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Click as follow if you would like to know more about:
Italian
Tuition | Italian
Cultural and Leisure Programme
Arrival
/ Housing / Transfer
Check
list:
-
Valid passport or identity card
-
Tickets and reservations
-
Insurance documents
-
Money, traveler’s cheques and credit cards
-
Personal medicine or medical prescriptions
-
EHIC-Card form (for citizens from EU countries)
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Italian address given to parents etc.
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School informed about arriving time
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Transfer requested from school
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Climate
Although
summer in Italy, from the Alps to Sicily, is quite warm, the winter
in Northern and Central Italy can be quite cool; winter in the
south, however, is relatively mild. The best weather in the cities
is in spring and autumn.
Average
summer temperatures range from 18°C to 30°C (64°F to 86°F), the
average winter temperature is around 4°C to 16°C (39°F to 61°F).
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Credit
Cards / Traveler's Cheques
Traveller's
Cheques and Credit Cards are accepted almost everywhere. You can
receive money at Automatic Teller Machines (ATM), if you have
an ATM card linked to an international network (Bancomat, Postomat,
EC, Cirrus, Plus, Maestro etc.). Mastercard and Visa (with PIN
number) may be used to withdraw cash from an ATM machine. Cash
from ATM's only in Euro. You should not forget that the daily
amount is limited.
Cash
from ATM’s only in Euro / daily amount is limited.
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Credits
for American Universities
We
can send transcripts to American Universities, where our courses
are usually accepted as valid language credits. Please ask us
for more information.
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Electricity
Italy
uses a 220 Volts/AC system. Additionally, wall sockets and plugs
may differ from those in your home country. Be sure to get information
about the possible need for an adapter before your departure.
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Exchanging
money
When
exchanging large amounts of money it is usually better to do it
in Italy. However, you should also bring cash for the first few
days (for the taxi, for purchasing small things, etc.). Avoid
to change money in change offices because of high commission rates;
the best exchange rates are at the bank.
For
a stay of more than 3 months, it may even be useful to open a
bank account. Our staff will give you further information on it.
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Fax
Faxes
can be sent from the post office, from a lot of stationer’s
shops (cartoleria) and from copy shops. At our schools
you can receive faxes free of charge and send them (against a
fee).
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Financial
support?
SCUOLA
LEONARDO DA VINCI awards 50 school or university students scholarships
entitling them to a 100 percent reduction in the cost of a four-week
standard course, not including accommodation. If you wish to apply
for one of our scholarships, you are requested to submit an application
and registration form to the Italian Culture Institute or your
University, enclosing a reference from your Italian teacher, and
stating the precise name and address of your school/university,
and of the teacher concerned.
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Insurance
Our
students are assured (accidents) during their way to school (one
hour before lessons start and one hour after lessons), during
classes and during organized spare time activities.
Participants
are not insured the time outside the school (in accommodation
or spending their free time somewhere). 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 EHIC-Card 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.
Moreover,
participants are advised to insure against loss of fees due to
non-arrival, absence or unexpected termination of their course.
Contact your travel agent for further details or contact our school.
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Internet
access and sending & receiving emails
The
email addresses of our schools can be used for the receipt of
private messages. Additionally, you have free internet access at School.
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Italian
Currency / Euro
The
basic unit of Italian currency is the Euro.
When
exchanging large amounts of money it is usually better to wait
until you arrive in Italy. However, you should also bring cash
for the first few days (for the taxi, for purchasing small things,
etc.). Avoid changing your money in change offices because of
high commission rates; you will receive the best exchange rate
at the bank.
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Health,
Medical Doctors and Pharmacies
The
first-aid service in the Emergency Room of the hospital is free
for anyone who is in need.
SCUOLA
LOENARDO DA VINCI can provide a doctor whenever you are in need
of a consultation or medical care.
In
every city you will find 24-hour pharmacies. You should not forget
to bring, if necessary, your own medical prescriptions.
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National
Holidays
Our
schools are closed on the following national and local public
holidays: January 6th (Epiphany, called "Befana"), Easter
Monday, April 25th (National Holiday), May 1st (Labour Day), June
2nd (Republic Day), June 24th (Saint John, Florence only), June
29th (Saint Peter and Paul, Rome only), August 15th (Assumption
Day, called "Ferragosto"), November 1st (All Saints),
December 7th (Saint Ambrose), December 8th (Immaculate Conception). Lessons are not held, not
made up and not refunded.
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Pocket
money
This
is not the same for every person but we think that Euro 80 per
week, in addition to the costs for accommodation and food, should
be enough.
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Prices
indicated in Euro
What
is the equivalent amount in.......? Please
use the currency converter .
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Telephone
International
telephone calls can be made from all public telephones (in the
telephone offices, in bars, etc.). Also, the schools in Florence
and Rome have a public telephone and a credit-card telephone.
The
country code for Italy is "39":
- 'Land
phone':
The country code must always be followed by the "0"
before the area code;
- 'Mobile
phone': There will never be the "0" before
the number.
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Traveling
by train
There
are several night- and Eurocity-day-connections with Italy. People
under 26 years may receive special discounts. Reservations for
sleeping car or couchettes should be made as early as possible.
Siena is connected with Florence and Rome by a public bus or by
the train.
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Traveling
by car
All
of our course locations are conveniently located on the national
motorways.
In the old city centres parking is not allowed.
In Florence in all other
districts parking is chargeable on the blue parking places during the day
and free of charge form 8 pm to 8 am.
The Old town of Rome is accessible by car - without authorization -
only after 6 pm. Outside the city centre are many parking garages for
a fee.
In Siena you will find parking places around the Old Town. The blue
parking places are chargeable from 8 am to 8 pm, after that free of
charge. The white parking places are partly free of charge
(please consider the information signs).
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Traveling
by air
Our
schools in Florence and Siena can be reached from the airports
in Florence, Pisa and Rome-Fiumicino.
The school in Milan can be reached from Malpensa and Linate airport, as well as from Orio al Serio Bergamo airport.
The
school in Rome is easily reached from Fiumicino airport.
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Visa
Citizens
from the European Union do not need a visa and can enter Italy
with an Identification card or Passport. Citizens from other countries
should check with the 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. SCUOLA LEONARDO
DA VINCI will provide you, after enrolment and payment of the
deposit, with a certificate of enrolment for your visa application.
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World
time zones
Italy
uses Middle-European-Time (MET):
Rome: ±0; London: -1; New York: -6; Los Angeles: -9; Tokyo:
+8.
From the end of March to the end of October the clocks in Italy
are turned ahead one hour.
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If
you didn't find what you were looking for please
feel free to enquire by phone, fax or e-mail:
Phone:
++39.055.290.305
Fax:
++39.055.290.396
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