ROME — On a recent weeknight, long after the swarms of tourists left Rome's Colosseum, a small group of people walked around outside the darkened amphitheater, pausing to take in a new aspect of its history, art or architecture with every sense but sight.
People are also reading…
Michela Marcato, left, who is blind, and her partially sighted partner, Massimiliano Naccarato, examine a scale model of the Colosseum on Dec. 17Â in Rome with Giorgio Guardi, right, a guide in inclusive tourism.
Stefania Terre, left, and Carmine Laezza, far right, both blind, touch a reproduction of St. Peter's Basilica on Jan. 15 at the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy. Italy is making its artistic treasures more accessible to people with disabilities, including the blind.
Aldo Grassini and Daniela Bottegoni, both blind, pose for a portrait Jan. 15 in their home in Ancona, Italy. In 1993, they founded the Omero Tactile Museum, the first publicly funded tactile museum in Italy.
Michela Marcato, left, who is blind, and her partially sighted partner, Massimiliano Naccarato, stand in front of a painting representing the sea Jan. 12 during an interview at their home in Rome.
Making Italy's art accessible to people with disabilities
Giorgio Guardi, center, a guide from the Radici Association, walks with participants Nov. 29 during an inclusive art tour in Rome.
Michela Marcato, left, who is blind, and her partially sighted partner, Massimiliano Naccarato, examine a scale model of the Colosseum on Dec. 17 with Giorgio Guardi, right, a guide in inclusive tourism, in Rome.
Michela Marcato, who is blind, runs her fingers over a tactile panel Dec. 17 during a visit to the Colosseum in Rome.
Michela Marcato, left, who is blind, and her partially sighted partner, Massimiliano Naccarato, pose for a photo Dec. 17 during a visit to the Colosseum in Rome.
From left, Stefania Terre touches a reproduction of Michelangelo's sculpture La Pieta with Monica Bernacchia and Carmine Laezza during a Jan. 15 tour for blind people at the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy.
A light worn on the hands of Stefania Terre, who is blind, streaks across a life-size reproduction of Michelangelo's La Pieta as she touches the sculpture for a long-exposure photograph Jan. 15 at the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy.
Stefania Terre, left, and Carmine Laezza, far right, both blind, touch a reproduction of St. Peter's Basilica on Jan. 15 at the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy.
Stefania Terre, who is blind, touches a reproduction of St. Peter's Basilica on Jan. 15 at the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy.
Stefania Terre, who is blind, touches a life-size reproduction of the head of Michelangelo's David during a Jan. 15 visit to the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy.
Stefania Terre, who is blind, uses a small light on her fingers while touching a life-size reproduction of the head of Michelangelo's David for a long-exposure photograph Jan. 15 at the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy.
Blindfolded students of an art high school enter the pavilion of contemporary art Jan. 16 for a project on tactile experience at the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy.
A blindfolded student of an art high school touches a piece in the pavilion of contemporary art Jan. 16 during a project on tactile experience at the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy.
Massimiliano Trubbiani, an expert in tactile education for blind and visually impaired people, works to transform Titian's Pala Gozzi into bas-relief Jan. 16 in a laboratory at the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy.
Massimiliano Trubbiani, an expert in tactile education for blind and visually impaired people, works to transform Titian's Pala Gozzi into bas-relief Jan. 16 in a laboratory at the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy.
A painting transformed into bas-relief is displayed Jan. 16 at the laboratory of tactile education at the Omero Tactile Museum in Ancona, Italy.
Felice Tagliaferri, a blind sculptor, stands Jan. 16 in his studio in Cesena, Italy.
Powder covers the hammers of Felice Tagliaferri, a blind sculptor, on Jan. 16 in his studio in Cesena, Italy.
Daria Portale, a guide with the Radici Association, uses a tactile panel so Enrico Sulli, right, who is blind, can experience the architecture of Palazzo Farnese during a Nov. 29 inclusive art tour in Rome.
Francesca Inglese, who is blind, touches a marble relief Nov. 29 on the corner of a building during an inclusive art tour in Rome.
Francesca Inglese, who is blind, uses a tactile panel to experience the architecture of Palazzo Farnese during a Nov. 29 inclusive art tour in Rome.
Elena Dominici, who is blind, touches the Cancelleria fountain Nov. 29 during an inclusive art tour in Rome.
