theveniceneighbours.com

Local suggestions to live Venice at its best / for its best

Tag: Accessible tourism

  • The Polish Challenge

    The Polish Challenge

    Discover the fascinating story of a Polish couple of PhD students and their adventurous journey through the vast number of churches in Venice. Learn about their incredible challenge and their determination to gain a deeper understanding of Venice’s unique cultural heritage.


    Long ago, there was a Polish couple who embarked on an adventurous trip to explore Venice in a unique and challenging way. They arrived in a van and stayed for a full ten days with a purpose in mind: to visit as many churches as possible for their PhD research in religious art. And we’re not just talking about a few churches here and there; they aimed to visit all 137 of them in town!

    Interestingly, the neighbour Timmy lived in the same building where they were staying at the time, but he didn’t catch a glimpse of them during their entire stay. Timmy could only hear them leaving early in the morning and returning late in the afternoon or early evening.

    However, on the morning of their checkout, Timmy finally met them face to face. He was surprised to see the exhausted and pale-looking couple with dark eye pits. Timmy couldn’t help but ask, “Hello! Is everything alright? Did you accomplish your plan?” The couple replied in a low tone, “Hello. Yes, all good. Unfortunately, we couldn’t make it.”

    This experience became known as “The Polish Challenge” – a masochistic practice for Venice Guests. Although we don’t advise anyone to undertake such a feat, Timmy was inspired by the couple’s determination and decided to create a shortlist of his favorite churches in town. Another contribution to (what used to be) a small website.

    Get inspired by their unwavering commitment and embark on your own adventure to uncover the treasures of this enchanting city. Check out his recommendations here and discover the hidden gems of Venice!

  • Ramp up!

    Ramp up!

    Flattening bridges

    “Why the heck in 2021 a city like Venice should be so difficult to be explored for those who got troubles walking?”

    This is the question, the issue we discussed in January. “Isn’t there any idea we can come up with? Why no one ever thought a solution?” “You know, even something simple like a ramp. Why not?”

    So we investigated, we called ramp producers, spoke to architects. We even talked to a group of fantastic tour guides. That was the thing. Yeah, you can hop on and off the waterbus, but some bridges were simply impossible to go over with a group. If we could come up with a solution to make ANY TOUR in an ACCESSIBLE TOUR.

    So we contacted the makers of the ramps you can see, for example, at Ponte della Paglia. At there it was our easy solution.

    Two of us anticipate the tour group. Place down before each step a fiberglass ramp. Wait for the group to pass over. Remove the ramps. Run to the following bridge. Repeat.

    Why fiberglass? To avoid accidental damages to bridge steps marble. Better not.

    Technology exists (thanks Japan manufacturers). Municipality shouldn’t give us troubles (we are in talks). Insurance for any possible casualty for other pedestrians available. We can provide the organisation and the good will. It can be a financially supported business plan. Only one thing misses: the initial investment.

    Now, it’s not an easy time to finance this project directly. You know. So, being a social-driven project, a good solution would be crowdfunding.

    We believe strongly in the strength of this resource. We’ve also participated financing other projects. Now it’s our time to provide an idea and your time to support it. Will you?

    Soon we provide here all details and coordinates. Just one more minute, we are new to this.

    Happy to hear your suggestions, your idea and even your critics. Please write us using the form below.

    Schiaccia i ponti

    “Perché cavolo nel 2021 una città come Venezia sia ancora così difficile esplorarla per chi ha problemi motori?”

    Questa è la domanda, il problema che ci siamo posti a gennaio. “Non c’è nessuna idea che possiamo sviluppare? Perché nessuno ci ha mai pensato?” “Sai, anche qualcosa di semplice come una rampa. Perché no?”

    Così abbiamo cominciato a far ricerche, chiamare produttori di rampe, parlato con architetti. Abbiamo perfino organizzato una chiacchierata con un gruppo di fantastiche guide turistiche. Eccolo lì il problema. Sì, ok, puoi salire e scendere dai vaporetti, ma certi ponti non sono affrontabili con un gruppo. Avremmo dovuto trovare una soluzione per rendere OGNI TOUr un tour accessibile.

    Così abbiamo contattato chi ha posizionato le rampe che potete vedere, ad esempio, sul Ponte della Paglia. Eccola la nostra soluzione semplice.

    Due di noi anticipano il gruppo. Posizionano le rampette in vetroresina prima di ogni scalino. Attendere che il gruppo passi. Rimuovere le rampette. Affrettarsi al ponte successivo. Ripeti.

    Perché vetroresina? Per evitare danni accidentali al marmo degli scalini. Ci mancherebbe.

    La tecnologia lo permette (grazie industria giapponese). Il Comune non dovrebbe aver da ridire (ne stiamo parlando). Assicurazione per eventuali incidenti con i pedoni disponibile. Noi possiamo fornire l’organizzazione e la buona volontà. Finanziariamente è un progetto sostenibile. Manca solo una cosa: l’investimento iniziale.

    Ora, non è esattamente un periodo roseo per finanziare direttamente questo progetto. Sai com’è. Tuttavia, essendo un progetto pensato per il turismo sociale, una buona soluzione potrebbe essere il CROWDFUNDING.

    Crediamo fermamente nella forza di risorse di questo genere. Noi stessi abbiamo finanziato progetti in passato. Ora tocca a noi fornire l’idea e a te supportarla. Lo farai?

    Presto forniremo qui tutti i dettagli e le coordinate. Ancora un attimo, siamo nuovi da questo lato della barricata.

    Felici di sentire cosa ne pensi, le tue idee e le tue critiche. Scrivici usando il form qui sotto.

    ★★★★★