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General Information

Conference venue

The Conference will take place at the ‘Palazzo della Provincia di Torino’, located in Corso Inghilterra. The whole building was renovated by the end of 2008, and is today the administrative headquarter of the provincial government. The building is in front of metro, bus and train stations, convenient to be reached. Its central location, nearby the “Quadrilatero Romano”, the heart of Torino, will encourage participants to explore all that this active city has to offer in terms of galleries, theaters, shops, museums, monuments and historic buildings.

Accommodations

Situated in the city center, the Conference venue is within walking distance of many major hotels and apartments.

Transportations

Torino Caselle airport is 16 km away from the city centre. Torino airport (TRN), through its connections to most of the European hubs, is accessible from all parts of the world, and served by more than 25 airline companies.
Bus service between downtown and Turin airport has several stops including Porta Nuova railway station and Porta Susa railway station.
One-way fare is 5.50 € and the journey time is about 40 minutes.
For information and timetable confirmation: SADEM Bus Shuttle.
Ph. +39.011.2272022.

Torino can also be reached from Milano Malpensa airport (MXP) which is 140 km away from Torino center and served by more than 80 companies. Bus connections to Torino can be found at: SADEM Bus Shuttle

Local Time

GMT +1 (CET); Summer time GMT + 2 (CEST)

Rental Car & Driving License

There are offices of car rental companies in Torino airport and downtown. International driver license is required for non-EU citizens. Note that front and back seat belts must be fastened at all times and speed limit is normally 130 km/h on highways, 90 km/h on main roads and 50 km/h in town. The speed limit is enforced by electronic equipment and fines for violation are charged by the rental companies on the customer credit card.

Banking & Currency Exchange

The Euro (EUR) is the official currency, which is divided into 100 cents. Those arriving in Italy with foreign currency can obtain Euros through any bank, ATM or “bureaux de change”.
ATMs are widespread.
Traveller cheques can be exchanged with ease.
Most of the hotels, restaurants and shops accept major international credit cards.
Banks are closed on weekends, but tend to have better rates than “bureaux de change”.
Convert your currency to Euro

Taxes

Italy has a value added tax (VAT) that is charged on assets and services in Italy as well as on imports into Italy. Italian VAT is usually 20% of the purchased product. Prices are indicated VAT included.

Climate and Dress

Business & Shopping Hours

Most of the shops are open Monday through Saturday 9:00 to 19:00. Some of the supermarkets, shopping malls, department stores, newsstands and food shops are also open on Sundays. Some newspapers in English, German and French are available in downtown area.

Tips

Service is normally included in restaurant or bar bills in Italy. Additionally, in most restaurants the so-called "coperto" (cover charge), which can range from 1 to 3 €, is automatically added to the bill. Rounding up to the nearest whole Euro and maybe adding 1 or 2 € to your bill is an appropriate amount and follows the generally accepted tipping practices of Italy.

Electricity Supply

The electric power is 220 volts / 50 Hz AC with European type connections.
A useful site for electricity, plug and socket information

Personal Insurance & Liability & Emergency

It is recommended that participants take out insurance to cover loss incurred in case of cancellation, medical expenses and damage to or loss of personal effects. The organizers of the Freshcut2011 Conference will not be responsible for any medical costs incurred by delegates. The organizing committee will not accept liability for personal injuries or for loss or damage to property belonging to Conference delegates, either during or as a result of the Conference or during any tours.

Badges

Wearing badges is mandatory in order to have an access to the scientific sessions, refreshments and social events.