Rome is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city, with more than 2.7 million residents, and a metropolitan area of almost 4 million inhabitants. It is located in the central-western portion of the Italian peninsula, on the Tiber River. Rome stands on top of more than two and a half thousand years of history, was once the largest city in the world and a major centre of Western civilisation. Rome is still the seat of the Roman Catholic Church which controls the Vatican City as its sovereign territory, an enclave of Rome. Today, Rome is a modern and cosmopolitan city and the third most-visited tourist destination in the European Union. Rome's international airport, Fiumicino, is the largest in Italy and the city hosts the head offices of the vast majority of the major Italian companies, as well as the headquarters of three of the world's 100 largest companies: Enel, ENI, and Telecom Italia. As one of the few major European cities that escaped World War II relatively unscathed, central Rome remains essentially Renaissance and Baroque in character. The historic centre of Rome is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site

Climate
Rome enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate which characterizes the Mediterranean coasts of Italy. It is at its most comfortable from April through June, and from mid-September to October; in particular, the Roman ottobrate (which can be roughly translated as the "beautiful October days") are famously known as sunny and warm days. By August, the temperature during the heat of the day often exceeds 32 °C (90 °F). Traditionally, many businesses closed during August, and Romans abandoned the city for holiday resorts. In more recent years, however, in response to growing tourism and changing work habits, the city is increasingly staying open for the whole summer. The average high temperature in December is about 13 °C (57 °F), but below zero is not uncommon.

Language
The official language of Rome is as in the rest of Italy, Italian.

Conference language
The official conference language is English. No simultaneous translation will be available.

Credit cards
All major Credit Cards are recognized and accepted in most hotels, shops, travel and car rental agencies and restaurants. Stickers in the front windows will advise you as to which cards are acceptable.

Currency / Banking
Currency: Euro. There are banks on almost every corner in Rome. Normal business hours are 8:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m.-4 p.m. Monday to Friday; some of them have longer opening hours on Thursdays. Banks can change cash and travellers’ cheques, with a commission.

Electrical Power
A 2-pin round adapter is necessary for electrical appliances. The electric current used is 220 volts/50Hz. For those bringing 110 volts/60hz appliances, be sure to use an appropriate transformer.

Emergency
Below are the emergency telephone numbers for Italy. Simply dial these numbers from anywhere in the country.

Meals
The trattoria is usually a family-run concern serving home-cooking. A ristorante is more formal, with a wider selection of dishes. The osteria is an inn, usually with only a few local dishes and endless wine. Pizzerias can serve antipasto, pasta, meat and vegetable dishes as well as pizza.

Health and safety
In general, Italy is viewed as a 'safe' destination, although problems, of course, can and do occur anywhere. You don't need to get shots; most foodstuff is safe and the water in cities and towns potable. If you're concerned, order bottled water. It is easy to get a prescription filled in towns and cities, and nearly all places throughout Italy contain English-speaking doctors at hospitals with well-trained medical staffs.

How to get around in Rome?
Like most Italian cities, even the larger ones, the best way to get around Rome is to walk – you’ll see more and will appreciate the city more. The city wasn’t built for motor traffic, and it shows in the traffic jams, the pollution, and the bad tempers of its drivers. That said, its bus service, run by ATAC, is, on the whole, a good one – cheap, reliable and as quick as the clogged streets allow. Remember to board through the rear doors and punch your ticket as you enter.

Medical insurance
Most countries have bilateral agreements with Italy for recognition of medical insurance. Check with your health insurer to see what their policy is for international travel; insurance may be limited to emergency room coverage only. Have your local insurance agency (or Social Security depending upon the case) provide you with the appropriate forms you should carry with you in case you need medical care.

Mobile phones
As a courtesy to speakers and other delegates, we request that all mobile phones or pagers be turned off before entering the conference sessions.

More information about Rome
Rome, Italy’s capital rises on the banks of the Tevere about 25 kilometers from its main outlet in the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is situated at the center of an undulating plain, the Campagna Romana, which is confined one side by the hills of Monte Mario, Gianicolo and Monteverde and on the other side by smaller hills of volcanic origin - the so-called ‘Seven Hills’.

Two thousand years of history have made the artistic and architectural patrimony of Rome so rich that the tourist feels overwhelmed. Thus it is preferable to outline a precise program and to fix determined objectives, according to one’s taste and the amount of time available.

For more information about Rome, see: http://www.rome.info/map/e.info/.
For a map of Roma and the surrounding area, see: http://www.rome.info/map/.

Insurance / Disclaimer
The organisers do not accept responsibility for individual medical, travel or personal insurance and all participants are strongly advised to take out their own personal insurance before travelling to the conference. The organisers will not accept any liability for damages and/or losses of any kind which may be incurred by conference participants or by any persons accompanying them, both during official activities and the social events.

Security
Unfortunately, conferences provide a tempting target for thieves, so please take care of bags, laptops and other personal belongings.
The organisers cannot accept any responsibility for losses incurred or for personal health and safety.
If you have any special needs or requirements, please specify them on the registration form.

Shops and markets
Opening hours
In the winter shops are generally open from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 15:30 to 19:30; in the summer they are open from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00. Some shops downtown have continuous hours, from 10:30 to 19:30. They are closed on Sundays and on Monday mornings, with the exception of grocery stores and some stores carrying technical items, which are closed on Sundays and on Thursday afternoons in winter and on Saturday afternoons in summer.

Markets
Besides the Roman shops, the Open Markets are also worth visiting. The following are some of the most typical:

Time
Standard time zone: UTC/GMT +1 hour.
No daylight saving time.

Travelling to Rome
By plane (from the airport to the city) and train

The Leonardo da Vinci airport (http://www.adr.it/content.asp?L=3&IDMEN=199 ) situated at Fiumicino, is about 36 km from Rome.

Rome’s main airport is well connected to the center of town during the day by an express train and other, slower, trains.

The express train between Fiumicino Airport and Termini station costs approx. 12 Euro and takes approximately 30 minutes. Services begin at 7.37 a.m., and then leave hourly from 8.07 a.m. until 10.07 p.m.
You can find all train schedules at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html.

It is also possible to reach the city using buses that stop just outside the airport. They go to the air terminal of via Giolitti, situated alongside the Termini Station.

The Ciampino airport, 16 km south-east of Rome, is the destination for most air charters and for some domestic lines

It is connected to the Termini Station by a local train line and by the buses that go outside the city limits (‘extraurban’).

For a map of Roma and the surrounding area, see: http://www.rome.info/map/.

Taxi’s from the airports and vice versa
The average fare for a taxi ride from Fiumicino or Ciampino to central Rome is approx. 40 Euro. That is the predetermined night & day taxi fare (for max. 4 persons in the same car), it is generally more convenient to go with a predetermined fare than using a taxi metered cab. You should ask the taxi driver to apply the predetermined fare when you get on board the taxi. When not applicable, e.g. if you are directed to Termini railway station or not in the historical centre, fares become more expensive at night.

Just one warning: to avoid unpleasant situations, it's a good idea to use only authorized taxis. Authorized taxi companies in Rome: http://www.3570.it , http://www.6645.it .  After exiting the arrival halls at Fiumicino, you’ll find the taxi stand.
 
Note: You may be approached by illegal taxi drivers in the stations and at the airports. If you need a taxi, look for the official white-metered taxis. There are taxi stands at both Fiumicino Airport and Termini station.

Entry to Italy / VISA
Entry visas are not required for citizens of the European Union. However, we would advise you to bring your passports or identity cards with you. If you have any queries, please check regulations with your travel agent or with the Italian Embassy in your country.

http://www.saenaiulia.it/italian-embassies-around-the-world.php