Florence without barriers: 3-day itinerary

The historic centre of Florence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must visit, at least once in your lifetime. Our itinerary starts from Piazza della Signoria: here it is possible to visit the Palazzo Vecchio, accessible with a flat entrance on the left-hand side. Later you pass the Galleria degli Uffizi: you find the entrance on the left, by means of a ramp. For this, as well as the ticket office, assistance is necessary. The rooms of the gallery are accessible by lift. 

Behind the Piazzale degli Uffizi, you arrive at the Ponte Vecchio (we recommend that you cross it by remaining in the centre of the bridge). Next go back along Via Por Santa Maria, Piazza della Repubblica, Via Calzaioli until the Duomo (there are many wide and well-connected sidewalks).

In the area of Piazza della Repubblica it is possible to do a detour through Via Porta Rossa to visit the Museo Davanzati: here the personnel must be advised so that they place the mobile platform on the main door. The lift leads to the upper floor and there are disable access toilets on the ground floor and upstairs.

After, you pass the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore: on the right side you find the accessible entrance; the inside can be accessed independently, but to get to the churchyard, a few centimetres high step must be passed. In front you find the baptistery, which is accessible with assistance.

We recommend that you take a lunch break near the Mercato di San Lorenzo. Here, there are many trattorias, bars, and kiosks that serve great Florentine dishes, which include lampredotto.

The afternoon starts with a visit to Palazzo Medici Riccardi: the entrance for those that have physical disabilities is from no.1 (sidewalk connected to the road); the rooms and the Chapel of Benozzo Gozzoli are accessible (the Chapel of the Magi is not however). Luca Giodano’s salon is accessible lift and stair lift.

The route continues to piazza San Marco to the museum of the same name and the inside is made accessible by ramps and lifts. In the summer its particularly nice to stop at the benches on the piazza. From Piazza San Marco through via Ricasoli you reach the Galleria dell’Accademia. The accessible entrance and the ticket stall are n. 60. The Colosso room, the musical instruments museum, the prison gallery, the Bartolini/gipsoteca room are all accessible via a slightly steep slope. Before the staircase to the upper floor (the room of the late 300s and collection of icons) there is a toilet adapted for disabilities, it is on the right, in front of a large lift to access the top floor. To visit the upper rooms (late 300s, up to Lorenzo Monaco) there are also two chair lifts.

In the piazza of the Duomo you find the Opera del Duomo Museum which is completely accessible. The last thing to visit is the “Giardino dei Semplici” Botanical Garden: the garden is accessible by a descending ramp; the outside paths are gravel. You can follow the fragrant paths for the blind and visually impaired which have descriptions in braille. There are also equipped toilets and audio guides.

On the second day, our route gets underway in the vibrant district of Sant’Ambrogio, where the Florence described Vasco Pratolini’s novels comes alive. This area is rich in sounds and tastes of the gastronomic tradition and of the most artistic and original craftsmanship. It still retains the characteristics of the past, which include the trippaio and the market shops which you can still find in certain parts.

In the covered Sant’Ambriogio market, you can enter via the ramp on both the right and left side of the building; leaving the market, continue along Via Andrea del Verrocchio (preferably along the road) until the point it meets Via dei Macci. At the crossing with Via dei Macci, on the right you arrive at the piazza and the church of Sant’Ambrogio, accessible with the platform on the left side of the church. 

One can choose to follow the road and visit the Synagogue and the Jewish museum. It is preferable to enter the main gate for cars, warning the concierge at no. 65. The route to the access ramp to the synagogue is difficult due to the gravel surface. The Synagogue and the first floor of the museum are accessible; there is a standard lift. The second floor is more difficult due to the necessity of a stairlift, there are however, accessible toilets. To visit the Synagogue and the museum it is possible to reach the entrance ramp by car.

Continuing along Via Farini, you reach Piazza D’Azeglio, perfect for a short stop. It is a lively square, with trees, benches, games for children and a football pitch, as well as public toilets.

You continue the journey up to Largo Bargellini, almost opposite the ramp (with an incline) to the entrance of the Basilica of Santa Croce (accessible). After the visit descending from the ramp, you arrive at Piazza Santa Croce (linked to the road – accessible – with benches) to visit the Opera di Santa Croce Museum and to the Pazzi Chapel: the accessible entrance is from the first door on the left of the façade of the basilica. From Chiostro the route lease to the Cappella dei Pazzi and the museum rooms (in the 14^thcentury Referrorio and in a wing of the ancient convent). Inside the building there is an accessible bathroom, even if it is not equipped with a wheelchair. 

At the end of the day you can relax in the ex-convent of the Oblate, now the city library that houses a popular café, from which you can reach the Musuem of Prehistory. Together both places are accessible. You enter crossing two inclining ramps that lead to a lift: the museum is on the first floor and the library is on the three floors.

Dedicate the last day of the journey to admire Florence from above. Start with a visit to the Boboli Gardens, which arereachable with an assisstant. The floor is earth and gravel, and the route is almost always on an incline. Access is through the exit of the garden (on the left side of the courtyard, before the book shop) and then going up the large uphill lane to the bottom of the garden.

The route can be followed, from the left side, first flat and then downhill along the wider lanes, to the large pool with Neptune, in the lower part of the garden, towards the porta Romana exit. To get to the pool from the side street, there is a rounded step of about 6cm that can be passed with assistance.

The most exceptional view that you can have in Florence is from Piazzale Michelangelo. An exciting view which all can enjoy. You can arrive at the Piazzale Michelangelo by car, and from here you can follow the panoramic path: the pavement is connected on the most extreme sides, on the left and the right of Florence’s terrazzo.

Walking along the panoramic terrazzo, you can look out onto both streets that go down to the river Arno and the access point on the stairs, open for a view onto the city. By car you can go down onto the terrazzo, where you can take a break in the large open space, immediately past the piazza in the direction of Basilica of San Miniato al Monte, on Via Poggi.

Returning above the Piazzale and following the street that leads to the basilica of San Miniato al Monte, after around 100 metres you will find public access toilets. On foot, you can cross the road at the zebra crossing where the pavement is connected, and on the left side you will find a toilet facility. 

From the Piazzale, with car, you can arrive in the basilica of San Miniato and at the cemetery: caraccess is available to those with mobility difficulties on request. The cemetery of Porte Sante is accessible, by car too, along the tiled driveway but with steep ramps. Arriving in the square in front with the car (only to go up and down), it is possible to access the basilica of San Miniato al Monte with a ramp with slope that leads to the churchyard. From here, it is possible to enter the church through a mobile platform, which can only be used on the floor. From the Piazzale opposite the basilica, following a short gravel track, it is possible to enjoy a splendid view of Florence. 

The basilica appears to have been constructed in the place where San Miniato died in the 1300 and where his relics were found. The façade is a fantastic example of roman Florentine architecture. The monumental cemetery at the Porte Sante dates back to 1848. Notable people have been buried here: writers, politicians, fashion designers, musicians, scholars, such as Carlo Collodi, Odoardo Spadaro and Vasco Pratolini.