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One of Italy's Most Popular Tourist Attractions Will Finally Be Wheelchair Accessible

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On Friday, March 11, the first accessible dock for gondolas will open in Venice, Italy.

model of accessible gondola wharf

The dock will be the first wheelchair-accessible landing place to allow people with disabilities to comfortably get on and off a gondola, according to a press release from nonprofit organization Gondolas4ALL, which launched the endeavor in 2012. The platform allows a person to board directly and without exiting his or her wheelchair.

Enrico Greifenberg and Allessandro Dalla Pieta, the organization’s founders, have wanted a permanent structure available to Italians and tourists with disabilities for more than 20 years. With the help of The Tourism Department of Veneto Region, the idea will now be a reality. Previously, wheelchair users would either need to be helped out of their wheelchairs or lifted in their wheelchairs to board a gondola.

“It is a real innovation for Venice,” Greifenberg says in the video below.

You can watch how the new platform operates here:

Editor’s note: The English subtitles in the video below, inserted by Gondolas4ALL, are loosely translated. The Mighty prefers to use “person in a wheelchair” or “wheelchair user” when referring to someone who uses a wheelchair.

We need your help!To make this possible donate today! Per rendere possibile questo progetto dona ora a questo indirizzo:http://igg.me/at/gondolas4allGondolas Wheelchair Access Thanks for your donation!Grazie per la tua donazione! Posted by Gondolas4ALL on Wednesday, March 18, 2015
  After Friday’s inauguration ceremony, visitors will be able to book reservations online, create a private profile, choose a path of interest and pick a day and time for their trips. For more information, visit Gondolas4ALL’s website and Facebook page. For an accessibility map of Venice, head here. gondolas4all logocouple riding in gondola

Originally published: March 5, 2016
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