Disabled Travellers

Rome isn’t fully accessible to disabled travellers, largely because many of its buildings are hundreds of years old and preservation laws prevent alteration to accommodate wheelchairs. However, most major museums have added facilities and many hotels (especially 4- and 5-star properties) have converted a few rooms. Several metro stops (but not the important Colosseo one) are wheelchair accessible. You’ll have the best luck at restaurants during warm months, when many have tables outdoors (though bathrooms may not be accessible).

Resources for the Disabled

RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation), based in London, publishes a series of useful pamphlets. Holiday Care Service in England offers advice on disabled-friendly accommodation. In Rome, contact Roma per Tutti or browse their useful website.

RADAR

• 020 7250 3222

• www.radar.org.uk

Holiday Care Service

• 01293 774 535

Roma per Tutti

• 06 5717 7094

• www.romapertutti.it

Senior Citizens

Older travellers are treated as respected elders in a traditional society such as Italy’s. Discounts for anziani are often available at sights and for some transport from age 60 or 65.

Women Travellers

The Latin lover is alive and well and women can expect to receive much more attention than at home. Open staring, verbal flirtation, bottom-pinching and even inappropriate rubbing on buses are all common. Be firm. Most of this is harmless, but can be annoying and unwelcome.

Resources for Women

There is little in the way of official resources for women, but there is a women’s bookshop, Libreria delle Donne, which acts as a reference point and resource centre for women.

Libreria delle Donne

• via dei Fienaroli 31

• 06 581 7724

Student Travellers

Rome has dozens of study abroad programmes, a huge university and tens of thousands of international students. Ask for a “studente” ticket to get reduced admissions on sights. Students tend to hang out in the bars of Trastevere and Campo de’ Fiori and the clubs of Testaccio (see Rome’s Trendiest Nightlife), as well as around the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps after dark.

Resources for Students

While student ID cards are useful, the only one widely accepted is the ISIC (International Student Identity Card).

Families

Italians love families and will welcome your clan warmly. Most hotels will add a cot to your room for 30–35 per cent extra and restaurants often offer children’s half-portions (mezza porzione) for 50–75 per cent less than the adult price.

Gay and Lesbian Travellers

Homosexuality is legal in Italy and quite broadly accepted in as cosmopolitan a city as Rome, which hosted the World Pride festival in 2000.

Resources for Gays and Lesbians

The national ARCI-Gay organization has offices in Rome, as does the lesbian branch, ARCI-Lesbica. However, the locally based Mario Mieli and Di’ Gay Project groups are the most important. Useful websites include www.gay.it and www.mariomieli.org.

ARCI-Gay

• via Goito 35B

• www.arcigay.it

ARCI-Lesbica

• Via Stefanini 15

• 06 418 0211

• www.arcilesbica.it

Di’ Gay Project

• Via Costantina 82

• 06 513 4741

• www.digayproject.org

Mario Mieli

• Via Efeso 2a

• 06 541 3985