Travel, Insurance, COVID requirements

Travel and Health insurance is your responsibility.  All Italian -COVID  requirements are your personal responsibility. Entry to Monash University Prato is according to Monash University and Italian requirements which may be updated.

For the most up to date information on COVID requirements and travel to Italy refer to official Italian government information and read it carefully as it may change.  Also check on your own government's travel advice site and/or consult with knowledgeable professionals.  We can take no responsibility for your entry to Italy.

Detailed information on how to get to Prato information from Bologna and Rome airports will be posted to those who register. 

visas

It is your responsible to ensure that you have the correct visa or visa waiver for Italy. Please check with the Italian consulate/embassy website for your country. Here is a list of consulates/embassies around the world.  If you require a Schengen visa, may need a letter from Monash Prato via the conference organizers, depending on which country you are from and from where you are applying. Please contact us 3 months in advance -- as you know, these things can take time and may require full documentation from you. 

General Information, Accommodation. 

Prato is a great old centre of the Italian textile industry, now home to a thriving and incredibly diverse community. It is about 30 minutes from Florence by train.  You can fly into Florence airport and get the local bus. The centre of Prato is a small, compact medieval city with museums and wonderful Duomo (cathedral) with superb frescoes painted between 1452 and 1465 by Filippo Lippi. The municipal museum (Palazzo Pretorio),  right off the main piazza has a wonderful collection.

Overall, the pace of the town is relaxed and unhurried and the food and wine are great with many bars and restaurants. The textile museum is also worth a visit.  One of the most important archives in Italy, that of the textile trader Francesco Datini who died in 1410 was rediscovered in the 19th century and you can visit his house and see its frescoes and treasures.  All these things are within a short walk of the Monash Centre, housed in the 18th Century  Palazzo Vaj.  Plan for a couple of days extra at least, not just to be at the conference, but to enjoy Prato, other nearby  towns and even Florence. If you enjoy contemporary art, you can also visit the Pecci Museum in Prato.

There is a  good supermarket that is open everyday for long hours, in the centre of Prato  but be aware of the slow checkout lines.  Conad City on Via Ricasoli/ Piazza S. Francesco. 

24 hour pharmacy : Piazza Mercatale, 147a. https://goo.gl/maps/qEssXqkyjioxzQgt8  . Note. Ibuprofen can't be bought in a supermarket in Italy. It is only on sale in pharmacies and costs a lot more. 

Monash University lists accommodation options. We encourage you to book early.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Call 112 for ambulance, police, fire from anywhere in Europe.

The modern Ospedale Santo Stefano is at  Via Ugo Foscolo 5 T: 0574 801111 Bus: LAM Arancio from Piazza Mercatale.  However, best to get a taxi in an emergency. Australians are covered by the reciprocal health care agreement for medical care.

 For non-life threatening emergencies and general medical care, you can make an  appointment with a local general practitioner. Ask the Monash stuff for assistance. However, The practitioners listed here have been tried and tested, however the Monash University Prato Centre does not take any responsibility as to the level of expertise, availability of services, and associated fees. During weekends or for after-hours care (i.e., 8pm-8am, and public holidays) call the Guardia Medica (doctor on call). Guardia medica Via Cavour 87 T: 0574 38038

Please also refer to the Monash Prato guide for general information about Prato including health care, pharmacists etc. 

VOLTAGE & PLUGS IN ITALY.

Italy has 3 sorts of plugs/outlets. Monash has connector boards which take all 3 sorts. Please read the following article.  The most common plug is the standard European Type C, but depending on where you are staying, you may need a different one to connect to the plugs on your devices (US, UK, AU etc) . There is a  general all purpose homeware/hardware/junk/gifts shop just near the Porta al Serraglio railway station in Prato (it is to the left if you face away from the station), where you can get the plug/s if you need them.  It is on Google Maps -- Zhu Chunping Mania is the shop's name.  And don't forget, Italy is 240v if you have a device that runs to another voltage, you will need a converter. The shop has all sorts of goodies. 

SAFETY/Disclaimer

The organisers reserve the right to alter the conference program or cancel the conference if circumstances demand this.

We accept no liability for your travel and safety in Italy. Please refer to your home country's travel advisory website.

Prato is generally a safe city; the type of safety and security issues that may arise are not dissimilar to those in other major cities, i.e., petty crimes, especially theft. As a foreigner however you are more likely to be singled out, therefore you should take extra care and attention to avoid potentially dangerous situations.  Please refer to the Monash Prato guide for a lot of useful information including medical services in an emergency.

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