The project, promoted by Fondazione Destination Florence, will offer new associations the opportunity to put down roots in the area to facilitate the organization of events. Florence, September 11, 2025 – Touching the Duomo with your fingers, exploring Ponte Vecchio through touch, feeling the majesty of Palazzo Vecchio under your fingertips. This is not fantasy, but the new reality that Florence offers blind and visually impaired visitors thanks to “Firenze in Rilievo” (Florence in Relief), the innovative tactile publication presented at the international conference dedicated to low vision, “Low Vision 2025,” currently underway at the Palazzo dei Congressi. The project, which represents a milestone in cultural accessibility, transforms the UNESCO heritage monuments of Florence’s historic center into three-dimensional tables accompanied by Braille texts, allowing those who cannot see to “read” the architectural beauty of the cradle of the Renaissance with their hands.
Produced thanks to the collaboration between the Didacommunicationlab Laboratory of the University of Florence and the Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired, with the support of the Ministry of Tourism through the UNESCO Sites and Creative Cities Call for Proposals, this two-volume publication is much more than a simple tourist guide: it is a democratic gateway to art and culture.
“Firenze in Rilievo” is part of the broader project “Feel Florence: from digital transition to sustainability for a new tourist destination,” which aims to make the Tuscan capital a model of inclusive and sustainable tourism. Each tactile table is integrated with QR codes that link to the FeelFlorence.it portal, where detailed descriptions of the monuments, practical information on opening hours and accessibility, as well as information on the presence of dedicated tactile paths are available.
The publication will be distributed free of charge at the Florence Welcome Center and through the UICI’s extensive network throughout Italy, ensuring that this innovative tool reaches as many beneficiaries as possible.
THE LOW VISION CONGRESS AND ITS POSITIVE IMPACT – The initiative is part of the Low Vision 2025 international conference, a global event on visual research and rehabilitation that is leaving a tangible positive legacy for the city. Thanks to the efforts of the Fondazione Destination Florence, in collaboration with Firenze Fiera and OIC Group, numerous structural improvements have been made to the Palazzo dei Congressi, including the installation of Braille maps, tactile paving, uniform and obstacle-free paving in the garden paths, and digital updates for web accessibility.
The conference also promoted “Low Vision Experiences,” inclusive cultural experiences such as “Uffizi da toccare” (Touching the Uffizi), a sensory journey that allows visitors to explore original sculptures through touch, accompanied by tactile maps and illustrated books in relief; as well as visits to the National School for Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Braille Printing House and Tiflodidattico Center. With “Firenze in Rilievo,” the city confirms its commitment to social and cultural innovation, demonstrating that art and beauty know no barriers when there is a desire to make them truly universal. A project that not only breaks down physical barriers, but builds bridges towards a future in which cultural heritage truly belongs to everyone and is for everyone.
“The Florence in Relief project is practical proof of the positive impact that conferences have on the local area, even after the event has ended.
explains Laura Masi, President of Fondazione Destination Florence.
- This is a sector that not only brings high-quality tourism, but also leaves a positive legacy over time. Our Foundation is always at the forefront of promoting sustainable, inclusive, and conscious tourism, transforming every event into an opportunity for growth for the city and all its citizens.
