A-Mare il Mare

A sea of accessibility for an increasingly inclusive Friuli Venezia Giulia

With the project A-mare il Mare (a wordplay on the words Mare= Sea and Amare = to Love) we worked from 2023 to 2025 focusing on the coast of Friuli Venezia Giulia, to make it an increasingly accessible destination, improving the quality of hospitality and enhancing beach and cultural tourism.

The project involved eight municipalities on the coast — Duino Aurisina, Grado, Lignano, Marano Lagunare, Monfalcone, Muggia, Staranzano, and Trieste — and was developed over 18 months, with a total investment of 1,320,000 euros from the Single Fund for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities, of which 120,000 euros were provided by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.

Obiettivi e attività del progetto

The main objective of A-mare il Mare has been to improve the quality of hospitality, promoting accessible and inclusive tourism that can meet the needs of people with disabilities and their families.

Alongside the mapping of the accessibility of the coastal tourism offer, the project included the purchase of equipment and aids to concretely raise the level of accessibility, the development of training and support activities for operators, the networking of accessible resources, targeted communication and promotion actions, and the activation of work inclusion pathways.

The project was carried out by PromoTurismoFVG with the contribution of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers – Ministry for Disability, in collaboration with the Central Directorate of Health, Social Policies and Disability, the Regional Council of Persons with Disabilities and their Families FVG, and the CRIBA FVG.

Un ragazzino in sedia a rotelle va verso la barca Hansa per una lezione di vela

The accessibility mapping on the coast

Starting from September 2023, surveys have been conducted in the involved municipalities to document the level of accessibility of tourist resources, in collaboration with the professionals of the CERPA – European Center for Research and Promotion of Accessibility.

Through a dedicated computer tool, which allows for a systematic and objective collection of data based on the type of structure and spaces, 644 structures have been mapped, including:

272 restaurants
82 accommodation facilities
62 services
43 cultural facilities
9 play structures
52 beach establishments
110 parking spaces
14 tourist routes

The mapping has allowed for transparent documentation of both accessibility levels and any existing critical issues.

Una coppia, lui vedente davanti e lei non vedente dietro, che pedalano su un tandem sul lungomare di Grado

Equipment and aids for a truly accessible sea

An essential aspect of the project was the purchase of equipment and aids to concretely improve the accessibility of beaches, paths, and services.

In the beach establishments, the following have been made available:

over 221 raised beds,
6 Sand&Sea chairs and 27 Job chairs for access to the sea,
about 2,000 walkways,
42 cabins designated as changing rooms.

Additional items have been purchased:

7 bikes “Fun to Go”, also for passive pedaling,
6 Veloplus bikes for the transport of people in wheelchairs,
24 muscle tandems and 6 electric ones, complete with helmets and locks,
further aids to improve the accessibility of museum centers.

Information, training, and communication for everyone

The project also included significant work on accessible communication and training for operators. Training meetings were organized, both online and in person, aimed at information and tourist reception operators, accommodation and catering facilities, and tourist and naturalistic guides.
At the same time, multilingual promotional materials were created and distributed in English, German, French, and Spanish, the Easy to Read translation of the contents of eight museums and two nature reserves, nine promotional videos, as well as educational events and promotional initiatives dedicated to tour operators specialized in accessible tourism.