Hi! I am thinking about taking my mother to Italy for a month or so next year. She has Multiple Sclerosis and uses a "scooter" or walker for long distances. I know she feels that she can't travel anymore but I think that she could. I've been to Italy so I know that there would be a lot of places that she just couldn't go to. However, I am thinking of renting a villa somewhere in Tuscany for a month. It would give us a central location from which to explore even though we wouldn't be doing a whole lot of exploring. But because Tuscany is so beautiful, I think that alone she would enjoy. I would rent a car for any other things that we would want to do. I'm leaning towards Siena but any other suggestions would be helpful. We want to enjoy the country but be close to a town where there are restaurants, some shops, etc. I just want her to think that she can still enjoy life a little! Thanks!
Jennifer

Jen, what a nice trip you've got planned for your Mom. Here are a few links which may help you out:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/faq/disabled_travel.htm

http://www.initaly.com/travel/travel.htm

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/italy/0228020008.cfm?section_dirname=europe

Hope this helps out.

What a great idea Jen! I have spoken with disabled people who travel in Italy. Slow Travel is well suited to someone who is disabled. Many estates now have wheelchair accessible apartments. Find yourself a nice estate where there is a manager onsite (so you can get help if you need it), with great views and a good private outdoor sitting area. Your mother will love just being there - in a beautiful old building, with a lovely garden and with the views.

Take your handicap parking thing for your car - I have heard you can use these in Italy. You might even want to hire a tour guide who provides a car for a nice day trip so you can enjoy the scenery too. Have a look at our list of tour guides:
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/planning/tour_guides.htm

Pienza is a flat town - this is rare. You can park in the main square right outside the gates to the old part of town, then she could go about the whole town on her "scooter". There are many restaurants there - and good stores.

Maybe Cristina, a regular who lives near Siena, will have some comments about Siena, but it is a larger town with more traffic. You can probably drive in somewhat to a handicapped spot, but you will still have long distances to go.

Florence is also pretty flat. You could even rent a nice place in Florence or on the outskirts.

I am sure others will have more thoughts about this.

Some friends of mine took her father, originally from Italy but brought to the US as an infant, back for a visit when he was 90 and often unable to walk. They had problems, yes, and there were things he couldn't reach in a chair, but overall they were very happy. At one point 4 strong young men picked up the chair and carried up some endless stairs. They ran into many situations where kind Italians helped out. They did make sure that all their lodging was chair accessible, however.
I'm very pleased your mom wants to do this. My mother is in slightly better shape than that and won't even consider it.

Thanks so much for all your replies! I wasn't so sure about it before but now I am feeling really excited about it! I will look at the links that you all supplied!

Pauline:

Your comment: "Your mother will love just being there - in a beautiful old building, with a lovely garden and with the views." is EXACTLY like I want it to be for her! Let me know if you have any suggestions for a place to stay in Pienza. I read about the town and it sounds perfect!

Jen

Jen
I have been helping a lovely lady who is bringing her wheel-chair bound husband over her during the summer. I looked up all the official information from the Italian association for the disabled and got a list of suitable hotels etc.
Then I started to try and book the hotels and discovered that all that glitters isn't gold. Some places that claim to cater for the disabled can only do so if there is someone able to help the person in the bathroom etc.

You will need a person who at least speaks Italian to phone the place you intend to stay in (better still if they can visit it) to check out all the facilities before you book.

.......Or if you book a vacation rental, there are a number of good agents out there who know the properties that they represent very well and will be able to guide you. I'd think that the agencies on Pauline's list of special picks are all in that category. You should be able to find something good -- just make sure that you're very thorough with your questions.

BTW, I also think that it's really wonderful that you're planning this trip.

Best,

There are some lovely estates near Pienza. All will be a drive to Pienza, but I do remember the handicap parking in Pienza right in the main square and there was usually a policeman about to help. Have a look at these:

La Foce - the famous Iris Origo estate just south of Pienza.
http://www.lafoce.com/ - but also represented by Martin from www.villasitalia.com - and he will be able to give you good advice about this and other places in the area.

Sant Antonio
www.santantonio.it
An old monastery near Montepulciano with 13 apartments. Available to rent by the week or for a weekend. We have a very good review of this estate - good quality furnishings, good price, excellent location. Owner speaks English.

Lucignanello Bandini - an estate west of Pienza.
www.piccolomini.it
nautilus-mp.com/piccolomininaldi/
An estate near Pienza with a few apartments for rent. This is a famous estate and is run by the family that has owned it for generationsis listed in the book "Italian Country Hideaways: Vacationing in Tuscany's and Umbria's Private Villas, Castles, and Estates" by Hurst and Hunyady. Listed in the Karen Brown book.

Zak with www.tuscanhouse.com has many places in this area and you should probably contact him to see what he recommends.

Another thought on area - Greve in the heart of Chianti is also a flat town with lots of restaurants. There are many estates in this area. Ask Martin at www.villasitalia.com to see if he has recommendations for handicap access. Or try Suzanne Cohen www.villaseurope.com because she reps many estates in that area too.

And try The Brown Partners - www.thebrownpartners.com - the estate near Siena that they rep - Montestigliano - has a handicap accessible apartment if I remember right.

I would consider contacting several agencies to see what places they have that are handicap accessible, then get back to us here with a good short list and we can talk about which would be better in terms of towns.

Anyone else have ideas for "flatter" towns?

And if you do come up with a good short list of places that are handicap accessible, we can add it to our FAQ about traveling if you are disabled.

One of the things that first impressed me about Vetralla when we were looking to buy a home outside Rome was that unlike Todi, UrBino, Caprarola, and many other Italian towns, the main street was flat. Since tourism is a relatively new thing here, the places that are being organized to receive tourists all have the representative "handicap access" apartment or rooms meaning they have at least l apartment that is easily accessible. If you check my website you'll note that Locanda di Sant'Agnese, a renovated 13th century convent in Vitorchiano, a lovely medieval town, has handicap access, as does Casa Ciotti, I Due Casali and other nice B&B, apartments and agritourismi in the Etruria area north of Rome.
Good luck with your visit with your mother, I wish I could get mine to come over for a visit, her last one was in 1977 and she doesnt like to fly now at 86.
Mary Jane, www.elegantetruria.com

Will you be bringing her scooter or motorized wheelchair? This will make a huge difference for some towns. Siena is wonderful BUT it is on 3 hills so you do a lot of up and down. The last time my grandmother came to visit (she was 89) we just took taxis from one place to another inside the city. Lucca is pretty flat as are many coastal towns. Montecatini? I think it is but am not sure. But you could take a taxi to one of the spas and just have a relaxing day drinking the healthy water.

I guess my thought is that without an electric means of transportation, the hill towns of Tuscany may be very difficult for both of you.

Cristina,

Yes. We will be bringing her scooter or renting one over there which will make things much easier to get around. Are you living over there? That's great if you are. It will really help me in planning because you have seen so much of the area. Thank for your reply on that!

Also, do you happen to know how far in advance reservations should be made for a house/villa?

Jen

Yes I live over here and just love it. Siena is a wonderful town. I live outside the city in the Chiani

Let us all know when you are thinking of coming over and we can give you a better idea of what to see and do.

And like David said, at least 6 months to a year for bookings.

Cristina

Jen: I am currently working with clients who have a partially disabled person in the group of four -- she cannot climb steps nor walk long distances, and at times uses a wheelchair. For the Tuscany part of their trip, I have booked them in the two-bedroom apartment at Sant Antonio www.santantonio.it. Nico has been great to work with and made everything very easy; prices are entirely reasonable.

We have a great review of Sant Antonio from Jane from CA:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/reviews/rev_100.htm

Another good option would be to have someone experienced like Sally Watkins or Bob the Navigator to plan your trip. You might want to think about being picked up at the airport too - just to make things easier for everyone. Here is our page about Travel Consultants:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/planning/travel_agents.htm

Florence now has little electric golf carts to cruise around in which make it easy. If I remember correctly it is also possible in Siena to rent the tiny electric cars which are allowed in the Historic Center too!

Can she walk at all or will you need a wheelchair anyway?
If so when you call cabs you must also tell them you have a wheelchair and they will send you a cab which is prepared to deal with them.

If you need help in Florence getting an wheelchair, I have a friend who can help you.

Interesting that this should pop up again just after I heard that my ancient mother wants to visit me. I am scurrying to see that I can properly care for her, if it happens, which depends on someone bringing her.
She has Meniere's disease and loses balance. In Maine she lurches into wood, everything here is much harder.
It will be so interesting to show a bit of Italy to someone who has never been out of north America.

Wow, Decobabe! I hope that your Mom comes. Let us know how it develops.