GETTING READY FOR YOUR TRIP

Travel Documents
EU citizens do not need a visa and can enter Italy with an identification card or passport. Citizens from other countries should check with their nearest Italian Embassy or Consulate. If you need a visa to extend your stay for more than 90 days you should apply for a "Type D" (student) visa. Following your enrollment and course tuition payment, the school will provide you with a certificate of enrollment for your visa application.

Finance
The currency in Italy is the Euro. Though you should also bring cash for your first few days in Rome, (for the taxi, for purchasing small things, etc.), when exchanging large amounts of money it is generally better to wait until you arrive in Italy. Avoid acquiring your Euro in unofficial money exchange offices due to their high commission rates; you will instead receive the best exchange rate at a certified bank.
TraveIIer's Cheques and Credit Cards are accepted almost everywhere. You can withdraw money at Automatic Teller Machines (ATM). MasterCard and Visa (with PIN number) may be used to withdraw cash from an ATM machine. Cash from ATMs is only in Euro. You should not forget that the daily amount is limited.

Insurance
Our students are insured for accidents on their way to school, one hour prior to and following their lessons, during classes, and during organized extracurricular activities. Participants are not insured during their time outside of school. They are not insured against illness, accidents, theft, or loss of personal possessions, either by the schools or by those offering the accommodation. We, therefore, recommend taking out a personal insurance policy. During your stay in Italy, you must be personally insured against illness and accident. Citizens from European Union countries are entitled to free medical care in Italy if they hold an E111 form which can be obtained from their local health authority in their home country before departing for Italy.
Students from non-EU countries must enquire with the authorities in their countries to know if they are insured during a stay abroad/ If they are not covered, they should arrange health insurance to cover their stay in Italy.

 

ARRIVAL AND TRANSFER

By train
Arrival at the Main Railway Station Roma Termini. People under 26 years of age receive special discounts. Reservations should be made as early as possible as the trains to Italy are often crowded, especially in the summer months.

By car
Italian highways are tolled. Gasoline stations on the highways are open 24 hours a day. Elsewhere the opening hours are as follows; 7:30 am to 12.30 pm and 3:30 to 7:30 pm. Outside of these hours there are self service stations available where you can pay with 5, 10 or 20 Euro notes or with credit card.
Garages and paid parking spaces are easy to find in Rome. Ask for cheaper weekly and monthly fees.
You can ask your landlord for the closest garage to your accommodation. Should you park your car on the street, please consult the street signs or ask your landlord on which night the weekly street cleaning takes place in your area (pulizia della strada). On that night you have to park your car somewhere else. All cars parked in the area will be removed and fined by the police.
We recommend that you ask for the green insurance card at your automobile club and we advise you not to leave any articles of value or radios in your car (insurance for theft).

By air
The airport Rome—Fiumicino-Leonardo da Vinci (FCO) has connections to the most important international airports. Direct trains run to/from the main railway station (Roma Termini). Travel time is about 30 minutes. The regional train stops at the following stops: Villa Bonelli, Trastevere, Ostiense, Tuscolana and Tiburtina. Travel time is about 45 minutes.
- Fiumicino Airport Information:+39 0665951.

Transfer to your accommodation
Upon arrival in Rome we recommend that you take a taxi to your accommodation. Taxis are easily found at the TAXI stations in front of the airport as well as the train station. Attention: Always use a white painted taxi as they have a meter. Private taxis are likely to overcharge you. Don’t worry if you don‘t speak any Italian! It is generally enough just to show the address to the driver.
From the main railway station there are city buses and a metro which run until midnight. On request Scuola Leonardo da Vinci can offer you a transfer service from the airport or railway station to your accommodation. For this we use an independent transport company. A driver will wait for you with a sign with your name at the airport exit / at the railway platform. For one-way prices see our current price list. Should you require a transfer please inform us on the enrollment form or write to us at least one week before your arrival. We will need the exact information about your arrival; day, time, flight or train number.

SCHOOL AND LESSONS

The School Center
Our school is situated only a 5 minute walk from Piazza Navona, in the historical center of Rome at Piazza dell‘Orologio 7 (1st floor).
Tel: +39-06.68892513
Fax: +39-06.68219084
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The first school day
You are invited to check in at 8:30am at the front desk in Piazza dell’Orologio 7.
Students that have little or no knowledge of the Italian language will attend their first lesson. All other students do a written and brief oral test which enables us to place them in the appropriate level. If you have any questions about the level assigned to you, please feel free to contact our Director of Studies.
Please bring your own pen, pencil and notebook.

Tuition
The class schedule is from 9:00 am to 12:15 pm and from 2:15 pm to 5:30 pm. For the individual lessons of the Intensive Plus course and the private please contact the Director of Studies. A coffee break of 15 minutes is permitted for every study group. From the beginning, all lessons are held only in Italian. In addition to grammar exercises our teaching emphasizes reading and comprehension of spoken Italian. All the necessary teaching material is included in the course fees. We suggest that you bring your own dictionary.

Payment of the courses
The total amount for your course must be fully paid at least 21 days before your arrival.

Diplomas and Certificates
During your stay, your progress will be monitored continuously. At the end of each level you will do a test, and, upon request a day before the end of your course, you can take our final exam for the Scuola Leonardo da Vinci certificates.
The last day of the course, each student can pick up a certificate of attendance at the reception.
Four times a year, at the end of the March, June, September and December courses, the examinations of the Accademia Italiana di Lingua (AIL) "Diploma Firenze" DELI (elementary), DILI (intermediate), DILC (the intermediate Business Diploma), DALI (advanced level) and DALC (the advanced Business Diploma) are held at our school.
We offer preparation courses for the AIL exams lasting 4 weeks. Students interested in taking one of the AIL "Firenze" examinations should enroll at the beginning of the month of the examination.

Credits - Study grants
We can send transcripts to American Universities, where our courses are usually accepted as valid language credits. Ask the Director of Studies of our school. Swedish students can apply for study grants for our school, since it is recognized from CSN Lund — Sweden for study grants.

National Holidays
Our school is closed on national and local public holidays. Lessons are made up during the same week and therefore not refunded.

Your contact person
lf you have questions or problems about your tuition please talk directly to our Director of Studies. Our front desk will provide information about student cards, bus tickets, maps, trips, restaurants, bars, museums, supermarkets etc. The reception is open from Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm continuously. During this time you can also collect your personal mail and faxes.

Student card
You can collect your student card in the reception on request. If shown, discounted rates can be obtained in various bars, restaurants, gyms etc. You will receive the list on request.

Questionnaire
You will be asked to take a few minutes to complete our questionnaire. Your comments are very important to us and we greatly appreciate your time.

Leisure program
Every two weeks we distribute our own calendar of cultural events. Additionally the school receives the monthly magazine “Romeing,” a guide to Rome’s cultural scene, events and nightlife. You can pick up your copy anytime from the front desk.

ACCOMMODATION

Generally accommodation is located in residential areas close to the center and within 20 to 50 minutes of bus travel to the school. There are two types of accommodation:

Home-stay
This usually involves more interaction with your hosts and offers a unique opportunity to become acquainted with the Italian culture and way of life. Your host family may include children or be a sole occupant of the house. According to your type of booking, breakfast or half-board is served. The students are allowed to use the common room(s) and to receive phone calls. This style of accommodation generally requires compromise and understanding between the host and student.

Apartment, shared kitchen and bathroom
Living in an apartment (together with other foreign or Italian students, or with the landlord/landlady) at once requires more maturity while also allowing the student more independence. The student shares the facilities of the apartment and can cook for him/herself.
All students are advised to bring their own towels. lf you have booked accommodation without meals please be aware that in Italy most shops are closed on Sunday afternoons.
Whatever your accommodation, in order to facilitate your arrival, we kindly ask you to inform either the landlord or the school (by phone, fax or email) about your arrival at least 4 days in advance.

Reservation and payment of accommodation
To make reservations for accommodation, we need your (or your parents’) credit card number as guarantee deposit. Once we confirm the accommodation, we will inform you of the exact rent. Please pay this amount directly to your landlord in cash within the first three days of arrival. Once you have paid the rent you are obliged to accept the accommodation arranged. In case you have any doubts about your accommodation, we invite you to discuss those with our staff before paying the rent.

 

ADVICE AND TIPS

Permit of stay
Italian law requires those students who need a visa to enter Italy or any student who intends to stay longer than 3 months, to apply for a permit of stay (permesso di soggiorno) at the local police office (questura). This should be done within eight days upon arrival in Italy. You can require more information about the necessary formalities at our front desk.
- Questura Centrale, Ufficio Stranieri via Genova 2, Info: +39 0646862928 (10 am—12 pm)
From 7 am you can collect a number and will be called between 8:30 am and 1 pm (Mo - Sa).

Tax file number (Codice Fiscale)
Anybody working in Italy needs this code and you’re often asked to give it when doing anything official such as opening a bank account, arranging a new telephone line or receiving certain types of medical care. Take your ID or passport to:
- Tax office (Ufficio Imposte Dirette) - via lppolito Nievo 36, 06583191 (Mo — Thu: 8:30 am to 4 pm; Fr 8.30-12 am).
You will be asked to fill in a form and then return a few days later to pick up the card. 

 

TOURIST INFORMATION

Where to get information
In the center of Rome there are several tourist information areas which give information about cultural events and happenings in the city and its surroundings. Many travel agencies also have information about train and bus time tables, guided tours in the city and sightseeing. Some also provide lists of authorized guides for tours. You can receive your free of charge monthly magazine for Rome – “Romeing” –at our front desk.
At the newsstand you can buy the monthly magazines with more information about cultural events in Rome and its surroundings. The booklet “Trova Roma” comes out every Thursday alongside the newspaper ‘La RepubbIica’. More information can also be found in the regional part of the daily newspaper ‘La Repubblica'.
Official Tourist Board (EPT);
- Ente Provinciale per il Turismo di Roma,
via Parigi 5, 0648899255
(Mon—Fri: 8:15am-7:15pm, Sat: 8:15am-1:45pm)

Tourist information centers (APT):
PITs are open 365 days a year and are located all over the centre and in the main transport terminals. Open from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm
Tourist Information Point “Ciampino”, Baggage Claim International Arrivals, From 9.00 am to 6.30 pm
Tourist Information Point "Fiumicino", Aeroporto Internazionale "Leonardo Da Vinci"International Arrivals – Terminal B C, From 9.00 am to 6.30 pm
Tourist Information Point "Ostia Lido", Lungomare Paolo Toscanelli, From 9.30 am to 7.00 pm
Tourist Information Point "Castel Sant'Angelo", Piazza Pia, From 9.30 am to 7.00 pm
Tourist Information Point " Minghetti", Via Marco Minghetti, From 9.30 am to 7.00 pm
Tourist Information Point "Navona", Piazza delle Cinque Lune, From 9.30 am to 7.00 pm
Tourist Information Point "Nazionale", Via Nazionalenear Palazzo delle Esposizioni, From 9.30 am to 7.00 pm
Tourist Information Point "Santa Maria Maggiore", Via dell'Olmata, From 9.30 am to 7.00 pm
Tourist Information Point "Sonnino", Piazza Sidney Sonnino, From 9.30 to 7.00 pm
Tourist Information Point "Termini", Via Giovanni Giolitti, 34, Inside Office F Platform 24
From 8.00 am to 8.30 pm

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Trains
Train fares are reasonably cheap in Italy. A higher fee is applicable also for the "Eurostar" where you must reserve your seat in advance. The train ticket (if there is not a reservation) is only valid if you check in at one of the yellow boxes at the beginning of the platform.
More information on: www.trenitalia.com, www.italotreno.it

City bus/Tram/Metro
The company called ATAC has a network of buses, trams and metros in the city and its surroundings.
Single tickets are available at the "Tabacchi" (distinguished by a rectangular T-sign), at most newspaper stands (edicole) and the offices of ATAC. Again tickets are only in use if you validate them at the small yellow machines inside the bus/tram. Time tables and maps can be found online at:
- http://www.atac.roma.it/

Long-haul buses
A company called COTRAL operates the blue long—hauI buses within the Lazio region.
- COTRAL, via dei Radiotelegrahsti 44, 0657031
- Info time tables: 800431784 (Mo - Fr: 8 am - 6 pm)
Tickets at the terminal metro stations and at the train station Roma Termini..
http://www.cotralspa.it/

Taxis
Licensed taxis are painted white and have a meter. Private taxis operate without a meter and are likely to overcharge you. In Rome there are many different taxi stands. Some locations in the historical center include:
Piazza della Chiesa Nuova / Pantheon / Piazza di Spagna / Vaticano / Largo di Torre Argentina / Stazione Termini / Piazza del Popolo / Piazza Venezia / Piazza della Repubblica / Piazza Euclide / Piazza San Silvestro / Piazza Sonnino (Trastevere) and many more.
A quick way of obtaining a taxi is by phone. The operator will confirm your booking and give you the name and number of the taxi (i.e. Monaco 80) and the waiting time.
- Radio-Taxi:
066645 / 063570 / 064157 / 064994 / 065551

COMMUNICATION

Where to make a phone call?
Public phones in Italy work with telephone cards and/or coins. From almost all the public phones it is possible to call abroad. To call you will need a telephone card, which you can buy in post offices, most coffee shops and newsstands. There are also telephone offices where you can pay at the end of the conversation:
The country code for Italy is '39':

Internet, E-Mail and Fax
The address of our school can be used for receiving private mails:
Piazza dell’Orologio 7
00186 Rome, ItaliaPlease tell the sender to always include your name and school on the envelope.
An internet lab is available and freely accessible Wi-Fi is available everywhere at the school.
Faxes can be sent from the post office, from many stationary shops (cartoleria) and from copy shops. At the school you can receive faxes free of charge. Our fax number: +390668219084

OTHER SERVICES

 

The banks
Opening hours:
Mo-Fr: 8:30 am - 1:30 pm and 2:45-3:45 pm / 3-4 pm The opening hours can vary slightly from one bank to the other. Generally all banks are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and on public holidays and close at 11:30 am the day before a public holiday.
We suggest the following bank:

- Banca IntesaBci, via del Corso 226, 0667121

The post office
Opening hours of the main post offices:
Mo - Fr: 8:30 am - 6:30 pm, Sa: 8:30 am -1:00 pm
Stamps can be bought at the post office as well as at the "Tabacchi“ shops.

Stores and markets
Rome offers a great opportunity for shopping. In general store hours are as follows:
From 9 am until 8 pm
Monday mornings stores are usually closed.
The department stores in the center (STANDA, UPIM, Rinascente etc.) are open all day and often on Sundays as well.
The supermarkets (Conad, GS Supermarket, PAM etc.) are usually open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, except Sundays, from 8:00 am until 13:00.
For students in apartment accommodation: We suggest that you organize your own food for the first evening as shops are generally closed on Sundays. Rome is also famous for its markets. As well as fruits and vegetables, one can find household goods, clothes, bags etc:
- Mercato Campo de‘ Fiori, piazza Campo de‘ Fiori: Mon — Sat: 6 am — 1 pm (fruit, vegetables, flowers)
- Mercato Porta Portese, viale Trastevere/Porta Portese: Large flea market open on Sunday mornings

Laundry
Self-service washing machines and dryers can be found all over the city. Opening hours are generally from 8 am to 10 pm.

Books, newspapers and magazines
Rome has numerous bookstores that sell books in Italian and foreign languages:
- Remo Croce, Corso Vittorio Emanuele Il 158, 0668802858
- La Feltrinelli, Largo Torre Argentina 5/a, 0668803248
- Feltrinelli International, via Emanuele Orlando 84/86, 064827878
- Herder International Book Center, piazza Montecitorio 117/120, 066794628
- Economy Book & Video Center, via Torino 136, 064746877
At larger news-stands and at the main railway station you find a big selection of international newspapers and magazines. The daily Italian newspapers are `Il Messaggero’ or ‘La Repubblica’. There are also numerous weekly magazines such as ‘Espresso’, ‘Panorama' or ‘Europeo’. Every Tuesday and Friday the "Porta Portese", a newspaper with free ads for those looking for a job, apartment, used items, babysitting etc. is published.

Bars and coffee shops
In most bars and coffee shops you pay a little less when you consume your drink at the counter (al banco) as compared to sitting down on a table (al tavolo).

Restaurants, Pizzerias
At the front office you can receive a list of leisure places which offer discounts to our students.

Safety
Rome is a safe city. Nevertheless you should take note of a few things. Given that Rome is a tourist attraction, do be mindful of inevitable pickpockets. You should always mind your bag and/or purse, especially on buses and trains. Never go out with a lot of money. When walking down a street, hold your bags at your side and facing the wall. This deters bag snatchers on scooters. We suggest that you make a photocopy of all personal documents and your credit card. Keep the copies separate from the originals.

Doctors and dentists
Addresses of doctors can be found in the yellow pages (pagine gialle). Look for “Medici". The embassies also have a list of doctors who speak your mother tongue. In emergency cases (at night and Sundays) you can call the "Guardia medica“: 064826741
The emergency room "pronto soccorso" found in all hospitals is free of charge and easily accessible for anyone who suffers from an acute illness.
- Hospital Fatebenefratelli (Isola Tiberina), piazza Fatebenefratelli 2, 066837299
Some other medical care centers:
- Romamedica, (+39) 338 622 4832 (day and night)
- Med—Line: 068080995 (day and night):
- Studio Medico del Gesù, Corso Vittorio Emanuele 18, 066991639: Mon — Fri: 9 am -12 pm and 3 - 7 pm; Sa: 9 am - 12 pm
Addresses of dentists can be found in the yellow pages (pagine gialle). Look for "Dentisti".
Here three addresses:
- Ospedale G. Eastman, viale Regina Elena 287/B, 06844831 (24 hours emergencies only)
- Dr. Carmela Santilli, via Britannia 31, 06.70497238 (discount for students)
- Dr. Decaesstecker Karel (speaks English), Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 266, 066896774

Pharmacies
Should you need medicine outside of regular business hours, the shop window displays a list of pharmacies with emergency services in that particular district. There is also a local phone number providing this information for the entire city:
- Farmacia della Stazione, piazza dei Cinquecento 49, 064880019 (day and night)
- Pronto Farmacia, 06228941
The following pharmacies with extended business hours:
- Farmacia lnternazionale, piazza Barberini 49, 064825456 or 064871195
- Farmacia Piram, via Nazionale 228, 064880754
- Farmacia Arenula, via Arenula 73, 0668803278

Embassies

Addresses of embassies are found in the yellow pages (pagine gialle). Look for "Ambasciate". Or visit aboutroma.com: http://www.aboutroma.com/rome-embassies.html

Local Time
Italy uses Middle-European-Time (MET):
London: -1; New York: -6; Los Angeles: -9; Tokyo: +8.

Electricity
Electricity in Italy runs on 220/230 volts. Appliances from the UK and Australia will only require a socket adapter. US appliances running on a different voltage will also require a transformer: There is no problem for appliances with a Euro-socket; however, "Schuko"- plugs need an adapter.

Climate
Rome enjoys a Mediterranean climate with mild, humid winters and warm, dry summers.

Important addresses and phone numbers
- School Emergency phone number at arrival (Sunday): 3280313040 (from abroad: 0039 3280313040)
- if booked: Transfer Service Emergency phone number at arrival (normally Sunday); Caravel Auto: 3488819571 (from abroad: 0039 3488819571)
- Police main office (Questura centrale), 0646861
- Police office for foreigners (Ufficio Stranieri), via Genova 2, 0646863216
- Carabinieri, piazza Venezia, 066789557 (for theft)
- Traffic police (Vigili urbani), 0667691
- Towed cars, via Consolazione 4, 066798108
- Lost and Found (Ufficio oggetti smariti), via Nicolo Bettoni 1, 065816040 Mo — Fr: 8:30 am — 12:30 pm
- Police Emergency, 112 or 113
· Doctor (Guardia Medica), 064826741

A small check list
- Valid passport or identity card
- Tickets and reservations
- Insurance documents
- Money, traveller’s cheques and credit cards
- Personal medicine
- E111 form (for citizens from EU countries)
- Italian address given to parents etc.
- School informed about arriving time
- Transfer requested from school