Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Travellers with Disabilities
Italy is not an easy country for travellers with disabilities and getting around can be a problem for wheel-
chair users. Even a short journey in a city or town can become a major expedition if cobblestone streets have
to be negotiated. Although many buildings have lifts, they are not always wide enough for wheelchairs. Not
an awful lot has been done to make life for the hearing impaired and/or blind any easier, either.
Italy's national rail company,
Trenitalia
(
www.trenitalia.com
) offers a helpline for disabled passengers at
199 303060 (7am to 9pm daily).
Two companies that specialise in accessible travel:
Accessible Italy
(
www.accessibleitaly.com
)
Based in the Republic of San Marino, this outfit specialises in
holiday services for the disabled, ranging from tours to the hiring of adapted transport to the organisation of
weddings.
Sage Traveling
(
www.sagetraveling.com
)
European accessible travel specialists who can organise custom-
ised tours; its website offers tips and advice on accessible travel in Florence.
Visas
Italy is one of 26 member countries of the Schengen Convention, under which EU countries (except Bul-
garia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the UK) plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland have ab-
olished permanent checks at common borders.
Legal residents of one Schengen country do not require a visa for another. Residents of 28 non-EU coun-
tries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and the USA, do not require visas for
tourist visits of up to 90 days.
All non-EU and non-Schengen nationals entering Italy for more than 90 days, or for any reason other than
tourism (such as study or work) may need a specific visa. For details, visit
www.esteri.it
or contact an Italian
consulate.
You should also have your passport stamped on entry as, without a stamp, you could encounter problems
if trying to obtain a residence permit
(permesso di soggiorno)
. If you enter the EU via another member state,
get your passport stamped there.
EU citizens do not require any permits to live or work in Italy but, after three months' residence, are sup-
posed to register themselves at the municipal registry office where they live and offer proof of work or suffi-
cient funds to support themselves. Non-EU foreign citizens with five years' continuous legal residence may
apply for permanent residence.
Permesso di Soggiorno
Non-EU citizens planning to stay at the same address for more than one week are supposed to report to the
police station to receive a
permesso di soggiorno
. Tourists staying in hotels are not required to do this.
