Vatican City Travel Forum

I WILL BE GOING TO THE VATICAN WITH MY HANDICAPPED MOM; WHO CAN WALK ONLY SHORT DISTANCES. I HEARD THERE'S A PLACE WHERE I CAN RENT A WHEELCHAIR WHILE WE'RE IN ITALY -- IT'S NOT THROUGH THE VATICAN, IT IS THROUGH ACCESSIBLEITALY.COM, BUT I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE HAS TRIED THEIR SERVICES, AND WHETHER IT IS WORTH THE INVESTMENT. ALSO WANTED TO KNOW IF THE STREETS ARE MAINLY COBBLE-STONE, AND WHETHER WHEELCHAIR THEFT IS COMMON AT THE VATICAN?

hi - i haven't rented a wheelchair in rome but a friend visited who was in a wheelchair and we managed to get her around - but many of the streets are cobblestones, or narrow, or have tree roots buckling the pavement or are very crowded. But it is possible. Also the pavements sometimes have ramps doewn but not ramps up so it gets a bit hair raising.
At St Peters and at the vatican Museum (and at the Colisseum)someone in a wheelchair goes to the front of the q - and there are people to help you find the lifts etc to get you in. So that is possible but sometimes it takes a bit longer.
I've never heard` of wheelchair theft, are you planning to leave the chair?
I am sure the people who help with wheelchair access will look after it for you.

I believe there are lots of people around to help if you go to the vatican Museum and through to the Sistine Chapel etc. One thing to rememebr is to check the opening times - I THINK they close the doors to new visitors early at something like 4.15pm and that the museum is open until 5 - 5.30-ish - at least at some times of the year. With a wheelchair you may need more time to go-around.
Make sure you take-in the huge spiral walkway that was desined for horses, I believe!
The dome is probably out because of the stairs although there is a lift to part-way-up which might be OK. The stairs are really REALLY steep - and long!

OUR TRIP TO THE VATICAN WAS EVERYTHING VIRTUAL MEMBERS DESCRIBED. COBBLE STONES ARE NOT UNCOMMON, AND THE RAMPS ON THE SIDEWALKS ARE PRACTICALLY USELESS. IT WAS A BIT DANGEROUS, BUT MOST OF THE TIME, I HAD TO USE THE STREET, BECAUSE THE SIDEWALKS WERE TO NARROW FOR THE WHEELCHAIR. AT THE VATICAN, WE HAD A VERY BAD EXPERIENCE; THE SECURITY GUARDS WERE NOT VERY ACCOMODATING TO THE ELDERLY OR HANDICAPPED, UNTIL SOME LADY (WHOM I'D LIKE TO THANK) CAME UP TO US AND OPENED WAY AND TOOK US TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE. THE EXIT RAMP FROM THE VATICAN, WAS CLOSED, AND SO I HAD TO ASK MY MOM TO GET OFF THE WHEELCHAIR, CARRY THE CHAIR DOWN, AND RUN THE RISK OF HER FALLING DOWN THE STAIRS. THE GUARDS WERE NOT HELPFUL AT ALL. I ALSO HAVE TO THANK A COUPLE OF GUYS WHO SAW ME STRUGGLING AND OFFERED THEIR HELP WITH THE W/C SO I COULD TAKE CARE OF MY MOM. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO PURCHASING STAMPS AT THE VATICAN, BUT THE MACHINES WERE BROKEN. OUR TRIP TO THE VATICAN WAS NOT AS GREAT AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE, BUT IF SOMEONE WANTS TO GO TO ROME ITALY, I WOULD RATHER SUGGEST YOU GO TO SAN LUIS POTOSI, MEXICO, OR A MORE COLONIAL PLACE CALLED: GUANAJUATO, GUANAJUATO, IN MEXICO. OVERALL, OUR TRIP TO ROME ITALY WAS NOT WHAT WE THOUGHT. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ASHAMED WITH ALL THE GRAFFITTI ALL OVER THE STORE FRONTS, MONUMENTS, SCULPTURES, ETC. THEY SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS TO MAKE THEIR COUNTRY MORE BEAUTIFUL AND ATTRACTIVE TO TOURISTS. GRAFFITTI ABATEMENT IS A SIGN OF PRIDE IN YOUR HOMETOWN, BUT IT APPEARS THAT NO ONE CARES ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN ROME. LAST OF ALL, I WAS ABLE TO GET A WHEELCHAIR DELIVERED TO THE HOTEL WE STAYED AT IN ROME. WE GOT IT THROUGH ACCESSIBLEITALY.COM. HOWEVER, I ONLY UTILIZED THE CHAIR FOR A WEEK, BUT THEY CHARGED ME A FLAT RATE EQUIVALENT TO THAT OF A MONTH. WHEN WE LEFT THE HOTEL, THE COMPANY PICKED THE CHAIR UP; IT WAS A VERY EFFICIENT SERVICE. I DID TAKE A BICYCLE-CABLE LOCK WITH ME, BECAUSE THERE WERE PLACES IN ROME WHERE THERE WERE NO RAMPS FOR WHEELCHAIRS, SO WE HAD TO SECURE THE CHAIR TO A POST OR SOMETHING. THERE WERE CHURCHES WITH MANY STEEP STEPS, AND CARRYING A WHEELCHAIR UP THOSE STAIRS WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS, SO THE LOCK HELPED OUT QUITE A LOT, AND FORTUNATELY MY MOM WAS ABLE TO CLIMB SOME STEPS; OTHERWISE, SHE WOULD HAVE MISSED OUT ON A LOT OF THINGS.

oh thanks for reporting back - this is all useful information

that bike chain is a very good idea indeed

i am so sorry you struck unhelpful grumpy people with wheelchair access - when my friend was there people couldn't have been more helpful or nicer

I Too was disappointed in all the graffiti in Rome. What a shame that this city has been vandalized and defaced by its people. It shows gross lack of respect. The Romans obviously don't appreciate the timeless treasure they possess and have failed to preserve this gift.

Sadly, I've also traveled through other cities in Europe who seem to suffer from vandalism. Parts of Madrid, and even Paris are polluted with graffity and trashy sidewalks.

Only Monaco seems to preserve its rightful place as a jewel in the European crown. Monaco was spotless and the air of good taste made my stay there a real pleasure.

I wish Rome would get cleaned up and authorities would crack down on graffiti vandalism.