- 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)
- Italian address given to parents etc.
- School informed about arriving time
- Transfer requested from school

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Prices indicated in Euro
What is the equivalent amount in.......? Please use the currency converter .

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.