Caritas contacts for logistics
Martina Liebsch +39 334 359 0814 (English, Spanish, French, German, Italian)
Jacob Winter +39 335 584 5975 (English, French, Dutch)
Arriving at Fiumicino "Leonardo da Vinci" Airport (FCO)
Welcome desks: On arrival days (18 - 21 May 2011, possibly also 22 May), Caritas
welcome desks will be positioned at arrival terminals T1 and T3, immediately after
passport control. You will find Caritas staff ready to meet you and help you find
transport to your accommodation. If you arrive very early in the morning or very late at
night or on another day, and do not find Caritas representatives, please follow the
instructions below on taking a taxi.
Changing money: At the airport you will find two Bureaux de Change, one in the
baggage claim area (open 07:30 - 24:00), the other in the arrivals hall (open 06:00 to
24:00). There is a Unicredit bank in the International Arrivals Hall Terminal 3 (open 08:30 -
13:30 and 15:00 - 16:00, Monday-Friday), and cash dispensers for Mastercard, Visa and
most other cards.
Taxis: Caritas staff in the airport will help you to get to the taxi area. If you arrive at a
time when Caritas staff are not available, follow "taxi" sign to the taxi stand outside the
arrivals area. Although there may be people soliciting you for a taxi ride into Rome, you
should use only the white licensed taxis with meters. To make sure you board the right
(cheapest) taxi, look for the symbol of the Roman local administration (Comune di
Roma) on the side of the car. The tariff should be about 45 Euro (US$60) for up to four
persons, inclusive of luggage. You should pay in cash for the journey. If you have a
problem, note down the taxi licence number. Avoid taxis licensed by the Comune di
Fiumicino who will charge a higher fare, as they are not allowed to carry passengers
from Rome to the airport. Surcharge fees are applied for night runs, on Sundays and
holidays. Travel time will be 30 to 45 minutes to the General Assembly venue and hotels.
Trains and buses: There is a railway station in the airport with trains to central Rome.
Please follow the signs.
For Trastevere, take the local train (Metropolitan Train FM1), NOT
the Leonardo Express. The fare is 8 Euro (about US$ 11). Timetable: every 15 minutes,
05:57 - 23:27. Timetables may vary on holidays and Sundays. Train schedules are posted inside the railway station.
Tickets can be purchased at vending machines located inside
international and domestic arrival halls and at the railway station. You must validate
your ticked by inserting it in the validation machine before you board the train.
From Trastevere station, you can either take a taxi or tram (No. 8), towards the centre
(direction ‘Argentina’). From Largo Argentina (the final stop), cross the road to the bus stop in front of a large
bookshop called ‘Feltrinelli’ and take
bus 916 for Villa Aurelia (get off at second stop in
Piazza Pio XI) and Casa La Salle or Palazzo Carpegna (get off at Metro De La Salle).
For
Torre Rossa Park Hotel get off at Villa Carpegna bus stop and walk 5 – 10 minutes;
alternatively change buses at Porta Cavalleggeri bus stop and take bus 98 or 881 from
there; get off at Torre Rossa/Domus Pacis.
On Sunday 22 May you can also take bus 190, but this stops only at Villa Carpegna stop.
You can make the entire trip on two/three tram/bus lines on one ticket of Euro 1, which
you can buy at “tabacchi” or newspaper stands.
For Princess Hotel see below (via Termini Station).
Trains to Termini Station (Leonardo Express) start at 06:37, with trains running at 5 and
35 minutes after the hour. No intermediate stops. The last train of the day departs at
23:37. Travel time: about 30 minutes. The fare is Euro 14 (about US $ 18). Buy a ticket "per
Termini". You must validate your ticked by inserting it in the validation machine before
you enter the train.
From Termini Station to your final destination you can either take a taxi
(around Euro 20) or, if you are staying at Torre Rossa Park Hotel, Palazzo Carpegna, Casa
La Salle or Hotel Princess, metro A (direction BATTISTINI). Get off the metro at Cornelia
station and take southbound bus 98 or 889 for Torre Rossa Park Hotel (get off at Torre
Rossa/Domus Pacis) or bus 246 (direction MALAGROTTA) for the Princess Hotel (get off
at Aurelia/Da Rosate).
For Palazzo Carpegna and Casa La Salle either walk 5 – 10 minutes after you get off Cornelia metro station or take bus 246 and
get off at Aurelia/Azone (the third stop).
If you are staying at Villa Aurelia Hotel the best
way is to get bus 64 from Stazione Termini to Porta Cavalleggeri bus stop and from
there one of the following bus lines: 98, 881, 916. Get off at the second stop at Piazza Pio
XI. You can make the entire trip on one ticket of Euro 1, which you can buy at “tabacchi”
or newspaper stands.
Car Rental: The following car rental companies are in the airport: Avis, Eurodollar,
Europcar, Hertz, Italy by Car and Maggiore. Their offices can be easily reached from both
the Domestic and International Terminals. Just follow the "Rent a Car" signs.
Arriving at Ciampino Airport (CIA)
RyanAir, EasyJet and some charter flights land in Ciampino airport, about 15 km south
east of Rome. Bureaux de Change and banks are available at the airport.
Buses and trains: in the parking lot outside the arrivals area, you will see a bus stop
where you can take a local bus Atral to Anagnina subway station. Cost: 1 Euro (about
US$ 1.30). From Anagnina station take subway direction Battistini and get off at Baldo
degli Ubaldi, journey time about 25 minutes. Cost: 1 Euro (about US$ 1.30). Alternatively,
take the direct bus from Ciampino to Termini station (Atral, Cotral, SIT or TERRAVISION),
which takes around 45 minutes and costs 6 Euro (about US$ 8),. For the onward journey
from Termini station see above.
Taxis: The tariff will be around 35 Euro (about US$ 50), including luggage for up to four
persons; the ride takes 30 - 60 minutes.
Arriving at Termini Railway Station
Termini Railway Station, in the centre of Rome, is connected to ‘A’ and ‘B’ underground
lines and a large number of bus lines. Roma Termini is open from 4 am to 1 am,
corresponding to the arrival of the last scheduled train. For the onward journey from
Termini station see under Fiumicino (above).
General Assembly location
The Hotel Palazzo Carpegna (Domus Mariae) is located at Via Aurelia, 481. Participants
lodged in this hotel can make their way to the main conference hall and other meeting
rooms on foot, as can participants lodged in Torre Rossa Park Hotel (Domus Pacis) by
taking the footpath through the gardens, and in Casa la Salle by crossing Via Aurelia.
For participants in Villa Aurelia and the Princess Hotel, a daily pick-up and drop-off
service by bus will be provided, leaving these two hotels at around 08:00 in the
morning and returning after meetings have ended (times will be announced).
Grand Hotel Palazzo Carpegna (Domus Mariae)
Via Aurelia, 481
00165 Roma
Tel: +39 06 66 00 11
Accommodation
All General Assembly participants will be individually informed about where their
accommodation has been booked and how to get there. At the General Assembly, you
will find displayed a list of where each participant is staying, so that you can contact
friends and colleagues.
Grand Hotel Palazzo Carpegna/Domus Mariae
Via Aurelia, 481
00165 Roma
Tel: +39 06 66 00 11
Torre Rossa Park Hotel/Domus Pacis
Via di Torre Rossa, 94
00165 Roma
Tel: +39 06 66 00 71
Centro Congressi Villa Aurelia
Via Leone XIII, 459
00165 Roma
Tel: +39 06 66 01 7458
Casa La Salle
Via Aurelia, 472
00165 Roma
Tel: +39 06 66 69 81
Hotel Princess
Via Andrea Ferrara, 33
00165 Roma
Tel: +39 06 66 49 31
Registration
Caritas staff will be present in Palazzo Carpegna for registration. You are kindly
requested to report to the registration desk at your earliest convenience. You will
receive your General Assembly documentation and badge at registration. Registration is
from 8.30-21.30 Saturday 21 May and 8.30-13.30 Sunday 22 May .
Food
Most meals will be provided. Mercato Irnerio, to be found at the entrance of Villa
Carpegna in Via Aurelia, has many fresh food, snacks and grocery shops.
General information
Rome is halfway down Italy’s West coast, about 20km (12 miles) inland. It is a big city,
but the historic centre is quite small. In Summer, it is two hours ahead of Greenwich
Mean Time.
Language
Italian. English is widely spoken, enough to communicate basic information in major
hotels, restaurants, stores and international business meetings. Most taxi drivers do not
speak English.
Currency
The currency in Italy is the Euro, although US dollars may be accepted in some
restaurants and stores. Exchange bureaux can be found around the city and are open all
day. At night you will have to rely on the automatic machines placed at strategic points
around town. Banks and exchange booths set their own exchange rates, so be sure to
check before you change your money.
Electrical appliances
Voltage in Italy is 220, and although the three-prong round plug is preferable, a round
two-prong works as well.
Business hours
Most stores are open 09:00 - 13:00 and 16:00 - 20:00, except for some in the historic
centre that are open all day. The major supermarkets and department stores are also
open all day. Most shops are closed on Sunday and sometimes on Monday, except for
the shops in the historic centre, which are open Sunday and closed Monday morning.
Pharmacies in town rotate opening night hours.
Banks are open Monday-Friday 08:30 - 13:30 and in the afternoon from around 15:00 -
16:00 (though afternoon hours vary). You must remember to have photo ID with you.
Post offices are open Monday-Friday 08:30 - 14:00; Saturday: 08:30 - 13:00.
Clothing
Light clothes are recommended for the rather warm month of May (17-28 degrees C;
63-82 Fahrenheit). When visiting the Vatican or any major cathedral, men should wear
long trousers, and women skirts or long trousers. Sleeveless shirts and shorts are not
permitted in churches or the Vatican, including the Vatican Museums.
Coffee bars
Most bars insist that you order and pay for your coffee at the cash desk first, then go to
the bar with your receipt. The Italians usually stand at the bar to drink their coffee, which
is considerably cheaper than sitting at a table, since table service is usually charged.
Always check prices before sitting down, as sometimes a coffee at a table can be
extremely expensive, especially in popular tourist sites.
Tipping
Tipping is not mandatory. At times a service charge (servizio) is included in your
restaurant bill. This should not be confused with the cover charge (coperto), which is a
charge for bread and table settings. If the service charge is included and you are
pleased with the service, it is customary to leave an additional 5%; if the service charge
is not included, leave a 10% tip. Tipping in taxis is not obligatory either, but 1-2 Euro
(about US$ 1.30 – 2.60) is usually given to the driver.
Telephone
Most public phones now accept only telephone cards, which are issued by Telecom
Italia, the state-run phone company, and are available at newspaper stands, tobacco
shops and many bars. Cards are available for 5 and 10 Euro (about US$ 6.50 and 13). Ask
for "una carta telefonica". Some newer phones, mostly in the centre, also accept major
credit cards. You may also buy various types of phone cards from most Bureaux de
Change, which can be used to make calls from public phones and hotel rooms. These
are usually the cheapest way to make calls abroad. To call abroad you should dial 00 and
then your country’s dialling code.
Nuisances
Like all big cities, Rome has its share of crime, some of it avoidable. Petty thefts may take
place on public buses and in the historic centre. Bus 64, connecting Termini Station to
Saint Peter’s, attracts many pickpockets. Don’t tempt thieves with dangling or open
purses, easily accessible wallets or flashy, expensive jewellery. Hold on tightly to purses
and briefcases as you walk, and do not walk close to the traffic (a purse snatcher may
operate from the back of a motorbike).
Emergency numbers
Police: 112 or 113
Ambulance: 118
Newspapers
Newspapers are available at the green news-stands found on many street corners.
Foreign newspapers are mostly available in the centre of town.
Transport
Subway (Metro): Rome’s Metro has two main lines. Timetable: 05:30 - 21:00 (Saturday:
until 00:30). Price: 1 trip = 1 Euro (about US$ 1.30)
Buses and trams: Buses and trams operate 05:30 - 24:00. Night bus services operate
00:10 - 05:30. These services are marked by the letter N followed by a number. The
integrated ticket – Metrebus – allows you to travel on all modes of public transport within the metropolitan area of Rome (excluding the rail links to Fiumicino Airport or
the direct bus to Ciampino airport). While it is preferable to buy tickets before the start
of your journey from any Metro station, authorised vendor (newsagent, tobacconist)
and automatic ticket machines, some buses and trams are now equipped with ticket
vending machines.
If travelling by bus every day, buy the weekly ticket. Alternatively, buy a small supply of
daily tickets on your arrival in Rome, ideally at the tobacconists/newsagent in the
airport. The Weekly Ticket (CIS) is valid for seven days on all public transport services
within the metropolitan area of Rome. Cost: 16 Euro (about US$ 21). The Daily Ticket
(BIG) is valid for use on all public transport services within the metropolitan area of
Rome on the day it is validated. Cost: 4 Euro (about US$ 5.20). The 75 Minute Ticket (BIT)
is valid for up to 75 minutes on all ATAC buses and trams, for one trip on metro lines A
and B and for one trip on any metro-type FS train (2nd class). Cost: 1 Euro (about US$
1.30).
Tickets must be validated as soon as you get on the bus or train. Validation machines
are located at the rear of buses and trams, at the entry gates of Metro stations and
within the entrance area of all rail stations. During your journey a ticket inspector may
ask you to show your ticket. If you do not have a valid ticket, you are liable to pay a fine
of 51 Euro (about US$ 66).
Radio taxi telephone numbers
Mondo Taxi 068822
Cooperative Radiotaxi 063570-63898
Cosmo 0688177
La Capitale 064994
Pronto Taxi 066645
Tevere 064157