Important and Useful Information
See also: "Montefiascone Places & Activities"
What to bring
1.Travel insurance
2. Euros: banks open Monday to Friday (mostly in the mornings) but can be
slow. There are lots of ATM machines3. If you stay in the house you should bring sheets and a pillowslip. You
can buy them locally also very cheap. There are blankets so don't bring a
sleeping bag. Anyway, it will be too hot.4. Towel(s) and toiletries.
5. Work clothes: Work in whatever you feel comfortable in for the heat. You may need one or two light jackets or light jumper and trousers /jeans for the evenings. You do not need formal clothing.
6. As a tourist, some churches might insist that you do not wear shorts or short dresses and that your shoulders are covered.
7. Bathing costume.
8. You will probably want a camera.
9. If you want to do hands-on work you will probably be happier with your own tools, though we have some of the basic stuff. A list of specific tools will be sent to you closer to the date.
Getting There
A car is handy but not essential and although very expensive can be booked at all the airports.
By car from Leonardo da Vinci airport or from Ciampino airport
Head for the ring road (raccordo annulare) and then follow signs towards the A1 (autostrada 1) north (direction Orte, Sienna, Florence). Get onto the A1 autostrada and head north until you arrive at Orte. This is a toll road and you need about 5 euros. Exit the autostrada and head for Viterbo. Exit at the point marked for direction Siena. This road takes you to the bottom of Montefiascone. Head for the town centre and Caffe Centrale.
By train from Leonardo da Vinci airport
The trains go from within the terminals, just follow the signs. The staff at the railway counter speak English.
Buy your ticket to Viterbo and catch any train going via Ostiense. Make sure that you validate your ticket before getting onto any train in Italy or you will be fined. (Validate the ticket by inserting it into the yellow metal boxes on the platform). Change at Ostiense station onto any train going via Viterbo. (Viterbo is about 90 kilometers north of Rome). The journey lasts about one and a half hours. There are two stops at Viterbo. Do not get off at the first (Porta Romana) but do get off at the second (Porta Fiorentina).
Look for a bus to Montefiascone immediately outside the station. From here -see from Piazzale Roma below.
By train from Ciampino airport
From the front of the terminal take the bus going to Termini (this is the central station in Rome). From here you need to buy your ticket to Viterbo and then proceed as for Leonardo da Vinci above, or else look for a train going to Viterbo via Montefiascone, these are infrequent. (Montefiascone station is sometimes called Zepponami). There is a bus from immediately outside the station into the town. You will be let off at Piazzale Roma. From here you need to walk up a rather steep hill (Via Corso Cavour) to the main square, where you will see a fountain. Caffe Centrale is here. Turn right into Via Nazionale and Hotel Dante is just down on your right.
You can check train times on the net. The sites for the Italian railways are:
http://orario.fs-on-line.com/fsbinx/fsqueryx?lang=en
You must type in the station you leave from e.g. Roma Termini and your destination Viterbo Porta Fiorentina.
Make sure that those on site have some idea of when you will be arriving, by contacting Cheryl in advance. This is for security and also to make sure there is someone to help you when you arrive.
You are heading for one of the hotels or the house owned by, and close to the Hotel Dante, (Via Nazionale, 2), which is just off the Piazza Vittorio Emmanuele (the central square). If you get totally lost in town, ask for the Caffe Centrale. This cafe is in the middle of town (about one minute's walk from the house) and stays open from very early to very late. Someone there will be able to help you to the house or direct you to Hotel Dante.
The town of Montefiascone is not too large and the people are friendly, so don't panic thinking that you will be wandering for hours.
Course Structure
The day usually begins early with coffee and breakfast in the square. Then once everyone is together, classes begin at around 9am (or sometimes earlier) and finish around lunchtime. As time is very precious, you will all be expected to be prompt and prepared for all the classes. Tutors will be on hand to discuss procedures you do not understand and help where they can.
There is a morning break to take coffee, go to the bank, shop etc. Students
can usually spend time in the afternoons assisting the library refurbishment
team doing preservation work.