How does a wheelchair user visit an ancient monument? #DisabilityTravel
How does a wheelchair user visit an ancient monument? I didn’t think it was possible… but in Cartagena, Spain, it was. The Roman Theatre is over two thousand years old, and when I saw it on the cruise itinerary I thought there was no way it would be accessible. But I was wrong. In 2008 they built a museum on the site, and that completely changed the game. With lifts and escalators you can make your way through the museum and arrive in the middle of the theatre. You can’t get right to the very top, but honestly you don’t need to — the view from the mid-level was incredible. To get to the bottom you just leave through the entrance and re-enter at the exit. The stage wasn’t accessible, and there were a few chunky lips to get over, but my chair handled it (even if my carer’s heart was racing a little!). Accessibility went beyond wheelchair users too: the museum had accessible toilets, audio-visual and interactive media with subtitles, audio markers for blind visitors, and video guides in sign language. And the whole experience was amazing. You’re not only seeing the Roman Theatre, but also the ruins of a later church built right on top of it — literally layers of history made accessible to enjoy. If a two-thousand-year-old theatre can be made accessible enough for disabled people to explore, there’s really no excuse for modern buildings not to do the same. What’s the most accessible historical site you’ve visited, the one that surprised you most, or a historical site that needs to take the lead from this Roman Theatre? Video description (for accessibility): A wheelchair user visits the Roman Theatre in Cartagena, Spain. The video shows the modern museum with lifts and escalators leading into the theatre, views from the mid-level seating, the lower level accessed via a separate entrance, and areas with some small barriers. The museum’s accessible toilets, audiovisual guides with subtitles, audio markers for blind visitors, and sign language video guides are highlighted. The narration reflects on the surprise of finding an ancient site accessible, the joy of exploring layers of history, and the wider point that if such an old building can be made accessible, modern buildings have no excuse. Hashtags: #AccessibleTravel #DisabledTravel #WheelchairTravel #AccessibleHistory #AccessibleTourism #CartagenaSpain #RomanTheatre #AccessibilityMatters #DisabilityAwareness #DisabledAndProud Thanks so much for watching! If you liked this video please subscribe to my channel :) You can also find me on other social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChronicallyJenni Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChronicallyJenni TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chronicallyjenni My Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/785786465114178/ Email: team@chronicallyjenni.com Website: https://www.chronicallyjenni.com