VISA requirements

Citizens of some non-EU Countries need a visa to enter in Italy. However, for many Latin American countries a visa is not required for stays of up to 90 days. For further information, please visit: http://www.esteri.it/visti/index_eng.asp Attendees can find here a list of Italian Embassy or Consulate nearest to their residence.

For those who need an official invitation letter to attend the conference, please write to conference@eu-eela.org specifying the necessary data

Passport/Visa Note:

The borderless region known as the Schengen area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. All these countries issue a standard Schengen visa that allows the holder, in principal, to travel freely within the borders of all. Travellers are advised to have a return or onward ticket plus all documents required for their next destination, as well as sufficient funds to cover period of intended stay in Italy.

Accomodation

A list of recommended hotelsis given below.

GRAND HOTEL EXCELSIOR *****
TEL: +39 095 7476111 - FAX: +39 095 537015
www.thi.it

UNA HOTEL PALACE ****
TEL: +39 095025051 - FAX: +39 095 88882
www.unahotels.it

HOTEL STESICOREA PALACE ***
TEL: +39 095 315209 - FAX: +39 095 327922
www.stesicoreapalace.it

HOTEL AGATHAE ***
TEL: +39 095 2500436 - FAX: +39 095 7152668
www.hotelagathae.it

MANGANELLI PALACE HOTEL **
TEL: +39 095 7151842 - FAX: +39 095 7153406
www.manganellipalace.it

We recommend booking your conference accommodation through the registration form provided by Shougun Travel.

How to reach the venue

The Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Catania is located inside the Scientific Campus ("Città Universitaria" or "Cittadella" ). A map of the town, with the location of the Scientific Campus, is available here (look at the upper left corner in the map). A satellite view of the area (with our Department almost at the center, below the football stadium) is available through Google Maps.

Coming to Catania by plane

Catania is connected to many Italian and international airports by frequent flights operated by several airlines. Once you get out of the Baggage Claim area of Catania's Airport Fontanarossa you have two possibilities to reach the Department of Physics and Astronomy:

1. Take a taxi and tell the driver to bring you to the "Dipartimento di Fisica, dentro la cittadella universitaria, via S. Sofia, 64 (or: Viale A. Doria, 6)". The cost of the ride is in the range 25-35 euro, depending on the traffic in the different hours of the day.

2. Take bus no. 457 to the Central Railway Station and, from there, one of the buses no. 432, or 449, or 628 to the "Città Universitaria". Bus tickets must be bought before entering the bus, at newstands or tobacconists, or at the AMT ticket counter located just outside the Arrivals Terminal. Ticktes cost about 0.80 euro each. Remember to stamp the ticket upon entering the bus. Enter the University Campus through the main gate, turn to the left, and "climb" the hill to the first crossing (after about 100 meters). At this crossing, turn to the left and walk for about 80 meters. The Department building is on your left (see picture)

Coming to Catania by train

Once you get out of the Central Railway Station you have two possibilities to reach the Department of Physics and Astronomy:

1. Take a taxi and tell the driver to bring you to the "Dipartimento di Fisica, dentro la cittadella universitaria, via S. Sofia, 64 (or: Via A. Doria, 6)". The cost of the ride is in the range 20-30 euro, depending on the traffic in the different hours of the day.

2. Take one of the buses no. 432, or 449, or 628 to the "Città Universitaria". Bus tickets must be bought before entering the bus, at newstands or tobacconists. (There is a AMT stand outside the Station). Ticktes cost about 0.80 euro each. Remember to stamp the ticket upon entering the bus. Enter the University Campus through the main gate, turn to the left, and "climb" the hill to the first crossing (after about 100 meters). At this crossing, turn to the left and walk for about 80 meters. The Department building is on your left (see picture)

Useful Links

Catania Airport

Local tourism bureau

Catania on Wikipedia