Among the most accessible museums in Italy, from north to south, there are some well-known names and others less known but which make culture accessible to all. Come and discover them with us
Various aspects contribute to making a museum more or less accessible. There are not many museums in Italy to have prepared measures aimed at guarantee the accessibility of their spaces and their collections to users with disabilities or difficulties.
An accessible museum is a space without architectural barriers such as stairs and gradients that are difficult for a person in a wheelchair, for example, or if there are stairs, which have tools to help accessibility. For those places of culture that do not have sufficient funds to invest in making their spaces accessible and perhaps are located in buildings that have architectural barriers because they were built when accessibility was not paid attention to, one option would be to limit expenses and invest. in used equipment, therefore less expensive, thus paying attention to the environment. A used stairlift, for example, costs less than a new stairlift, it is equally functional without therefore placing an excessive burden on museum budgets which are often reduced to the bone. Furthermore, sensitivity towards the disabled can go hand in hand with attention to the environment. In this sense, there are renowned producers of ad hoc solutions, such as https://handicare-montascale.it/, which offers stairlifts for every need, both those of public spaces such as museums, and private ones such as residential homes.
But it is not only access and roads that guarantee the accessibility of a museum. Are texts, images, videos accessible by those with motor or sensory difficulties? Are there ad hoc paths for disabled people?
Let’s see together which are the most accessible museums in Italy and what makes them actually accessible.
The most accessible museums in Italy
Civic Museum of Natural History of Trieste – Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Recent example of how a museum can become accessible. To the Civic Museum of Natural History of Trieste they realized that the accessibility problem did not concern architectural barriers, but rather the reading of the texts on display. Those who have difficulties in reading and learning, in fact, always had to be accompanied by a person who could interpret the texts, from here the initiative to simplify the texts to make them accessible to all.
Italian Museum of Technologies for the Visually Impaired of Genoa – Liguria
Recently opened museum, the Italian Museum of Technologies for the Visually Impaired of Genoa proposes a multisensory journey with visitors accompanied – in the dark – by blind guides. It is a time travel to discover how technology has evolved in favor of the disabled.
MART of Trento and Rovereto – Trentino-Alto Adige
The Museum of Modern Art of Trento and Rovereto is another accessible Italian museum. In addition to having elevators and being free of architectural barriers, it offers ad hoc paths for people with disabilities: ptactile guided tours for the visually impaired and blind and guided tours for the deaf.
Uffizi Gallery in Florence – Tuscany
The Uffizi Gallery in Florence – museum famous all over the world and housed in the palace designed by Vasari on commission by Cosimo de ‘Medici it has no architectural barriers and is completely accessible.
Vatican Museums in Rome – Lazio
The Vatican Museums, one of the most important Italian museums, house one of the largest and most important artistic collections in the world. Fully accessible thanks to the presence of elevators and the absence of architectural barriers, they have a dedicated service that gives the possibility to book wheelchairs and tactile visits.
Archaeological Park of Paestum – Campania
“Open Paestum” is the app to make the Archaeological Park of Paestum accessible to everyone. Thanks to the app you can immerse yourself in the life, habits and customs of the inhabitants of ancient Poseidonia. The app allows a all visitors, even those with motor or sensory difficulties, to access mini-stories in augmented reality which will allow them to identify with their characters.
On this site, you will find the complete list of accessible museums in Italy.
Accessible culture thanks to technology
There are also many museums that have made money in this pandemic year culture accessible to all thanks to technology. Collections accessible from home via guided tours, interactive tours and online experiences. Among others we point out the Uffizi in Florence, the Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Bergamo, the Egyptian Museum in Turin, the Peggy Guggenheim in Venice and the Quirinal Stables in Rome.