MAKE A QUICK GETAWAY

Some cities never lose their charm, thanks to breath-taking architecture, great gastronomy and unforgettable sights which bring visitors back again and again. And with spring underway it’s the perfect time to think about an accessible short break.

VIVA ESPAÑA

Barcelona prides itself on being one of the most accessible tourist destinations in Europe as it’s been improving access for disabled residents and visitors since preparations began for the 1992 Paralympic Games. The city has had a Municipal Accessibility Plan since 1996, and plans to make public spaces, transport, beaches and parking more accessible have been widely achieved across the whole city. As a result, disabled tourists flock to the sunny cultural hotspot to enjoy amazing architecture, a vibrant nightlife and delectable cuisine.

Low cost deals mean you can grab a great bargain flight to Barcelona’s El Prat airport, and there are plenty of accessible transport options to take you from there to the city centre, including an accessible shuttle bus (the Aerobus) and an express train service, although you may find a pre-booked accessible taxi is your best option (try www.accessiblebarcelona.com or call 0034 934 766 343). When it comes to accommodation, Barcelona – much like the rest of Spain – offers a variety of solutions for disabled holidaymakers. The AccessibleBarcelona website or telephone booking line can tell you about accessible hotels and apartments, and also provides airport transfers and city tours for wheelchair users and other people with mobility impairments.

Barcelona offers a huge range of things to do. The clean beaches on the edge of the city span four kilometres, and there are many accessibility solutions in place, including smooth paths to the sea edge and beach buggies if you fancy a dip. The city’s most famous street, La Rambla, is also fully accessible to disabled people. About a mile in length, La Rambla features fountains, flower markets, buskers, book stalls, cafes, music shops, palaces and tree-lined promenades leading down to the sea. The vibrant area transforms at different times of the day, and pavement cafes and restaurants with terraces make dining out easy.

Barcelona is famous for its artistic connections and has plenty of museums and galleries reflecting these links. Craig Grimes, the founder of AccessibleBarcelona, recommends the entirely wheelchair-friendly Fundació Joan Miró, in particular the rooftop exhibition space which displays Miró’s colourful sculpture against the backdrop of the city. The Museo Picasso, in the Gothic Montcada area of the city, features 3,500 works by the artist including childhood sketches and pieces from the Blue and Pink periods. Although it’s made up of three 15th century palaces, the building is accessible, with a restaurant, toilets and gift shop on the ground floor and a staff-operated lift at the entrance. And finally, you can’t go to Barcelona without soaking up some Gaudi. The artist’s fluid and sculptural works appear throughout the city – from the towering spires of the Sagrada Familia to the architectural wonders of the Parc Güell. Because it’s still under construction, there are some access issues with the Sagrada Familia, but its most impressive features are on the exterior, which everyone can enjoy. Getting around Barcelona is made easier by a fleet of accessible buses, and the underground Metro system has one fully accessible line which stops off at key tourist points such as the Sagrada Familia. Because of the wheelchair friendly street layouts and surfaces and the compact nature of the centre, much of the city can be accessed without public transport.

Thanks to Barcelona’s commitment to improving accessibility, disabled visitors can enjoy a huge range of attractions with ease. With so much to see and do, you’re sure to return with treasured memories.

THE CITY OF LOVE

Even now that all the Valentine’s fuss is over, Paris remains a romantic destination for a city break. Boat trips on the Seine, a couple of hours in a world-famous gallery, a trip up the Eiffel Tower to see the city bursting into bloom… as one of the most-visited cities in the world, the French capital has long recognised the need to cater to the requirements of disabled people. Eurostar services can take you from London to Paris in two and a half hours, with designated accessible areas on each train and reduced fare rates for wheelchair users’ companions. The train arrives in the city centre so you can start your holiday without worrying about transfers.

Paris offers a massive range of accommodation options, from lavish hotel rooms to more basic chambres d’hotes (B&Bs). All tourist accommodation built since 1978 is legally required to include at least one accessible room (or more depending on the total number of rooms), so if you look for modern accommodation you should be able to find something suitable. It’s worth looking out for the ‘Tourisme et Handicap’ symbol at hotels and attractions, which indicates that the holder’s facilities and policies are accessible to people with a range of disabilities. The website of the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau (www.parisinfo.com) lists attractions that carry the symbol, as well as featuring more than 50 hotels with accessible rooms.

Popular destinations such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre museum and the Pompidou Centre welcome visitors of differing mobility levels. An elevator will take you to the second level of the Eiffel Tower, giving you a fantastic viewpoint 115 metres above the city. At the Louvre, wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge, disabled people don’t have to queue to get in and lifts provide access, allowing you to see works including the Venus de Milo and Mona Lisa. The museum has a dedicated helpline for disabled visitors and the friendly staff on the end of the phone are more than happy to provide you with any information you might need (0033 140 20 59 90). There are also a number of parks throughout the city offering level access and disabled facilities – well worth visiting if you want to make the most of Paris in springtime.

Of course, you can’t visit Paris without indulging in a little retail therapy. There’s the chance to grab a unique bargain in the friendly atmosphere of the outdoor flea markets (watch out for cobbled areas), or perhaps you’d prefer the luxurious surroundings (with prices to match) of the Galeries Lafayette. This seven-storey department store has lifts and wide aisles, giving all customers the opportunity to admire designs from Dior, Chanel and Gaultier, and perhaps own a little bit of that Parisian ‘je ne sais quoi’. Gastronomical Paris is also worth exploring, from small bistros in Montmartre to classy cafes around the Champs-Élysées. The Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau website lists accessible eateries, but it’s always worth phoning ahead to ensure that the venue suits your requirements.

When it comes to getting around Paris, the Metro, with its beautiful art nouveau stations, has accessible stations on lines one, two and 14 – where lifts, roll-on trains and wide gates allow access for wheelchair users. Taxis G7 has 30 accessible people carriers with pivoting seats and access ramps, which can be booked around the clock to take you anywhere within the city. And if you fancy something a little more romantic, Bateaux-Mouches provides wheelchair accessible boat cruises along the Seine, allowing you to wine and dine in style as the most famous sights of the city glide by.

With so many accessible attractions, Paris is certainly worth a visit if you fancy a charming and cultured weekend getaway.

THE ETERNAL CITY

You’d expect a city that spans centuries of civilisation to be fairly inaccessible but, although some barriers still exist, Rome is manageable for many disabled travellers. However, frequent visitor Mary Murphy-Hanson, who uses a wheelchair, told us: “You’d be well advised to have a companion who can assist with transfers and some of the pushing.” Accommodation-wise, staying in the compact city centre is the best option, allowing you close access to the city’s streets, fountains, piazzas and historical monuments. On your arrival at Fiumicino airport on Rome’s outskirts, an accessible shuttle train takes you directly to Rome’s central Termini train station. This has its own disability assistance office to provide support with access (you should phone ahead for assistance on 0039 06 488 1726, but bear in mind that staff can only help during regular business hours). The smaller Ciampino Airport is closer to Rome than Fiumicino and is fully accessible, offering flights from a range of low-cost airlines. A number of major hotels offer accessible rooms with roll-in showers and lift access, such as the Ambra Palace near Rome’s opera house (double rooms from €179 per night in April, call 0039 06 492 330), the Hotel dei Mellini by St Peter’s Cathedral (from around €130 per night, call 0039 06 324 771) and the Royal Santina Hotel (from around €100 per night, call 0039 0644 8751), all of which are recommended by the disability holiday experts at accessatlast.com.

The capital of Italy offers amazing sights, including one of the largest churches in the world (St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City) and the ancient gladiatorial arena at the Colosseum, which has an accessible lift to the upper level providing spectacular views of this vast monument. There is also a pathway which allows you to travel around the Colosseum on the first and second levels. Similarly, disabled people touring Vatican City can visit the Tombs of the Popes and Michelangelo’s Pietà in St Peter’s Basilica and also enjoy the amazing sights of the beautiful Sistine Chapel. You can go on your own or on an organised tour – Mary recommends an after-hours two-hour tour so you can visit the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums without the crowds. The privacy this offers comes at a price though – the tours cost €250 per person (visit www.italywithus.com).

The Villa Borghese park includes some spectacular sights such as fountains, ornamental gardens, a zoo and the Borghese gallery. This displays Renaissance and Baroque works, along with stunning Roman mosaic flooring. However, thanks to the genius of Italian design, you’ll find the accessible toilet in the basement of the gallery, which is ‘accessible’ by stairs, unless you ask the management to let you in via the art school. The Borghese park is some distance away from the city centre so it’s probably best to head there by taxi, which is perhaps the best way to get around Rome generally since there are few accessible buses.

Although all roads lead to Rome, you’ll find that the pavements here can be perilous for wheelchair users, as they’re very narrow and you’ll have to dodge vespas and negotiate cobblestones. However, many of the city’s most attractive spaces are open to all, as Mary Murphy-Hanson explains: “The great piazzas of Rome are all accessible, from the Spanish Steps (there is an elevator and then a stair lift to the left of the steps) to Piazza Navona. The only disappointment is that there are three steps down to the Trevi Fountain, but if you have a strong arm you can still heft your coin into the fountain to ensure a return to Rome.”

Disabled visitors to Rome may have to navigate some tricky architectural access issues, but the breathtaking sights and the unforgettable experiences on offer help to make up for the lack of universal access. And if the hills and busy locations all get too much, take time out to do as the Italians do and enjoy a pizza in one of the city’s piazzas for accessible al fresco dining and the chance to people-watch.

FURTHER INFORMATION - BARCELONA

AccessibleBarcelona
0034 934 766 343
www.accessiblebarcelona.com

Barcelona tourist board
www.barcelonaturisme.com

Barcelona Tourist Board information
on accessibility
www.bcn.es/accessible

Spanish Tourist Board
020 7486 8077
www.spain.info

FURTHER INFORMATION - PARIS

Bateaux-Mouches
0033 142 259 610

Eiffel Tower
0033 144 11 23 23
www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/

Eurostar
08705 186 186
www.eurostar.com

The Louvre
0033 140 20 59 90
www.louvre.fr

Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau
0033 892 68 3000
www.parisinfo.com/en/

Taxis G7
0033 147 39 47 39

FURTHER INFORMATION - ROME

Rome tourist office
0039 064 88991
www.romaturismo.it

Database of accessible locations in Rome:
www2.comune.roma.it/accacomune/osservatorio/default_en.asp

To read more about Mary’s travels around Rome, visit:
www.slowtrav.com/italy/accessible/rome

 

March/April 2007