General travel information (PDF)

General information on the congress (PDF)

SHUTTLE SERVICE
A shuttle bus is provided for daily transfer from hotels to congress halls and the centre of Prato on the congress days. Precise information will be provided when you arrive.

MEALS
At the registration desk, participants will be provided with full information about bars, restaurants, wine bars and pubs in the area.

PRATO CARD
At the secretariat desk, congress participants and accompanying persons will receive a special card which
gives them some benefits and discounts at restaurants, shops and services in Prato during the congress.

SECRETARIAT REGISTRATION DESK
The secretariat registration desk will be located close to the main hall, the Teatro Politeama. It will be open for registration and information every day during the congress, from one hour before the scheduled activities begin.

LANGUAGES
The congress languages are English, Italian, French, German, Spanish. Translations in 5 languages are provided in plenary sessions; translations in two other languages in parallel sessions.
The organising committee and secretariat language is English.

BADGES
Each participant will be given a name badge at the registration desk. All participants are kindly requested to wear the badge throughout the congress. Only badgewearers will be admitted to the sessions and social events.

CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE
A certificate of attendance will be available on request at the registration desk on the last day of the congress.

AUDIO VISUAL FACILITIES
All the plenary and parallel halls are arranged for simultaneous translations, microphones and projectors.
Rooms for workshops are equipped according to the specific needs of each activity.

MEDICAL SERVICE
A medical service and first-aid service will be available on the congress days.

USE OF PERSONAL DATA
Any personal details supplied by you will be used, divulged and transmitted only within the limits of, and in relation to, the carrying out of the IFOTES Congress 2007 (conforming with art.13 of Italian law D.Lgs. 196/2003).

HOW TO REACH PRATO

BY AIR
The closest airports to Prato are the “Galileo Galilei” of Pisa, which is the Tuscan official airport, and the “Amerigo Vespucci” of Florence, but Prato can also be reached from the “Guglielmo Marconi” airport of Bologna.

Florence Airport (www.aeroporto.Firenze.it) is at Peretola, very close to Florence and Prato province.
The airport is not yet directly connected to the Italian railway, but a good bus service, provided by “autolinee Lazzi” and CAP, connects the airport to Prato Central Station.
Taxis are available at the airport. Average cost to Prato: 35 Euros.
Car rental: Prato is very easy to reach by car as the airport is on the motorway, at exit A11 “Firenze Nord”. It is only 5 km to the “Prato Est” exit.

Pisa Airport (http://www.pisa-airport.com/) is located close to the railway station “Pisa Aeroporto”, with train service to “Santa Maria Novella” station in Florence.

Car rental: the airport is very close to the “Pisa Nord” exit on the A 11 motorway. Take the motorway, direction “Firenze”, 65 km to the “Prato Ovest” exit.

From Bologna Airport (http://www.bologna-airport.it/).
By car take the A1 motorway, direction “Firenze Nord” then the A11, direction “Prato Est” - “Pisa Nord”.
By train, take a city bus, “Bologna BLQ” directly to Bologna Central Station, then the train on the Bologna-Florence line.

BY CAR
Take the A1 Milano-Napoli motorway (“Autostrada del sole”) then the A11 motorway, Firenze - Pisa Nord. Prato is also connected to Florence, Pistoia and Bologna by national and provincial highways. The main route between Prato and Bologna is the SS 325 that crosses the Val di Bisenzio area (Vaiano, Cantagallo and Vernio).
Prato GPS co-ordinates:
43°53'6"72 N 11°5'30"84 E

More information is available on: www.autostrade.it

BY TRAIN
Prato has good rail connections to the biggest Italian cities as Rome, Milan, Florence, Bologna, Venice, Naples. Two railway lines reach Prato, the Bologna-Florence and the Florence-Pistoia/Lucca.
The Bologna-Florence line stops at Prato Centrale, Vaiano and Vernio.
The Florence-Pistoia/Lucca line stops at 3 stations in Prato city: Prato Centrale, Prato Porta al Serraglio e Prato-Borgonuovo.
Train timetables can be checked on www.trenitalia.it

FS Prato Station: Station Square, tel. +39 0574 33008

LOCAL TRANSPORT

BUS
Bus Terminal : Station Square - 59100 Prato (PO)
Call center +39 0574 6081 Tel. +39 0574 608235
Fax +39 0574 42952
Ticket desk open every day from 6.00 until 20.00.

CAR RENTAL
Car rental AVIS (Arno Autonoleggio) PRATO
c/o Art Hotel Museo - Viale della Repubblica 289
Tel. +39 0574 596619

RADIO TAXI AND TAXI POINT
In Prato there are two taxi ranks, one in the Dom Square, the other one close to Central Station. Tel +39 0574 5656. 24h service every day for all destinations.

OTHER INFORMATION

CLIMATE
The climate is pleasant, warm in summer, but often windy:
temperatures 22° - 35° C.

CURRENCY
The Euro

BANKING FACILITIES
Banks are generally open from 9.00 am until 03.00 pm Monday to Friday. Withdrawal machines are permanently open. A machine is located in front of the main congress hall, the “Politeama Theatre”.

CREDIT CARD
Generally the major credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express are accepted in hotels, shops and restaurants.

INSURANCE
The congress organising committee accepts no liability for personal injuries or for loss or damage of property belonging to participants.

MEDICAL SERVICE
A medical service and first-aid service will be available during the congress days.

ITALY and TUSCANY
For more information about Italy, Tuscany and Prato visit the following websites:

- www.italia.gov.it - (official website of Italian government)
- www.provincia.prato.it - (official website of Prato Province)
- www.regione.toscana.it - (official website of the Tuscany Region)
- www.comune.prato.it - (official website of the Municipality of Prato)