florence's no-drive zones, call the Municipal Police 24 hours before access is required. Provide the following:
Tourism for the Disabled in TuscanyItaliapertutti is a tourism and leisure web portal for the disabled in Italy. It provides information on:
Hobbies, Sport and HolidaysOn the initiative of the General Tourist Board (Direzione Generale per il Turismo del Ministero delle Attivitą Produttive), an online service, Italia per Tutti, has been created to enable users to search and select a list of tourist sites in Italy with information on reduced mobility, wheelchairs and access for blind, deaf or elderly people. The website has a list of hotels, restaurants, bars and monuments and is available in English and German. The tour operator Mondopossibile, member of the SATH (Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality) deals exclusively with travel and holidays for disabled people. Sportabili is a non-profit organisation aiming to create contacts and links between disabled people and the rest of the community. The services proposed include skiing, cross-country skiing, hand-biking, rafting, hydrospeed and tennis with special guides for blind people.
Disabilincorsa offers several possibilities for disabled people to practice sport; running, cycling, ice-skating, horse-riding, mountains walks and sailing.
Centro Internazionale del Libro Parlato produces registered books, in Italian, for blind people. The website of the Italian Library for the Blind (Biblioteca Italiana per i Ciechi) has an exhaustive list of libraries available for blind people in Italy. In Rome, documents for blind people can be found at the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale
Sports Associations for the Disabled in TuscanyThe Italian Paralympic Committee (Comitato Italiano Paralimpico, CIP) promotes disabled sport and associated activities.
General Information & Useful linksAzienda Sociale Locale (ASL): Any person wishing to have their disability recognised in Italy should refer to the local ASL (Rome is divided into 4 ASL). Social invalidity benefits will only be delivered to people holding not just a residence permit but an Italian residence card, which is usually allocated after six years spent in the country. The same will be relevant to families wishing to apply for benefits for a handicapped child.
Disabili: An online journal and news magazine for disabled, this website is dedicated to handicapped people and provides information, chats, exchanges and discussion forums on various matters (information provided in Italian language).
Information Regarding WorkThe website of the Ministry of Social Solidarity (Ministerio della Solidarietą Sociale) provides information on work policies, general social affairs and has a section on disability with relevant information.
Handimpresa: Organisation based in Milan, aims to make it easier for disabled people to get jobs. Their website (in Italian) has useful links to help people find a job or a training session. Foundation Don Gnocchi: A non-profit board providing care, rehabilitation and social integration for people in difficulty. Among its various missions the Foundation provides training for disabled people in IT, Internet, retail, catering and artisan trades.
Italian Associations for the DisabledThere are a number of associations related to reduced mobility and disability. Please note that these organisations operate in Italian language. There is no guarantee of finding an English-speaker.
Other associationsCalibre Audio Books: UK charity, Calibre, supplies audio books in English on cassette or disk to visually impaired and disabled people. The free service is available to members (registration can be made via the website). Free postal service is available to anywhere in Europe. Associations for the disabled in TuscanyAssociations for the Disabled and information centres can be found at the following Tuscany addresses:
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