There are cities that are measured in meters and kilometers, and there are cities that are measured in hospitality. Siena, guardian of a thousand-year history and a unique cultural heritage in the world, has chosen to be this as well: a place where everyone can move, discover, and be moved, without any barrier coming between themselves and beauty. Through dedicated services and concrete initiatives, the Municipality of Siena is committed every day to making the city more inclusive and accessible, guaranteeing greater independence and full participation in city life for those living with a disability.
Siena for All: A City that welcomes everyone without barriers
Moving around the city without worries: Taxi Amico
For those living with a motor disability, getting around Siena becomes simple thanks to Taxi Amico, the service born from the collaboration between the Municipality and the Consorzio Tassisti Senesi, with vehicles designed to guarantee comfort and accessibility on every stretch of road. To book, simply call 057749222. Complementing this is a free service dedicated to city lifts and escalators, designed to accompany those in need from one entrance to another with total peace of mind—a small yet significant gesture that restores freedom of movement. The service, managed by Siena Parcheggi, can be requested at +39 0577 228799.
An app to explore Siena without limits
Senza Barriere is the app designed to make every discovery easier: exploring sights, restaurants, pubs, and shops becomes an accessible experience for everyone. A tool that not only guides visitors, but also raises awareness among local business owners, together building a Siena that is increasingly attentive and welcoming, one step at a time. The app is available for free on the App Store and Play Store.
Museums open to everyone
La bellezza di Siena non si ammira soltanto, si vive, si tocca, si attraversa con ogni senso. I principali musei cittadini sono pensati per essere accessibili, grazie ad ascensori, rampe e montascale che permettono a chiunque di percorrerne ogni spazio:
- Museo Civico e Palazzo Pubblico — accessibile tramite ascensore (larghezza porta: 70 cm)
- Cattedrale e Libreria Piccolomini — accessibile tramite rampa laterale
- Museo Archeologico Santa Maria della Scala e Museo d'arte per bambini — accessibili a tutti i piani tramite ascensore
- Pinacoteca Nazionale — accessibile tramite ascensore, altri piani tramite montascale
- Museo di Storia Naturale (Accademia dei Fisiocritici) — accessibile tramite ascensore
- Museo dell'Acqua — accessibile tramite ascensori
- Museo delle Biccherne — accessibile tramite ascensore e montascale
- Palazzo Sansedoni — accessibile tramite ascensore
- Museo degli Strumenti Musicali (Accademia Musicale Chigiana) — accessibile tramite ascensore
Anche i musei universitari (Museo Botanico, Museo Anatomico, Museo di Scienze della Terra, Museo di Strumentaria Medica, Osservatorio Astronomico Universitario, Palazzo del Rettorato, Collezioni di Archeologia e d'Arte, Collezione di Strumenti di Fisica) custodiscono questa stessa attenzione, dotati di ascensori e pedane, e dispongono anche di Atena, un alter ego robotico che rende possibile visitarli anche da remoto.
Per prenotare una visita tramite Avatar, è sufficiente scrivere a sistemamuseale@unisi.it.
Experiences designed for every sensibility
Inside the Museo Civico, the LIS video guide (available as a Web-App and offline for Apple and Android devices, free to download from the Apple Store and Google Play) provides an accessible route for deaf visitors, while the Children's Art Museum, inside the Santa Maria della Scala Archaeological Museum, features a tactile path of artworks and raised images of the city's main monuments. At the Fisiocritici Natural History Museum, the zoological section offers a tactile tour for visually impaired and blind visitors, bookable at +39 0577 47002 a different, engaging, and authentic way to connect with nature.
An Ombudsman for rights and inclusion
Siena was among the first cities in Italy to establish a Disability Ombudsman, a role that offers free guidance and support to those living with a disability every day, helping break down not only architectural barriers, but cultural ones as well. This is also a valuable reference point for university students, providing a direct link with the university to ensure their needs are recognized and protected.
The Ombudsman, Atty. Monica Barbafiera, receives by appointment on Thursday afternoons at Palazzo Berlinghieri, in Piazza Il Campo 7. For information or to schedule an appointment, you can email garante.disabili@comune.siena.it or call 320 3124201. Updates and events can also be followed on the dedicated Facebook page.
For more information on all the accessibility services in the city, you can visit the website www.accessibile.siena.it.
Tourist information
Everything you need to plan your stay in Siena.
