I've called this page "Access Impressions", because I spent just two days in this terrific region and had to move on before really being able to check out and get to know anything. What an insult! As always,  I'm writing down my findings in the hope to provide a piece or two to help complete the jigsaw puzzle. Apart from making use of the following information, you are cordially invited to share your own impressions or simply make a remark.

 
 
Where I stayedHotel Granduca, San Giuliano Terme -- what an ugly facade in such a beautiful region!
Visiting my friend Silvia in Pisa, I wanted a hotel that's both conveniently located and providing the necessary level of wheelchair access and comfort. In particular, I had badly wanted a roll-in shower. That's why I made a reservation at the Hotel Granduca, which states on its website to be completely wheelchair-accessible. Really?  Bullshit! Look at this picture of my hotel room's bathroom and tell me if this looks like an accessible bathroom. No way! To be fair, it should be mentioned that the hotel does provide some handicap access. There are ramps to go around the various -- totally unnecessarily placed -- steps. There's a spacious elevator (which broke down twice during my stay). The bathroom apparently was specially designed, but not good enough. Not for LIT 130,000 per night.  Please tell me if you find anything better in the area.
Pisa
The main attraction of this mid-sized university town is of course the Leaning Tower and the adjacent "holy ground" (Camoposanto). What about wheelchair access to these world-renowned sights? Well, as you've probably guessed, there's no elevator taking you to the top of the Leaning tower. The Cathedral (Duomo) is accessible through a ramp at a side entrance. No ramps at the Battisterio.
Amazingly, but very typically, wheelchair users have no public bathroom to avail themselves of. If there is one, it's very carefully and successfully hidden. At least, there's a privately owned accessible restroom close to the Camposanto area, at the Western entrance. I've indicated its location on the above map. Given the importance of this destination and the  number of visitors, every single facility should be accessible here. Unfortunately, that's not the case at all. ramped side entrance at Pisa's Cathedral (Duomo)

Besides the Camposanto, Pisa has a nice inner city. There's no real pedestrian zone, but some of the streets are so narrow and crooked that they're inaccessible to cars anyway. When we went into town one evening, it didn't seem to be too difficult to find a parking space, but that was a mid-week day in April, and the weather was terrible. Most tourists do seem to stick to the Camposanto area, though, while sparing the rest of the city. 

 
blocked handicap parking spaces at the Camposanto area
A riddle to solve: Why is there a ramp at the entrance of the Museo del Duomo, when wheelchair users still can't get to the entrance because there's no lowered sidewalk?
An all too familiar sight in Italy. There are waaaay not enough handicap parking spaces, the few existing ones are illegally occupied and the perpetrators have little to fear.


 
Florencethe famous Palazzo Vecchio, seen from the Uffizi Galleries
I don't think I have to give any information on the touristic value of this fantastic city. Concerning disabled access, I have some good news for you -- wheelchair users don't need to stay away from all the goodies to be seen and experienced! Accessibility is far from perfect, but equally far from impossible. Florence's historic inner city is small in area and almost flat. It's absolutely possible to reach the main sights by foot/wheelchair. While there's no real pedestrian zone, car traffic is quite restricted. At least here, most sidewalks have lowered curbs. The Uffizi are accessible, as is the Palazzo Vecchio (side entrance). The Palazzo Pitti, which houses several museums, including the famous Galleria Palatina and the glittering former royal chambers, is very close to the city center, but a bit more difficult to reach. It is situated on the opposite side of the Arno River (Ponte Vecchio!), half way up a rather steep hill. Once you've made it up that hill, go through the gate into the court. The ticket office is to the right and there you'll also find the elevator taking you up to the Galleria. wheelchair users have reason to smile in Florence's historic inner city

The biggest problem is getting into Florence. Traffic is terrible, parking nearly impossible. I actually drove into this mess and managed to find a space, but please spare me the details of how this was achieved. I'm not going through this ordeal a second time and I would strongly advise you to avoid it, as well. Instead, go to the excellent website of Florence's transport authority ATAF. A couple of bus lines are serviced with accessible buses. Take a particular look at line Nr. 7 which runs from the suburb Fiesole to the city center. Fiesole is a major tourist attraction itself due to its elevated setting providing incredible views over the city and a number of cultural sights. My suggestion: If you have a car, take it to one of the suburbs, preferably Fiesole, leave it there and take a bus or a taxi into town. Your nervous system will be eternally grateful!
my car -- parking illegally somewhere in Florence
Would you believe me if I told you I paid $ 10 for this  parking space?
Italy -- land of homemade pasta and homemade parking tickets!