Ravenna has long been committed to improving the accessibility and usability of its places of interest for people with disabilities, both physical and cognitive, by breaking down physical and sensory barriers and offering inclusive routes and dedicated services to ensure an unhindered experience.
From early Christian monuments – included in UNESCO's list of world heritage sites – to museums, libraries and beaches, every place has been rethought to ensure an inclusive experience for all visitors.
Ravenna today confirms itself as a destination at the forefront of tourist accessibility, thanks to the elimination of architectural and sensory barriers, improved communication and staff training as part of three projects: USEFALL – UNESCO Sites For All, Ravenna per Mano and In Emilia-Romagna c'è una vacanza per me.
Many small, concrete actions that promote the enjoyment and knowledge of monuments and the territory, in the name of inclusion.
Discover the places that make Ravenna an increasingly accessible city.
A visit to Ravenna can only start with the mosaics, among the most beautiful in the world.
Every year, millions of people visit Ravenna's monuments to discover these priceless treasures, many of which are kept inside churches and baptisteries. For this reason, on the occasion of the Jubilee Year, the Diocese of Ravenna-Cervia has enhanced the project Ravenna Mosaics FOR ALL*, which was created with the idea that everyone has the right to understand and participate, to be led by the hand to discover the splendid historical-artistic heritage of Ravenna.
The design for all concept is not aimed at redesigning spaces only for specific users but, more comprehensively, at rethinking cities with the whole human being in mind, as such and as a member of communities of people living and moving together.
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Take part in a guided tour “for all” and discover the thousand-year-old charm of mosaics with an experience designed for every need.
It just goes to show, in Ravenna, UNESCO heritage can be touched. Given the vast offerings to choose from, we recommend that you dedicate your first day exclusively to discovering the mosaic heritage.
* Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Basilica of San Vitale, Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Neonian Baptistery, St. Andrew Chapel and Archiepiscopal Museum
For the second day, we suggest you start at the MAR - Ravenna Art Museum, among the city’s most accessible museums, thanks to an innovative inclusion project that ensures an accessible and engaging visitor experience.
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These first concrete actions were immediately greatly appreciated, and others will follow to continue to improve accessibility to the treasures of the MAR, a museum truly open to all.
The second stop of the second day is the Classense Library – more than a library, a cultural heritage accessible to everyone!
The Classense Library is not only one of the most important libraries in the region, but is also a site of historical and artistic interest, frequented by both readers and tourists. This is why it has decided to improve the usability and accessibility of its space, making culture a shared heritage.
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The Classense Library thus confirms itself as a central place for the life of the community, which continues in its intent to promote information, reading, study, research and participation in shared reading through extended opening hours, multiple services and a rich cultural programming, increasingly connecting the institution with those who frequent it.
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Enjoy a stroll in the inner cloisters, an oasis of peace in the heart of Ravenna.
Third and final stop of the second day is the Classis Ravenna Museum, which was chosen by Fondazione RavennAntica to launch a project aimed at people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers that will transform the visit into an experience rich in stimulation and well-being.
Art is a powerful tool for well-being and inclusion: observing, imagining, and getting excited depends not only on logical abilities, but on the power of sensory memory.
Following this principle, the museum hosts a pathway that makes it accessible to those living with dementia and their families, helping to improve quality of life and reduce the social stigma attached to these conditions.
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If you have a family member with Alzheimer’s, book a dedicated guided tour. Art can be a bridge between past and present, an exciting experience that enriches the person and those around them.
Thanks to this initiative, the Classis Ravenna Museum is not only a place of culture, but also a point of reference for well-being and sociality in the community.
Since in Ravenna there is not only culture but also the sea, this itinerary cannot but end with your feet in the sand, a sea just for everyone!
The project of Parco Marittimo is transforming the 35 km of Ravenna’s nine beach towns (and with them the way the coastline is experienced) into an accessible and sustainable coastal area, thanks to:
But accessibility is not limited to public services/goods. Even the beach offer has been rethought starting from the needs of citizens with disabilities and their families.
This is what happened at Spiaggia dei Valori, in Punta Marina Terme, a state-of-the-art facility designed to ensure precisely that everyone (including people with different physical, sensory and intellectual needs) can experience the sea and the beach.
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