"Possis nihil Urbe Roma visere maius" ("May you see nothing greater than the city of Rome")
- Orazio

"Yes, I have finally arrived to this Capital of the World! I now see all the dreams of my youth coming to life... Only in Rome is it possible to understand Rome"
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"Rome is like a book of fables, on every page you meet up with a prodigy. And at the same time we live in dream and reality"
- Hans Christian Andersen

After Kitakyushu, Japan in 2007 and Monterey, USA in 2008, IVEC 2009 returns to Europe for the celebration of its tenth anniversary in the magnificent city of Rome. The "Eternal City" is home to some of the most famous and ancient architectural wonders such as the Coliseum, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon, some dating back over two thousand years. From Ancient Roman times to Medieval, Renaissance to Neoclassicism eras, influences can be seen in every corner of this buzzing city of over 2.7 million inhabitants, known also for its gastronomy and busy nightlife.

     

The meeting will take place at the Angelicum, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. The Pontifical University is heir of the mediaeval Studium founded by the Dominican Order, indeed by St. Thomas Aquinas himself, as well as of the College of St. Thomas, which Monsignor Juan Solano O.P., Bishop emeritus of Cuzco (Peru), established in 1577 at the Convent of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome.

     

The Angelicum is right in the city centre, within walking distance from the most beautiful monuments and attractions.

     

Conference venue:
Click map for higher resolution	Entrance to the Angelicum University

The conference venue can be easily accessed by different means of transportation and plane:

Arriving by plane

The main international airport of Rome is the "Leonardo da Vinci" airport in Fiumicino, located at about 30 km southwest from downtown. Connections to the city are available by train and by taxi.

From Fiumicino airport by train

- Proceed to the railway station in the airport. The direct train "Leonardo Express" to Roma Termini central station leaves every half an hour, from 6:06 in the morning to 23:00 in the evening (later there is a night bus every hour). The train trip takes 31 minutes. A one-way ticket costs 11,00 Euro (up to twelve years old child travel free) and can be bought at the railway counters or at ticketing machines (also by credit card). Tickets should be stamped before getting into the train (there are yellow boxes close to the platforms)

On the way back, the "Leonardo Express" to the Fiumicino airport leaves from the Roma Termini railway station (platform 24) every half an hour, from 5:52 in the morning to 22:52 in the evening.

- Local Train to Roma Tiburtina Railway Station. Trains connecting Fiumicino Aeroporto to Fara Sabina - Orte, stops in all intermediate stations. One way ticket costs 5.5 Euro. Every 15 minutes. Journey duration: 45 minutes
- See below for connections between Termini and Tiburtina Stations to the University

From Fiumicino airport by taxi

Public taxis are white, with a code and the sign of the city of Roma on the doors, and with a taximeter. From the Fiumicino airport to any place downtown (within the Aurelian city walls), the flat rate is 40,00 Euro (inclusive luggage, up to four passengers, night fares apply). On most taxis you can pay by credit card. Please ask in advance. A trip to the main railway station (Stazione Termini) takes about 45 minutes, except in rush hours.

For further information on Roma "Leonardo da Vinci" airport facilities, see the website Aeroporti di Roma, Fiumicino.

Ciampino Airport

The second international airport of Rome is in Ciampino, about 17 km south from downtown. From there, bus transfer to Roma Termini central station is handled by a private company (see Terravision for timetables and details). Tickets can be purchased at the booth in the arrival hall (8,00 Euro, one-way). - Bus to Ciampino Railway Station + Train to Termini Station. Every 20 minutes. Time: 18 minutes
- "Co.tra.l." line bus to Subway (Metro) Station Anagnina + Metro Line A from Anagnina to Termini
Public taxis are available just outside the arrival hall. The flat rate to any place downtown is 30,00 Euro.For more information, see www.romaturismo.it/airport

For further information on Roma Ciampino airport facilities, see the website:
Aeroporti di Roma, Ciampino.

Arriving by train

The central railway station is Roma Termini. Information on schedules, on-line reservation and tickets for any train connection from/to Roma Termini can be found at www.trenitalia.com. and it is connected by 64 or 40 bus line (5 stops, Nazionale/ Quirinale Stop Bus)

From Roma Termini railway station to the conference sites

The Roma Termini railway station is a stop for both subway lines (Metro A and Metro B) and for many bus connections going everywhere in the city. Most of the hotels in the list provided on the IVEC 2009 website are all very close to the station (some reachable on foot, even when carrying a luggage).

To reach the Angelicum University in Largo Angelico 1 from the Termini station, walk down Via Cavour for about 500 m, then turn to the right in Via Panisperna and proceed till the end (700 m). The walk takes about 15 minutes (see the map below).

If you wish to go by public bus, take the line 40 in Piazza dei Cinquecento (every 5-10 minutes), direction Castel S. Angelo, get off after two stops at Nazionale/Quirinale, and walk 150 m to the conference site. A bus ticket costs 1,00 Euro.

- Few trains (including local trains from Fiumicino Airport) stop in Tiburtina Station
Tiburtina Station is 30 minutes from Angelicum, and it is connected by 492 and 71 bus lines (see map for the bus stops).
For more information, see www.romaturismo.it/train

When in town

Weather
Rome enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, which characterizes the Mediterranean coasts of Italy, usually moderately warm and dry. In April, the average temperature ranges from 15°C to 26°C during daytime. Rain is possible (21 mm/month on the average) .
On Thursday 28 April 2009, the sunrise is at 5:42 and the sunset at 20:33.
For more information, see www.romaturismo.it/climate.

Currency
The Italian currency is the Euro (€, EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. For currency rates and/or updates, see, e.g., www.oanda.com.

Banking facilities
Currency exchange can be made in banks and exchange booths ("Bureaux de change") or ATM in the city center, airports, train stations and tourist areas. ATMs are widespread. Traveller cheques can be exchanged with ease.
Banks are usually open Monday through Friday from 8.30 to 13.30 hrs. In the afternoon, the opening hours change from bank to bank but they are usually open from 14.30 to 16.00 hrs. Banks are closed on weekends, but tend to have better rates than "Bureaux de change".
Credit cards are accepted in upmarket establishments and shops around the cities.

Electricity
The main voltage in Italy is 220 V, 50 Hz. Sockets typically mate with the "europlug" (the CEE 7/16 plug, ungrounded and with two round prongs). Plugs have round, not flat prongs and therefore an adapter plug is needed. An adapter to convert other plugs to Italian outlets costs about 3.00 Euro in supermarkets in Italy.

Transportation

Taxi
Public taxis are white, with a code and the sign of the city of Roma on the doors, and with a taximeter. Do not trust people who approach you offering private taxi service.
In the city center there are a number of taxi parkings, like in Piazza Venezia (close to the Angelicum conference site), Piazza della Repubblica, Largo Argentina, and Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps).
A taxi can be called at the following telephone numbers: 063570, 064994, 065551. In this case, note that the taximeter is turned on when the taxi picks up the call.
A taxi ride from the Angelicum to Piazza di Spagna costs around 8,00 Euro.
For further informations: www.romaturismo.it/taxi

Public transportation
Public transportation by bus or subway is handled by the city of Rome, see www.atac.roma.it for maps and schedules.

There are two subway (metro) lines, crossing at Termini central railway station. The Metro A line (Anagnina-Battistini) operates from 5:30 to 21:00 and the Metro B line (Laurentina-Rebibbia) operates from 5:30 to 23:30 (0:30 on Saturdays). Both lines run every 3-4 minutes in rush hours, every 5-6 minutes during the day, and every 8-10 minutes in early morning and late evening. Bus lines operate from 6:00 to midnight, with many night lines.
For more information:
www.romaturismo.it/metro
www.romaturismo.it/bus

The same ticket can be used for bus and metro lines. Available tickets are:

• BIT (time ticket): 1,00 Euro. Multiple trips on all bus lines and one trip on metro lines within 75 minutes from ticket validation.
• BIG (daily ticket): 4,00 Euro. Unlimited trips on all bus and metro lines, valid until midnight of the day on which the ticket is validated.
• BTI (three days ticket): 11.00 Euro. Valid 3 days on all bus and metro lines.
• CIS (weekly ticket): 16,00 Euro. Valid 7 days on all bus and metro lines.

Tickets can be bought at ATAC counters, newsstands, bars, tobacco shops, and from automatic ticket dispensers, but not on board. Tickets must be validated at the beginning of the first trip at any metro station or on the bus.

For visiting purposes, there are two interesting options:

• Special lines: the 110 open stop&go bus (13,00 Euro for the whole day) and the stop&go Archeobus (8,00 Euro for the whole day), see www.trambusopen.com for details.
• Roma Pass Card: 23,00 Euro for a 3-day transport pass, free entrance to 2 museums and reductions for all other museums. On sale at Tourist Information Points and museums, see www.romapass.it.

Relevant metro stations are:

• Termini (A and B lines): central railway station
• Cavour (B line): closest station to the Angelicum University (main conference site) and the School of Engineering (tutorials and workshops site)
• Cipro (A line): Vatican Museums
• Spagna (A line): downtown shopping area

Shopping
The streets of the historical centre of Rome host high-fashion shops of Italy's foremost creators. One of the best areas for shopping, or window-shopping, is around the Spanish Steps (Via Condotti, Via Borgognona, Via Frattina). Art galleries are everywhere, but special locations are in Via del Babuino and Via Margutta. Artisan shops, studios and boutiques can be found all around the Pantheon, Campo de' Fiori, and Piazza Navona, while Via Giulia and Via dei Coronari are known for their antiquity shops. Shops are mostly open non-stop from 9:30 to 19:30 (or with a break from 13:00 to 15:30). Many hints and guides are available on the web, with entry points like europeforvisitors.com or www.travelplan.it.

Emergency phone numbers
Free numbers from any telephone, including cellular phones.

112	Carabinieri
113	Police
115	Fire Department (Vigili del Fuoco)
118	First Aid ambulance

Passport & Visa
Every visitor to Italy must have a valid passport and a visa if required. A visa is not required for citizens of the EU, USA, Canada and most major countries. Please contact your local Italian embassy or Consulate for further information.

VISA
Participants coming from EU nations and citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, do not need visas to enter Italy. Most NON-EU citizens (and participants from other countries) will need a visa and, somethimes, either a declaration or a permit of stay to formalize their visit in Italy. As visa regulations are continuously evolving, we strongly recommend you to consult the official website of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for updated and detailed information for foreigners regarding entrance visas for Italy and permits of stay. Information is offered in English and other languages. The application for a visa must be done at the Italian Consulate or Embassy in your country of origin or where you have permanent residence, at least 3 months prior the Conference. If living in another country, you may find the Italian Consulate or Embassy willing to let you apply for a visa from there, but this is entirely up to the Consulate to decide.

Official Letters of Invitation
Official letters of invitation, designed to help overcome administrative difficulties in certain countries, will be sent upon request after registration is complete, and upon receipt of the appropriate registration payment from the delegate. It must be understood that such letters do not represent a commitment on the part of the Scientific Committee or Conference to provide any financial assistance. All expenses incurred in with relation to the Conference are the sole responsibility of the delegate. Delegates requiring an official letter of invitation in order to obtain a visa to attend the Conference, should contact the Organizing Secretariat at quoting their full name and mailing address, with Registration ID Number. Please note that it is the sole responsibility of the delegate to take care of his/her visa requirements. Delegates who do require an entry visa must allow adequate time for the application procedure. You should allow approximately 12 weeks prior to the Conference, although this process may take longer in some countries. If a delegate's visa application is turned down by the embassy/consulate, the delegate may apply to the Organizing Secretariat for a refund of his/her registration fee. Full proof that the visa application was denied must be provided. For policy on hotel accommodation refunds, please refer to the hotels section.

Post
In the centre of Rome several post offices are open Monday through Friday from 8.30 to 18.30, and on Saturday mornings from 8.30 to 13.00 hrs.

Telephone
The international access code for Italy is +39, the city/area code for Rome is 06. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code.

Time zone
GMT + 2:00 (Central Europe Daylight / Summer Time)

Family member desk
We will have a family member desk located in the registration area. Our personnel will provide you with all the information you may need.

Spouse tours
We have organized a varied and interesting social Programme for spouses. Details will be posted on this website in the months to come.

Vatican City
www.vatican.va