Venue
The Symposium will take place in the Grand Hotel Mediterraneo in the heart of Florence.
Globo is the congress centre within the Grand Hotel Mediterraneo which includes 15 meeting rooms, most with natural light, in recently refurbished spaces and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, perfect for conferences.
Accommodation
Grand Hotel Mediterraneo is located on the bank of the river Arno, close to the Ponte San Niccolò (bridge) on the Lungarno il Tempio. Strategically placed to reach the centre of Florence by foot, bicycle or car, the hotel is an ideal starting point for exploring the city and taking tours of Florence.
Grand Hotel Mediterraneo has 327 guest rooms and 60 parking spaces.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM
Destination Florence
Destination Florence is the official marketplace of the City of Florence, the first and only place where you can purchase city’s tourist services, such as museum tickets, theater performances, guided tours and much more.
How to reach us
By car
Leave the A1 motorway at Firenze Sud, go straight until you reach the first traffic light, turn left and continue straight for about 2 km on Lungarno Colombo. Once on the riverbank on the Lungarno il Tempio, the Grand Hotel Mediterraneo is located on the right before the traffic light that leads into Viale Amendola. Adjacent to the hotel is our private garage. (Address: Lungarno del Tempio, 44)
By train
From the central station of Firenze Santa Maria Novella, take the number 14 bus (ATAF ticket €1.20 or €1.50 if purchased by telephone) and get off at Grand Hotel Mediterraneo in Via Arnolfo (behind the hotel). From there, continue to the end of the road on foot, then turn left into Viale Giovanni Amendola and walk to the main junction. You will find the Grand Hotel Mediterraneo on your left.
Alternatively, you can reach us by foot, our hotel is about 25 minutes from the station SMN Florence and 15 minutes from Firenze Campo Marte station where you can take the 13 bus in via Mazzini (be careful to take the 13, not the 13A) and get off at Pecori Giraldi.
By plane
From Amerigo Vespucci airport you can reach the Grand Hotel Mediterraneo by taking the shuttle into Train Station Square, from where you can take a taxi (about €25.00) or bus (number 14) to Via Arnolfo (behind the hotel). From there, continue to the end of the road on foot, then turn left into Viale Giovanni Amendola and walk to the main junction. You will find the Grand Hotel Mediterraneo on your left.
For those arriving by air a shuttle service to and from the Amerigo Vespucci airport in Florence is made available by the Hotel. This service is available by request for a fee.
Visa & Invitation letter
Depending on your citizenship, you may need to obtain a visa before coming to Italy. For detailed information, visit the website of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the following website: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/italy-visa
It is the delegate’s responsibility to investigate the visa requirements for Italy and to apply for a visa, if necessary.
The conference organizers and/or the Organising Secretariat will not directly contact embassies and consulates on behalf of visa applicants.
Visas should be requested at least 4 months before departure as the application process can take several weeks.
The invitation letter to apply for visa can be downloaded in the online registration system.
The first time you enter the online system you have to register your personal data by clicking on “New user? Please click here” button and you will get a username and password, confirmed by email. Once registered your personal data you will find some icons including “Invitation letter (VISA)” one. Click on this icon and fill in the form and you will get the invitation letter.
Please take care of the correct address you will insert in your personal data.
To enter the online system again you can login with the username and password received.
Should you need further documents, please contact the Organizing Secretariat at the e-mail visa@aimgroup.eu
COVID-19 and measures for entry to Italy
Please read more on the following official websites
Italian Websites
Italian Ministry of Health
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
European Website
European Union Agency
Useful links
City of Florence
Florence Airport
Pisa Airport
Bologna Airport
Trenitalia
Italo
Other information
Time zone
Florence local time in September is UTC + 1 hour.
Currency
Euro (EUR).
All major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) are accepted in most of the restaurants, shops etc.
Voltage
The electric voltage supplied is 220 V. Round, two-pin plug points are available, as elsewhere in Europe.
In case you have any devices from the USA or UK, please remember to bring a transformer/adapter.
Banking
Most Florence banks open between 08:30 and 13:30 and 14:45 to 15:45 Monday to Friday. They are closed on weekends and public holidays and most of them have a cash dispenser and a currency exchange service.
Useful telephone numbers
Medical emergency: 118
Fire emergency: 115
Police: 113
Florence airport – information: 055 3061300
Florence airport – lost luggage: 055 3061302
For international calls from Italy: 00 + country code + number
For international calls to Italy: +39 + city code + number
24h Pharmacies: Santa Maria Novella Station; Via Calzaiuoli, 7 r; Piazza San Giovanni, 20
DISCLAIMER
The Organizing Secretariat disclaims all responsibility for medical, accident and travel insurance, for compensation for death or disability, for loss of or damage to personal property and for any other loss that may be incurred during travel time or the period of participation. In this context, it is strongly recommended to secure prior to departure international medical insurance for the period of participation.