General Information
About Florence
Florence, one of the most beautiful and most visited art cities in the world, is an open-air museum and has been on the World Heritage List of UNESCO since 1982.
The historic centre of Florence attracts millions of tourists every year.
Florence became the cradle of the Renaissance culture in the XV and XVI centuries, with its poets, writers, artists, architects, scientists and philosophers. With such an important cultural and scientific heritage, with its pleasant mediterranean climate, good and healthy food and great shopping, Florence is the ideal place to host the 6th World Landslide Forum in 2023.
Florence’s museums, palaces and churches host some of the world’s greatest art treasures. The most popular and important sights in Florence are the Cathedral with its Brunelleschi’s dome, the Baptistery, the Uffizi, the museums of Bargello, the Accademia and the Opera del Duomo. The churches of Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce are authentic art galleries, while the library of San Lorenzo is a magnificent display of the architectural genius of Michelangelo. Here you can stroll through some of the city’s oldest streets until you reach the Arno River, cross the Ponte Vecchio and experience the picturesque neighborhood of Oltrarno. You can also spend a day in the Boboli Gardens or climb the southern hillside to the church of San Miniato al Monte, Piazzale Michelangelo or Forte Belvedere for an enchanting view of Florence.
ACCESS TO ITALY
To get the latest update regarding necessary documents to enter or depart from Italy check the Italian Government official site, Viaggiare Sicuri and Re-open EU.
VISA requirements
Citizens of some countries will need a travel-visa to enter Italy (and the Schengen area).
Participants should contact the Italian Embassy or Consulate in their home country as soon as possible to confirm their travel-visa requirements. It is the sole responsibility of the participant to provide the necessary visa to attend the congress.
Participant should initiate the application process at least 1 to 3 months prior to departure. The OIC Group is not able assist participants with their visa application and cannot intervene with Embassies or Consulates on behalf of any participant.
For additional details please visit the following websites:
Vistoperitalia
CIBT visas
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Participants are invited to check with their local embassy regarding any Visa requirements to enter Italy.
Letter of Invitation (for Visa Application)
Visa invitation letter can be required during the registration process.
Only participants fully registered in the Meeting can obtain a personal invitation letter.
If requested, relevant expenses for hardcopy of the invitation letter sent by express courier must be paid in advance. Please note that the visa invitation letter only aims to assist participants who need a visa or permission to attend the meeting, and it is not a commitment from the organizers to provide any financial support. All the expenses related to the conference remain the sole responsibility of the participant.
If you need additional information, write to: registrationwlf6@oic.it.
Travel Information to Florence
HOW TO GET THERE
The international Florence airport “Amerigo Vespucci” (IATA code – FLR) is only 4 km away from the Florence city centre, and can be easily reached by taxi or with the tramway (Line T2) from the City Centre
This tramway service represents a comfortable and ecologic way of connection, thanks to the last stop at the airport terminal, to the frequency and the speed of the rides.
Thanks to the connections with the Rome Fiumicino Airport, Milan Malpensa and the main European capitals, Florence is easily connected to the rest of the world. The main car rental companies have their desks directly inside the airport.
The International Airport of Pisa “Galileo Galilei” (IATA code- PSA) is located 80 km from the city centre of Florence, and is connected to the Tuscan capital by train (every hour), and by bus.
The International Airport of Bologna “Guglielmo Marconi” (IATA code – BLQ) is located 100 km away from Florence. The Bologna city centre is connected to Florence by fast train.
By Train
The central railway station of Santa Maria Novella is located five minutes on foot from the Congress center, and is connected to the other two railway stations (Rifredi and Campo di Marte) with local trains and city buses. The fast trains Freccia Rossa and Freccia Argento connect Florence with other important Italian cities: Rome in 1,30h, Milan in 1,40h, Venice in 2h, and Turin in 3,30 h.
By Car
Florence is well connected with the main italian cities, thanks to the italian motorway network, thus making it easier to get to the city centre, where the congress center is located.
PARKING INFORMATION
There are several paid parking areas around the conference centre: the nearest are the underground car parks of the Fortezza da Basso (congress venue), of the central railway station, and of the central market of San Lorenzo.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
Florence is a relatively small city, everything is at walking distance from the city centre. However a dense transportation network of tramways and buses is available.
Tramway
The construction of the lines began in 2005, and in February 2010 the inauguration of the Florence tramway took place. In 2014 the construction of the three currently active lines was completed.
Tram tickets can be bought directly at the vending machines in the traway stops.
The trams run through Florence from 5:30 am to midnight; normally they run every three to four minutes during the day, or every twelve minutes at night.
You can see the kinds of tickets, and discounts available here: Florence tickets and travel passes.
Bus
Most of the bus stops are located at thecentral railway station, near to the convention venue.
Bus tickets can be purchased at most coffee bars and kiosks.
Fares (updated at August 2022):
90 minutes-tickets: 1,50 € – tickets on board: 2 €
The tickets are not effective until they are validated with the bus ticket validator machines. The single ticket is valid for 90 minutes from its validation.
Taxis
Getting around the city on a taxi is not difficult, but in Italy taxis cannot be flagged down as they pass along the street. They are instead “stationed” at special taxi parking stands, which are located in most of the major city squares, stations and airport. They can be requested by phone.
The telephone numbers to dial for calling a taxi are:
Climate
Fall is the best season for visiting Florence and the surrounding hillside. In November daytime temperatures in Florence can be around 15°C (59°F). Rainfalls might often occur, take your umbrella with you.
Currency and Bank services
The currency in Italy is Euro.
Banks are open from Monday to Friday, generally from 08:30 to 17:00. ATMs (cash machines) can be accessed 24 hours a day. All banks are closed on weekends and on public holidays.
There are plenty of currency exchange offices, banks and cash machines throughout the city.
Electricity
Electricity in Italy conforms to the European standard of 220V to 230V, with a frequency of 50Hz. Wall outlets typically accommodate plugs with two or three round pins (the latter grounded, the former not).
Firenze Card
The Firenze Card at a cost of 85 euros includes tickets and priority access to museums, unlimited bus travel on AT (Tuscan Autolines). It is valid for 72 hours. It also grants entrance free of charge for people under 18 years old, part of the family of the card holder.
Shopping
Florence is a shopping paradise: all famous fashion designer have their boutique in Via Tornabuoni or in the nearby streets. Business hours in Florence are from Monday to Saturday, usually from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm. Most shops in the city centre have longer opening hours, and are usually open on Sundays.
Telephone
The international dialing code from abroad is +39. For international calls, dial 00 + national code + area code + personal number.
Time zone
Florence is in the Central European Time (CET) time zone.
Useful Links
Florence Airport: https://www.aeroporto.firenze.it/en
Florence Public Transport AT https://www.at-bus.it/en
Florence Tramway https://en.gestramvia.com/
Pisa Airport http://www.pisa-airport.com/en
Bologna Airport https://www.bologna-airport.it/en/
Trenitalia National Trains Schedule http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
Italo National Trais Schedule https://www.italotreno.it/en
Tourist information http://www.firenzeturismo.it/en