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Toledo Cathedral now ranks among the globe's most accessible and welcoming religious sites.

Blind individuals will gain access to the immersive experience 'Lumina', following an arrangement between the ONCE Foundation and the Fundación Primatialis Sedes Toletana.

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The Toledo Cathedral now stands as one of the world's most accessible and accepting cathedrals.
The Toledo Cathedral now stands as one of the world's most accessible and accepting cathedrals.

Toledo Cathedral now ranks among the globe's most accessible and welcoming religious sites.

Toledo Cathedral and ONCE Foundation Join Forces to Promote Inclusion

The Primatial Cathedral of Toledo has signed an agreement with the ONCE Foundation, aiming to establish Toledo Cathedral as a global benchmark for inclusion. This historic collaboration was marked by the President of the ONCE Territorial Council in Castilla-La Mancha, José Martínez Martínez.

Under the terms of the agreement, the ONCE Bibliographic Service has created a 3D replica of the cathedral, which will be exhibited for blind people to touch. This innovative approach will provide a unique opportunity for visually impaired individuals to experience the cathedral's architecture.

The agreement encompasses a wide range of initiatives. It includes measures in the field of employment, with training and labor insertion programmes for people with disabilities through Inserta Empleo. The collaboration also foresees the elaboration of protocols and internal regulations of the Primatialis Sedes Toletana Foundation that affect people with disabilities.

The agreement seeks to improve accessibility not only in the cathedral's built environment but also in the products and services it offers to the public. This includes virtual spaces, ensuring that the cathedral's digital offerings are accessible to all.

The program will have a direct impact on the cathedral's singular projects, particularly on the 'Lumina Cathedral of Toledo', an immersive experience that will now become the first of its kind to be accessible in the world.

Miguel Carballeda, President of the ONCE Group, highlighted that initiatives like this allow people with any disability to access art and culture on equal terms with the rest of the citizenship. He recalled that he had the pleasure of enjoying the cathedral before completely losing his vision, and he did so with his wife, a native of Toledo, who was very proud of the primatial Toledo temple.

The archbishop, Francisco Cerro, emphasized that heritage should not be a treasure guarded for a few but a gift to be shared. He stated that guaranteeing accessibility enriches the experience of all. Several accessibility managers of the ONCE entity participated in the signing of the agreement, along with the Archbishop, the Dean, and the capitular secretary of the cathedral.

The agreement was signed by the Archbishop of Toledo, Francisco Cerro, and the President of the ONCE Group, Miguel Carballeda. With this partnership, the cathedral will be positioned among the most inclusive in the world, breaking down barriers and opening its doors to all people. The program also promotes training in accessibility and disseminates the accessible services of the cathedral, further cementing its commitment to inclusivity.

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