Accessibility improvement interventions realised in Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract

Purpose-Access to culture is a fundamental right of people with disabilities and a significant aspect in the development of accessible tourism. A visit to a monument provides an authentic experience which cannot be substituted by any representation. However, any interventions to improve accessibility should be made carefully, so as not to alter the monument's character, or damage it visually or structurally. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach-A theoretical approach model was defined in the PROSPELASIS project for the improvement of accessibility in monuments which was applied in Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki. This approach contains the following steps: evaluation of existing accessibility level; definition of alternative solutions; creation of final studies, approval by archaeological authorities and implementation of interventions. Findings-In six major Byzantine monuments significant improvements were realized which include: installation of two lifts and creation of a new staircase at Acheiropoietos; creation of a metal bridge, a new staircase and installation of a lift at Rotunda; opening of the secondary gate and creation of a ramp at the Heptapyrgion fortress; creation of an accessible toilet at the Saint Demetrios church; installation in the six monuments of a WiFi system providing text and audible information as well as information in Greek and International Sign Language; creation of two tactile models; creation of a "cultural route" connecting three major Byzantine monuments. Originality/value-For the first time, to the knowledge, a set of interventions has been realized in Byzantine monuments focusing on various categories of people with disabilities, i.e. motor, visual, hearing and cognitive.

Religious tourism – a review of the literature

“…However, service provision and amenities are important even for them. Infrastructure (Durgamohan, 2015; Jauhari, 2009a), police force (Tyagi and Dhar, 2014); disabled accessibility (Naniopoulos and Tsalis, 2015; Naniopoulos et al , 2015, 2016); flood planning (Ganguly and Rai, 2016; Kabra and Ramesh, 2015), transportation (Sharma and Sharma, 2015), and improved services and facilities (Babu and Munjal, 2015; Hung et al , 2015; Jauhari, 2009b) are important in religious tourism as well. Kartal et al (2015) include the proper recruitment and training of religious tourism personnel along with the lack of co-ordination between local and central governmental organisations among the issues.…”

Spatial and Information Accessibility of Museums and Places of Historical Interest: A Comparison between London and Thessaloniki

“…It has been found that tactile material or replicas included in a museum can have a profound impact on visually impaired visitors, allowing them to acquire information about the objects they are touching [37]. For the same reason, museums may use multisensory approaches, including tactile collections and replicas, handling sessions, audio guides and verbal assistance [39], or means of high technology such as virtual, and mixed reality applications [33], to provide a more accessible experience to visitors with visual impairments.…”

“…Accessibility in a museum entails more than just physical access; [39] equally vital is access to information, which aids in comprehending the exhibition space [40]. Cognitive and sensory access should also be addressed and, where possible, adjustments should be made to reduce or remove existing barriers [41].…”