Florence Accessible Travel Guide: the City’s Inclusive Attractions
If you have ever wondered how to experience the timeless beauty of Florence without barriers, making every iconic sight accessible and enjoyable, then you are in the right place!
With comprehensive support, including equipment rentals from Mia Medical to aid your exploration, this Accessible Travel Guide highlights Florence’s must-see accessible sights and practical tips.
Florence: the recognition of Accessible City
In 2021, Florence proudly earned the European Commission’s recognition as Accessible City, celebrating its efforts to make its historic landmarks, museums and cultural hubs more inclusive for visitors of all mobility levels. For travellers during the Jubilee and beyond, Florence continues to enhance its accessibility while maintaining its timeless charm.
Without further to say, let’s embark on this accessible journey across the streets of Florence!
1. The Uffizi Gallery: Florence Accessible Travel Guide
One of the most famous art museums globally, the Uffizi houses works by Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Whether you are traveling to Italy for the first time, or you are a passionate visitor, The Uffizi Gallery hosts masterpieces from some of the greatest artists of all times, definitely worth for a charming cultural immersion.
Accessibility Features for People with Disabilities
- Accessible Access: wheelchair and mobility-scooter access via ramps at Via della Ninna. Rent here your personal one!
- Elevators connecting all floors.
- Accessible restrooms.
- Accessible wheelchair and electric scooter device.
- A tactile path featuring 14 sculptures with Braille descriptions for visually impaired visitors.
- Cafeteria accessible through stairlift.
Special Initiatives
- Video-guides in Italian Sign Language (LIS) and English.
- Uffizi Activity Bags for visitors with Autism (the booking is needed one week in advance).
Price:
- Accessibility Discount: Free entry with visitors with disabilities. and one companion. There is no need for booking in advance, however, it is important to show at the entry with the “disability card”.
- Regular Admission Fees: 25€ for adults; 2€ for EU-citizens aged 18-25; free for under-18.
Useful Information:
- Priority Access for people with certified disabilities.
- Address 1: Via della Ninna, between Palazzo Vecchio and Uffizi Gallery. For priority access go to Porta 1. There the museum staff offers standard wheelchairs, without needing of booking, for whoever needs them. However, we suggest to rent your personal one as a way to choose the one that best fits your needs!
- Address 2: For visitors who use electric wheel chairs or mobility scooters the entrance is the one of the Vasari Auditorium in Piazzale degli Uffizi, 50122.
- Web site: it is available a map with recommended paths with respective “travel” times from one place to the other.
- Telephone Number: +39 055 294883
2. Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens: Discovering Florence for All
The former royal palace of Palazzo Pitti houses multiple museums, including the Palatine Gallery and the Gallery of modern Art, with sprawling Boboli Gardens that harmoniously blend art and nature, these locations showcase Renaissance and Baroque art. Definitely a must to visit for the passionate ones!
Accessibility Features for People with Disabilities
- Accessible sloped entry paths and assistance from museum staff for steeper areas.
- Accessible ground floor exhibits and elevators to the upper floors.
- Restrooms and services adapted for visitors with disabilities.
- Accessible drinking fountains.
Be Aware: some paths are steep or uneven, necessitating an assistant for wheelchair users. Rent your electric scooter in advance to move in autonomy!
Prices:
- Accessibility Discount: Free entry for visitors with certified disability and one companion.
- Regular Admission Fees: combined ticket for all museums in Palazzo Pitti 22 €; reduced fee of 2€ for EU-citizens aged 18-25.
Useful information:
- Address: there are 4 different entrants; the ones that we recommend for visitors with mobility devices are the ones in Piazza Pitti 1, and the Porta Romana one.
- Web site
- Telephone Number: +39 055 294883
Additional services
Specialised map for wheelchair and mobility scooter users is provided, highlighting accessible routes and key points. Rent here your wheelchair or electric scooter in advance, so that you can enjoy your trip without any worries.
3. The Santa Croce Basilica: Florence Accessible Travel Guide
Known as the “Temple of Italian Glories”, the basilica is the resting place of luminaries like Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli.
Accessibility Features for People with Disabilities
- Accessible Entrance: ramps and elevators are available to access the church, cloisters and museum.
- Tactile Tours: available for visually impaired visitors.
- Audio Guides.
- Nearby parking and rest areas facilitate extended visits.
Prices:
- Accessibility Discount: Free entry for people with certified disabilities and one companion.
- Regular Admission fees: 8€ for adults and 6€ for seniors and students.
Useful Information
- Address: Piazza Santa Croce 16, 50122
- Website
- [email protected]
- Telephone Number: +39 055 2466105
4. The Accademia Gallery: Exploring Florence without Barriers
Famous for Michelangelo’s David, the gallery also features Renaissance paintings and musical instruments.
Accessibility Features for People With Disabilities
- Accessible Entrance: ramps that facilitate the access.
- Paths for wheelchairs and electric scooters to navigate it all the way through. Rent yours here!
- Elevators to access comfortably all floors.
- Spacious restrooms designated for mobility aid users.
Prices:
- Accessibility Discount: Free entry for people with certified disabilities and one companion.
- Regular Admission fees: €12 for adults; €2 for EU citizens aged 18–25; free for children under 18.
Useful Information:
- Priority Entry and Support Service
- Address: Via Ricasoli 60
- Web site
- Telephone Number: +39 055 0987100
5. The Santa Maria del Fiore Complex: Florence Accessible Travel Guide
Florence’s magnificent cathedral and its adjoining Baptistery and Museum form the heart and symbol of the city. You cannot go through Florence without visiting the Duomo Complex, and with our devices it has never been easier!
Accessibility Features for People with Disabilities:
- Accessible Entrance.
- Accessible paths both in the Duomo and Museum for mobility aid users.
- Tactile exhibits like a scale model of the complex for visually impaired visitors.
Be aware: The Cupola of Brunelleschi and Giotto’s Bell Tower are inaccessible for people with limited mobility or with mobility devices due to steep staircases.
Prices:
- Accessibility Discount: Free entry for people with certified disabilities and one companion,
- Regular Admission fees: €20 for a comprehensive ticket to all attractions. Free entry for disabled visitors and their companions.
Useful Information
- Staff Assistance available for navigating areas and Priority Entry
- Address: Via della Canonica 1, 50122
- Website
- Telephone Number: +39 055 2645789
- Email: [email protected]
6. The Galileo Museum: Accessibility-friendly Florence
This museum celebrates scientific history, showcasing the tools and discoveries of Galileo and his contemporaries.
Accessibility Features for People with Disabilities
- Accessible entrance through ramps
- Accessible Paths for mobility devices users
- Elevators and stairlifts that connect one floor to the other
- Interactive exhibits with a Tactile path and Braille guides
Prices:
- Accessibility Discount: Free entry for people with certified disabilities and one companion
- Regular Admission fees: €10 for adults; €6 for children and students
Useful Information:
- Guided Tours can be arranged
- Address: Piazza dei Giudici 1. However visitors with disabilities can access to the museum through the entrance in Lungarno Anna Maria Luisa de Medici 2, asking through the door phone support from a staff member.
- Website
- Telephone Number: +39 055 265311
7. The Palazzo Vecchio Museum: Exploring Florence without Barriers
Florence’s historic town hall offers both political and artistic insight, perfect for the ones who are passionate about the topic, but also for those who are keen on embarking on an enriching cultural journey. Palazzo Vecchio has been the symbol of the city of Florence for over seven-hundred years, housing extraordinary testimonies of all historic and artistic milestones.
Accessibility Features for People with Disabilities
- Ramps provide accessible access
- Wheelchair-friendly routes are marked
- Elevators connect the different exhibition areas
Prices:
- Accessibility Discount: Free entry for people with certified disabilities and one companion
- Regular Admission fees: €10 for adults; €8 for college students 18-25; free for under-18
Useful Information:
- Staff Support is available to help navigating more complex areas
- Address: Piazza della Signoria, 50122
- Website
- Telephone Number: +39 055 2768325
Practical Tips: Florence Accessible Travel Guide
- Plan Ahead: Contact venues in advance to confirm accessibility features and arrange support services.
- Leverage Equipment Rentals: Mia Medical offers a range of mobility aids, from wheelchairs to electric scooters, for a hassle-free experience.
- Use Local Resources: Florence’s accessibility office can provide tailored advice for navigating the city’s historic sites.
Conclusion:
Florence is not only a city of history and beauty but also a beacon of accessibility. As an Accessible City, it provides inclusive experiences for all travellers, ensuring its art, architecture, and culture are within everyone’s reach. With the support of equipment rental services like our, visitors can focus on enjoying Florence’s treasures, one step, or wheel, at a time.
If you are coming to Italy for the Jubilee, and you are planning on making the most out of your time here by arranging a tour of the country, be aware that we have two collection/delivery points both in Rome and Florence. Come get your device and bring it back to us to cut down delivery costs on your rental! And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter not to miss any advice for accessible travel across Italy.