In some ways, it still is. When we discuss access for persons challenged by physical disabilities, we usually refer to those who require wheelchairs or crutches to get around. Except for airports and certain public buildings, access for wheelchairs is not widely implemented in Italy. In most of the larger hotels, access for those visitors with physical challenges can generally be presumed.
Restaurants usually offer the advantage of being at ground level.
Limited Access Let's consider situations you may encounter where access may be more difficult. The fact that Italians are generally willing to offer assistance in such circumstances helps to alleviate certain problems to a considerable extent. An Island of Mountains Palermo, Catania and Siracusa are generally flat, but many localities are literally built on mountains. Another potential problem is that some narrow, winding medieval streets are virtually inaccessible by car. In certain cities traffic is so chaotic that moving around by car is virtually impossible in the center of town, where you want to see the sights.