JM Walkingtour

A non-profit free-tour project from Venice

JM Walkingtour is a donation-based walking tour project run by JM A.P.S., a non-profit association registered at Cannaregio 986 in Venice. It runs its own tours with volunteer guides in Italian cities: the site's city menu lists Venice, Bologna, Verona, Florence, Milan and Naples, with Ferrara marked "Coming Soon". The homepage headline is "Walking tours every day", and it counts "21 Walking tours" across those cities.

What makes it different from a typical free-tour company is where the money goes. The Milan tour page explains that the project is for people who "wish to get to know the cities and at the same time contribute to the fundraising for the removal of architectural barriers which hamper the day-to-day life of people with disabilities." The guides are described this way: "Our volunteers are authorized no-profit guides and carry out their tasks for free, in favor of all those joining the program; the love for their own city and their art-historical competences make our tours unique."

The about page tells the origin story. "JMwalkingtour was founded in Venice in 2013, from an idea put forth by Maurizio Melluso, president of the JM/aps association, which operates in area of social services/justice for the disabled." The first aim was guided tours in Venice "for people with problems related to mobility", where "The architectural barriers that Venice presents (canals, bridges, etc.) seemed at first to be insurmountable." The association says it studied wheelchair-friendly alternate routes and, "with the help of the city administration, special motorized lifts were constructed for crossing the bridges". Since then, it says, its guides "point out these impediments, which are found throughout cities large and small in Italy, using pictures and reportage to submit to each city's administration."

Tours by city

The All Tours page lists 3 tours each for Bologna, Florence, Milan, Naples, Venice and Verona, following a common pattern: a morning tour, an afternoon tour (an evening tour in Venice) and an accessible tour. Ferrara shows a walking tour and an accessible tour, both "Coming Soon". Private tours are offered separately.

The Milan page gives the fullest picture. It offers a Milan Morning Tour, a Milan Afternoon Tour, a Milan Accessible Tour and a Milan Private Tour "On Request". The route is presented as a "Liberty tour" showing "a different Milan, not only the one famous for fashion and design", but "a city made of stately buildings that contain secrets and incredible stories". The page says guests will learn that "Milan used to be a city of water and was considered a silent city, and even had a district named 'the quadrilateral of silence'", and that the guide shares tips on where to shop, which museum to visit and "where to enjoy the famous aperitif on the Naviglio at sunset". It recommends joining at the start of a stay to make the most of those suggestions.

The accessible tours are central to the project. The Milan page says: "This tour is accessible to people with reduced mobility, it is ideal for families with children and strollers, or for those who do not want to be separated from their four-legged friends."

On the day

The Milan meeting point is Oberdan square, in front of the Antica Farmacia Diana, "where you will find our guide waiting for you, with the JM Walking tour sign." Guests are asked to "arrive 15 minutes early, so that we may start the visit on time."

The tour format is spelled out: "The tour will take place exclusively on foot, it lasts about two hours and may include a maximum of 20 participants." The site warns "There will be no breaks during our tours", and suggests comfortable clothes for the season, trainers and a bottle of water, plus "an umbrella in the event of rain or sun during hot summer days." It adds that "The itinerary may vary due to weather conditions", and that the guide sometimes builds "a thematic itinerary by identifying the most interesting districts".

The site does not say which languages the free tours are given in; the private tour page is tagged "English tour".

Donations, booking and private tours

There is no ticket price. At the end, the Milan page says, "we will ask you for a donation", because the association is "strongly convinced" that "a remuneration in exchange for a bit of extra knowledge would be fair and gratifying for all." The about page makes the same point: "a donation for our charity will bring together both a fair and rewarding experience." The site does not suggest an amount. Donors who want to give without joining a tour can use the association's bank details, which are printed in the footer with a UniCredit IBAN and a VAT number (Partita Iva).

Spots are reserved online ("Click here and reserve your spot"), and the homepage thanks "Eventbrite that gives us the opportunity to manage all our walking tours" and Google Ad Grants for helping to spread the cause.

Private tours are sold on flexibility: "Schedule and meeting point: upon your request", with the promise to "name your time, meeting point, what you specifically want covered, all at the best prices you decide." The same page, though, shows the notice "TOUR NOT AVAILABLE", so a direct message is the way to start.

What the site does not settle

The tour pages send questions about lateness or not being able to join to a separate FAQ, and they give no cancellation rule of their own. The homepage gives 2 different traveler totals, "+20.000 Travellers" in the heading and "More than 10.000 travellers" in the text beneath. There is no suggested donation, and no detail on the other cities' meeting points and schedules on the homepage or about page.

For travelers who want a free walk in Venice, Milan, Florence, Bologna, Verona or Naples and like the idea that their donation goes to a disability cause, JM Walkingtour is a natural fit, and its accessible tours, which the site says suit people with reduced mobility, families with strollers and dog owners, set it apart. People who want a fixed schedule for every city at a glance, or a guaranteed private-tour slot, will need to check the individual city page or write in.