MAY IN FLORENCE

McGill University Summer Program in Florence

08 May - 02 June 2006

The school is centrally located and a few minutes walk from the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi and Palazzo Vecchio. The Piazza della Repubblica address has 15 classrooms most of which look out onto one of Florence?s main squares.

This is where McGill?s classes will take place. This is where you will meet on Monday morning, 08 May, 2006 at 10:00am.

Feel free to give the school?s address, e-mail and fax number to your family and friends. Most of our students prefer receiving their correspondance at school rather than at their apartments. A mail pick up box is located at the front desk and we encourage you to check it every morning. You may also send faxes from the school but keep in mind that the cost is quite high. Unfortunately you may only receive e-mail messages at the school. For information on sending e-mail messages, see E-Mail, p.6.

If you are a student in the May session, your apartments will be available to you on Sunday 07 May 2006, between 8 am and 6 pm. When you arrive in Florence on Sunday, you MUST go directly to Euromondo Service, Via Guido Monaco 34 (055-321-300), identify yourself by name and indicate that you are from McGill University.

McGill University?s housing agent will give you your apartment keys. A refundable key deposit of 5 Euro will be required. Upon arrival, you will also be asked to leave a photocopy of your passport - please make sure that you have one on hand as photocopy facilities will not be available to you at the office – and a 50 Euro security deposit will be asked of you. This amount will be returned to you at the end of your stay provided that no damages have been incurred to your apartment.

After 6 pm on Sunday 07 May, 2006 please make sure that at least one person remains in the apartment until all have arrived.

It is imperative that you inform Enrica Quaroni or Vanna Fonsato of your travel itinery (arrival date and time) no later than two weeks before departure. This will ensure that the staff in Florence knows when to expect you.

For the May session, Professors Bronwen Wilson and Ricardo Castro will be conducting the McGill courses.

Gabriella and Alberto Materassi are the directors of the school. Katia Soldt is responsible for general accounting - payment of faxes, phone calls, excursions and extra curricular activities organized by the school. Luciana Avallone is the social events coordinator and she will often come to your classrooms before the mid-morning break to inform you of upcomming events.

The housing director is Massimo Notariani and if you require any assistance with regards to your apartment you can reach him at 055-321-300.

Every weekend activities are planned for all students. You are not obliged to participate in the activities but some may be worth while. Activities may include evenings out at restaurants, clubs, walking tours, museum and gallery visits. Group dinners in restaurants and pizzerias are usually organized for Friday nights. Sign up sheets are found at the Front Desk

Please bring a passport size photograph with you to Florence, write your name on the back and give it to Luciana at the school's front desk. Luciana will then prepare you an ID card. The ID card will give you discounts at the following places:

Addresses and telephone numbers can be provided for you at the Front Desk of the school.

Remember to bring a towel (beach and bath), mosquito repellant and MEDICAL INSURANCE!!

Efforts to speak Italian will be appreciated by the locals. Remember that Italians drink in moderation and do not take too kindly to disorderly behaviour. Smoking is common everywhere, except in movie theatres and on public transportation but these laws are not always enforced.

There are few public bathrooms in Florence. Many galleries and museums have washrooms, and most bars will allow you to use their facilities. A sign displaying the letters WC (watercloset) is a common indication of public washrooms.

Florence has a confusing dual address system. Each street has a double set of numbers: a red number indicates a shop, restaurant or business, while a blue or black number refers to a hotel or domestic residence. In reading a listed address, note that the letter r after the number indicates ROSSO (red). Further more, each set of numbers has its own sequence, so business premises at, for example, No. 10r, may well be next to a residential address at No. 23.

Tuscany?s main newspaper is La Nazione, with regional supplements. The state TV channels are RAI Uno, RAI Due and RAI Tre.

Electrical current in Italy is 220V AC, with two-pin, round-pronged plugs. It is advisable to buy an adaptor before leaving for Italy.

Even though some of you will have a washing machine, most of you won?t, so a laudromat may be useful. There are several in the historical centre, not far from the school. Wash & Dry Lavarapido has several convenient locations: Via dei Servi 105/R; Via della Scala 52/54R; Via Ghibellina 143/R; Via del Sole 29/R; Via Nazionale 129/R. Lavanderia Elensec CLa-Ni (Via dei Neri, 46r) is also conveniently located near Ponte alle Grazie. Dry cleaning services are also offered here (LAVAGGIO A SECCO).

Traveller?s cheques are the safest way to carry large sums of money. Try to keep all traveller?s cheques and receipts separate and make sure that you have a photocopy of vital documents, in case of loss.

Be wary of pickpockets, especially around the Duomo, Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella. Pickpockets are mainly children, operating in small groups, usually carrying newspapers or cardboard as cover for their hands. Fanny packs or money belts are favorite targets, so try to keep them hidden. Buses are also notorious for pickpockets. Be aware if someone bumps into you - they may be trying to distract you while someone else takes your wallet. Remember that to make an insurance claim you must report a theft to the authorities within 24 hours and obtain a report (DENUNCIA).

Although there is a fair amount of petty crime in the city, violent crimes are rare. The streets are busy until late evening but it is always best not to travel alone. Try to avoid badly lit areas late at night. Always use the official taxis, with the license number clearly displayed. When you call for a taxi, make sure you ask for the code name of the driver, for example, Roma 30.

Lost property office : Via Circondaria, 19

Missing Credit Cards

American Express: (06) 722 82

Visa: 167 82 80 47 (toll free)

Missing Traveller?s Cheques

American Express: 167 87 20 00 (toll free)

Thomas Cook: 167 87 20 50 (toll free)

Visa: 167 87 41 55 (toll free)

The VIGILI URBANI or municipal police, wear white uniforms in summer. They are most often seen in the streets regulating traffic. The CARABINIERI are the military police, something like our RCMP. They dress in red-striped trousers and deal with a variety of offenses from theft to speeding. The POLIZIA, the state police, wear blue uniforms with white belts and caps. They specialize in serious crimes. Any of these are able to help you in times of need.

If you are in need of medical attention there is a Medical Service (Studio Medico Associato) (Via Lorenzo Il Magnifico, 59 - tel. 055- 475-411) which has 24hr home service and is open from Monday to Friday 11-12 & 17:00 –18:00 and Saturday 11-12. This service has English and French speaking doctors and specialists on call. Office visits cost around 45 Euro and house calls run about 65 Euro. Payments can be made by means of credit card, cash or travelers cheques and most medical insurance policies are accepted. Take bus #8 or 80 to Viale Lavagnini or bus # 12 to Via Poliziano. For additional information please see www.medicalservice.firenze.it

There are several pharmacies that have extended hours. The Farmacia Comunale 13 at the Santa Maria Novella Station, the Farmacia Molteni in Via dei Calzaiuoli 7r, Farmacia Pagliacci in Via della Scala 61, Codeca in Via dei Ginori, 50.

Ambulance 118

Medical emergencies 118

Fire 115

General SOS/Emergencies 112

Police 113

Banking hours can be erratic so be sure to inform yourself well in advance (8:30am-1:20pm; 2:45pm-4pm). Don?t be surprised if exchanging your money at a bank involves endless forms and waiting in line for some time. For security, most banks have electronic double doors. Press the button to open the outer door, then wait for it to close behind you. The inner door then opens automatically.

You may exchange your money in a variety of locations, including electronic exchange machines, but the exchange rates are less favourable. The American Express office in Florence (Via Dante Alighieri 20-22r) is probably your best bet for cashing in your travellers cheques. Although there is no service charge, no matter what type of travellers cheques you have, the rate of exchange is slightly less favourable than most banks. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9am-5:30pm, Sat. 9am-12:30pm.

You may also use your bank cards in cash machines displaying the appropriate system logo (ATM, PLUS, CIRRUS, etc.). Please be advised that your PIN number must be of either 4 or 5 digits for your bank card to work in Italy.

The rate of exchange between the Canadian dollar and the Euro is roughly 1 Euro for $1.45 (Canadian). The Euro comes in both coins and bills and resembles Canadian currency.

Money can be wired to you directly from North America to the Western Union offices in Florence. There are 2 locations: Via Borgo San Lorenzo 16 and Via Calzaiuoli 120.

Long distance and local calls are expensive in Italy. The calls are measured in SCATTI, units lasting about 3 minutes. If you do not have telephone access in your apartment you will be able to use a phone at the school or in any post office. Florence?s Santa Maria Novella station office stays open until 8pm, and has telephones and national directories for your use.

It is advisable to purchase a telephone card (SCHEDA TELEFONICA) from any TABACCHERIA (smoke shop.

Please remember to always dial the area code even when making local calls within Florence (055). Unlike land lines, cellular phone numbers in Italy do not have a 0 before the area code.

To send an international telegram go to a post office or call Italcable at 1790.

Cellular phones: You can buy or rent a cell phone for rather reasonable rates. Platform 3000 (Via Ghibellina,178r), 055-471-714, has been in business for quite a few years and seems to supply an efficient cell phone rental service. For further information please see www. platform3000.it

The Italian Postal Service is notoriously inefficient. Expect anything sent abroad to arrive well after you return home! You can buy stamps (FRANCOBOLLI) from any TABACCHERIA or newspaper kiosk (L?EDICOLA) displaying a black and white T sign as well as from post offices. The main post office remains open from 8:30am- early evening. Ufficio Postale (Via Pellicceria,3). The main post office is located in Piazza della Repubblica, a few steps away from the school. A post office is also located in Piazza Salvemini, quite close to the supermarket La Standa.

If you plan to send any kind of parcel by mail remember it must be wrapped according to Italian postal specifications. We suggest you bring your item to a CARTOLERIA (stationery store) and have them prepare the parcel for you. There is a CARTOLERIA not too far from the main post office: Oli-Ca (Borgo SS. Apostoli 27R; tel. 23 96 917). Parcel pick up is availabe through the following companies: UPS, Via di Pratignone 56/A (toll free 800 877 377); DHL, Via della Cupola 243 (800 345 345); Federal Express, Via Gobetti 3 (800 123 800).

You may receive packages directly at the school. Please advise the sender that they must indicate your name and the school on the package:

Internet Train (Via dell?Oriuolo 25R (near Duomo); Via Guelfa 24A (near train station) and on Borgo San Jacopo (near Ponte Vecchio) and The NetGate (Via San Egidio 10R, Via dei Cimatori 17R, Via Nazionale 156R, Via de' Serragli 76R) are something like an Internet Caf?. Last Summer the rates for an e-mail address were as follows: 25 Euro monthly & 10 Euro weekly. It may be wise to update prices and services: info@fionline.it & www.fionline.it

Remember, however, that you may receive e-mail at the school at the following address: students@clida.it

You may receive faxes via the school's fax number (055) 287 828. The school will also allow you to send faxes. Prices vary according to destination and length of transmission time

Fiumicino Airport (more officially known as Leonardo da Vinci International Airport) is where Alitalia and Canadian Airlines flights land. If your ticket specifies Florence as your destination, you will simply need to change terminal (from Internazionale to Nazionale) in order to catch your flight to Florence.

However, if your destination is Rome and you have to get to Florence on your own, your best means of travel is the train. Once you leave the customs area of the airport, follow the signs for Stazione FS (Railway station) to your left. There is a train that runs from Fiumicino to Rome?s Termini station (to Termini every hour: 7:20am-9:20pm and extra trains 6:50am, 3:50pm, 5:50pm and 7:50pm). The trip lasts approximately 40 minutes and costs about 8 Euro . Buy a ticket ?per Termini? at the FS ticket counter or from one of the machines at the station. You will arrive at Termini, on track 23 - the designated airport-station-airport railway track.

If you arrive at Ciampino airport you are probably flying with AirTransat or another charter company. From here your only option is to take the blue Coral

bus to the Anagnina stop on Metro Linea A (departues every hour from 6am-11pm). Linea A takes you to Termini station. At night (after 11pm) you will most likely have to take a taxi to and from Ciampino.

Once you are at Rome?s Termini station, you quite simply purchase your ticket or have your railpass stamped and proceed to take a train for Florence.

Amerigo Vespucci Airport, often refered to as Peretola, it is very, very small. There is a local SITA bus to the city centre leaving the airport every hour between 9:40am and 10:30pm. However, don?t be surprised if the schedule is not very regular. It?s advisable to check with the bar at the airport which sells bus tickets and is informed of the unofficial schedule.

A taxi ride from the airport to the historic centre of Florence or to the school costs approximately 17 Euro.

Florence?s Santa Maria Novella station is quite centrally located - a comfortable 10 minute walk from the school.

Be sure to buy a train ticket before travelling. Even though you can buy a ticket on the train, you will be charged a fine and a percentage of the ticket price unless you are travelling at a time in which the ticket office is closed. It really isn?t worth it!

If the ticket office is busy, which it often is - long lines are quite common - there are self-service ticket machines with instructions in several languages.

There is another ticket office, usually less crowded on BINARIO 16 (platform). The DEPOSITO BAGAGLIO (baggage check) is also on BINARIO 16, as is the POLFER (railway police).

Before boarding a train, remember to validate the ticket!! If you do not validate the ticket before boarding the train you will be faced with a stiff fine. The validation machines may be yellow/red/orange and located alongside columns, near the tracks.

Even though Florence does not have a main bus terminal, most buses can be taken alongside the Santa Maria Novella train station. A bus information office is located alongside the station and supplies schedules. Tickets can be purchased from any EDICOLA (newspaper kiosk).

Using Italian buses is quite unlike using North American buses. Enter the bus from the front or the back entrance areas and exit the bus from the central doors. In practice, getting on and getting off the bus involves quite a bit of pushing and shoving, especially when the bus is full. As you are expected to validate your ticket, on your own accord, once you climb on the bus (validation machines are to be found at the rear entrance of the bus), fare dodging is common. Remember, however, that plain clothed inspectors are also quite commonly found on the buses and they freely issue fines at least 50 times greater than the cost of the bus ticket.

If you would like to purchase a monthly bus pass, the school can provide one for you for a cost of approximately 40 Euro. Bus service ends at 12:30am.

ATAF Information office (Florence?s city bus company), Piazza della Stazione –055- 55 65 02 22

Official taxis are white with a Taxi sign on the roof. Only take taxis at official ranks , not offers from strangers at the station. There are additional charges for baggage, for rides between 10pm and 7am, on Sundays and on public holidays, and for journeys to and from the airport. If you phone for a taxi the metre starts running from the moment you book the taxi so by the time it arrives there could already be several thousand lire clocked up.

A 10% tip is expected. In Florence the ranks are to be found at Via Pellicceria, Piazza di Santa Maria Novella and Piazza San Marco.

Italian restaurants have a bewildering variety of names, but in practice there is little difference between a TRATTORIA, OSTERIA or RISTORANTE in terms of price, food or ambience. Both a BIRRERIA and SPAGHETTERIA are more down-market establishments, and sell beer , pasta dishes and snacks. A PIZZERIA is a cheap, informal restaurant with pasta, meat and fish on the menu as well as pizza. It is usually open only in the evening, especially if it has a wood-fired oven.

A ROSTICCERIA offers barbecued style chicken to take out, often with other prepared foods. Most bars sell PANINI (filled rolls) and TRAMEZZINI (sandwiches) and small pizza bars sell PIZZA AL TAGLIO (slices of pizza) to eat while walking through the city.

Italians generally patronize bars to pick up a coffee, quick snack, or to make a phone call or use the washroom (IL BAGNO).

Breakfast is usually UN CAFF? (a short espresso) or UN CAPPUCCINO with UNA BRIOCHE or UN CORNETTO (a jam, custard filled or plain croissant). Other drinks available are UNA SPREMUTA (freshly squeezed fruit juice), UN LIQUORE (a liqueur) and UN BICCHIERE DI VINO (a glass of wine). The cheapest way to buy beer at a bar is on tap, UNA BIRRA ALLA SPINA, either as a PICCOLA, MEDIA or GRANDE measure. Italian bottled beers such as Peroni are also reasonably priced, but foreign beers are expensive.

At a bar, once you have chosen what to eat or drink, you usually must first pay at LA CASSA (the cash desk) and then take LO SCONTRINO (the receipt) to the counter, where you will be served. There are many bars dotted around Florence, and many are convenient for the sights. Some of the most old-world caff?s are Gilli (Piazza della Repubblica), renowned for its cocktails and dates back to 1733, Giubbe Rosse (Piazza della Repubblica), the turn of the century hang-out for artists and writers, Rivoire,expensive but in Piazza della Signoria, in front of the Palazzo Vecchio.

Prices are often higher in Florence than elsewhere. In the less expensive eating establishments and pizzerias you can have a two-course or a fixed price meal, UN MENU TURISTICO, with a half litre of wine for around 10 - 14 Euro. Average prices for a three-course meal are 15 - 38 Euro, and in upscale restaurants you could easily pay 40 - 60 Euro.

Nearly all restaurants have a cover charge, PANE E COPERTO, usually 1 - 2.50 Euro. Many also add a 10% service charge, SERVIZIO, to the bill, IL CONTO, so always establish whether or not this is the case. Where leaving a tip is a matter of your own discretion, 12-15% is acceptable. Restaurants are obliged by law to give you a receipt, UNA RICEVUTA. Scraps of paper with an illegible

scrawl are illegal, and you are perfectly within your rights to ask for a leggible receipt. As a matter of fact, you should always keep the receipt with you upon leaving the restaurant as you may be aked to produce it, if asked by a a police officer, UNA GUARDIA DI FINANZA or VIGILE. If you are not able to produce a receipt you may be fined.

Florence has several good, relatively inexpensive restaurants. We?ve listed just a few that are not far from the school and quite centrally located with prices ranging from 8 - 16 Euro per meal.

• Trattoria Pallottino (Via Isola delle Stinche, 1r) Closed on Mondays. Reasonable fixed-menus from which to choose; well under 15 Euro for a full meal.

• Il Boccale (Borgo SS. Apostoli, 33r) Inexpensive pizzeria, ristorante and birreria. Pizza runs at about 12 Euro but remember that Pane & Coperto is added to the price. Il Boccale also has a reasonable priced fixed-menu.

• Acquacotta (Via de? Pilastri, 51r) Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Quite inexpensive. Typical Tuscan food. Many common pasta, meat and vegetable dishes are served at a very good price. Well worth visiting!

• La Maremmana (Via de? Macci, 77r) Closed on Sunday evenings. Wholesome food, well prepared. Popular for its fixed-price menu.

• Trattoria Mario (Via Rosina, 2r) Open only for lunch. Close to the Mercato Centrale and frequented by students and market traders. Daily specials are listed on a blackboard. Fish is a Friday special, Gnocchi are a Thursday special. The only desserts on the menu is fresh fruit and cantucci (Tuscan biscotti) to dip into glasses of vin santo (traditional wine)

• Le Mossacce (Via del Pronconsolo, 55r) Closed on weekends. Robust Tuscan food, quick service and fixed-price menu is a good buy.

• Ristorante Uffizzi (Via de? Castellani 18-24r) Open for lunch and supper. Fixed menu with varied choices, air conditioning. Evening fixed menu (3 course + beverage) for 13 - 16 Euro.

• Ristorante Alfredo (Via del Proconsolo corner Via dei Neri) Fixed menu (2 course + beverage) for 8 - 15 Euro. There are several other reasonably priced, fixed menu restaurants on Via del Proconsolo, on either side of Via dei Neri.

• Baldovino (Via San Giuseppe 22R) Modern Tuscan food. Great pizza and fantastic salads. Good enoteca (wine bar).

• PIZZA TAXI (43-43-43) One of the few pizza deliveries servicing in the historic centre of Florence. The pizza is quite good (4 - 8 Euro each) and you may also order focaccie, and lasagne (4 - 8 Euro). You may also order drinks (incl. beer and water).

• PIZZA OKEY (28 88 88) Operates from 12:00 - 14:00; 18:30 -22:30. Pizza, salads and pasta dishes.

A restaurant meal will usually start with ANTIPASTI or hors d?oeuvres (ham, olives, salami, crostini), followed by PRIMI (soup, pasta or rice). Main courses - SECONDI - will be meat or fish, either served alone or accompanied by vegetables, CONTORNI, or a salad, INSALATA. To finish the meal there will probably be a choice of fruit, FRUTTA, cheese, FORMAGGIO, desserts, DOLCI, or a combination of all three. Coffee - always espresso, never cappuccino - is ordered right at the end of a meal, often with a DIGESTIVO (digestif).

In less expensive restaurants, the menu may be written on a blackboard, and in many establishments, the waiter, CAMERIERE, will recite the chefs daily specials at your table.

Florentines often end their evening with a PASSEGGIATA (a walk) and UN GELATO (an ice-cream). You can choose between UN CONO (a cone) or UNA COPPA (a cup) and pay by size, usually starting from 2 Euro and working up to 3.50 Euro. Some of the best ice-cream parlors in Florence are Bar Vivoli Gelateria (Via Isola delle Stinche, 7r) and Perch? No (Via dei Tavolini, 19r).

Generally shops open at 9am and close at 1pm. In the afternoon they are open from 4pm to 8pm in the summer. In Florence, shops are closed on Saturday afternoons in summer. Wednesday afternoons food stores are closed. Supermarkets alternate and close either Monday mornings or Wednesday afternoons.

Major credit cards are usually accepted in larger stores and in expensive stores. The smaller boutiques generally prefer cash. Traveler?s cheques are also widely accepted for payment of goods, though the rate is less favourable than at a bank.

The main chain stores in Florence are Rinascente (Piazza della Repubblica), Standa (Via Pietrapiana, near Piazza Salvemini) and the more upscale Coin (Via dei Calzaiuoli, 56r). The big names of Italian fashion are mostly found in Via de? Tornabuoni or in Via della Vigna Nuova

The main bookstores in Florence are Feltrinelli (Via de? Cerretani 30-32r). Chiari (Borgo Allegri,16r) sells second hand art, history and literature books at good prices.

For terracotta and decorative glazed ceramics visit Sbigoli (Via Sant?Egidio, 4r).

Shopping for food should not pose too much of a problem. Standa is an average sized supermarket, not far from Santa Croce, and is usually where most of us shop. Florence also has a variety of markets, indoor and outdoor, which offer a large selection of fresh produce, meats and cheese. The Mercato di San Lorenzo (Piazza San Lorenzo), is an outdoor market which caters mostly to tourists. Nearby, in Via dell?Ariento, is the Mercato Centrale (between Via Nazionale & the back of San Lorenzo), the city?s main food market housed in a two-storey building made of cast iron and glass. On the ground floor are hundreds of stalls selling meat, poultry, fish, cheese and typical Tuscan takeout foods. Fruit, vegetables and flowers are sold on the top floor. This market is open from 7am-2pm daily and 4pm-8pm on Saturday (except from mid June to mid September). Mercato delle Cascine, Tuesdays 7:00-14:00, for food and clothing.

Leather: ROBERTO Pelle ed Accessori (stand #12 (Via San Antonio) ask for Riyad. (store - Via San Antonio 58R)

Prada Outlet: Montevarchi ( train from Florence then 10 minute taxi ride to outlet). Closed 12:00-13:00.

Tennis: Circolo Tennis alle Cascine (Viale Visarno, 055 354 326); ASSI (Viale Michelangelo, 66R, 055 68 26 86)44

Swimming pools: Bellariva (Lungarno Colombo, 6, 055 677 521); Le Pavoniere (Parco delle Cascine - Viale Catena, 2, 055 321 56 - you can also rent rollerblades here and use the park track.

Gyms: Swan (Via dei Pepi, 28, 055 240 802); La Palestra (Via la Farina, 50, 055 247 6363);Ricciardi (Borgo Pinti, 75, 055 478 444)

Florence has many night spots which cater to variety of people, locals and tourists alike. There are several clubs which cater mostly to American students, but keep in mind that it?s most beneficial to you if you frequent a more Italian milieu.

• Angie?s Pub (Via dei Neri 35r) Very Italian (despite the name) and caters mostly to students. They serve imported beer and snack foods at reasonable prices. Open Tues.-Sat. 12:30-3pm and 7pm-1am.

• BeBop (Via dei Servi 76r) A live jazz club that mixes in a bit of blues. Open daily, 9pm-1am.

• Meccan (Viale degli Olmi 1), near Parco delle Cascine. Popular among locals and tourists alike. One of the most frequented dance clubs. 16 Euro cover charge includes 1 drink; each subsequent drink is 6 Euro. Open Tues.-Sun. 11pm-4am. Bus 17C from the Duomo or Santa Maria Novella.

Budget accomodations in Florence are usually one or two star hotels charging from 30 - 50 Euro per person per night. These family-run establishments are generally known as PENSIONI. Most offer a continental breakfast and some have rooms with private bathrooms, but you should not expect particularly high standards of service.

There are several youth hostels in Florence, however many do not accept reservations so we suggest you arrive well before 11am to be assured a bed for the night.

• Ostello della Giovent? Europa Villa Camerata (Viale Augusto Righi 2-4, Florence, 50137) tel. 60 14 51; fax 61 03 00. Tidy and popular but a bit far from the centre of town. Reception is open daily from 1-11pm. Curfew at midnight. 15 Euro per person Reserve by fax.

• Ostello Archi Rossi (Via Faenza 94r) tel. 29 08 04; fax 23 02 601. Two blocks from the train station this new and very clean hostel has a curfew of 12:30pm. 20 Euro per person in a room of 3-9 beds. Breakfast from 2 Euro. Will not accept reservations so arrive early!

We have also listed a few hotels with rates at around 50 - 75 Euro per double room, per night (continental breakfast,tax and service included):

• Hotel Villani - Via delle Oche 11, 50122 Firenze - tel. 239 64 51; fax 21 53 48; evillani@tin.it

• Hotel Locanda Orchidea - Borgo degli Albizi 11 50122 Firenze - tel. 248 03 46

• Pensione Maxim - Via de? Medici 4, 50123 Firenze - tel. 21 74 74; fax 28 37 29

Maggio musicale is a music festival that takes place throughout the city during the month of May. Consult the local paper for venues and performances.

Calcio in costume or Soccer in costume takes place in the month of June and is usually held in Piazza Santa Croce, but the venue varies. This ancient game is a combination of soccer and rugby and involves four teams of 27 men. Each team represents a medieval district, RIONE, of the city and play is often violent and the supporters are very partisan. The final is held at the end of the month and the prize is a live cow.

Almost more spectacular than the match itself is the preceeding procession when Florentines march to the square dressed in Renaissance costume, with trumpets and drums.

June 24 is midsummer and the feast of John the Baptist, the patron saint of Florence. This event is celebrated by a fireworks display at 10pm, best seen from the north bank of the Arno, between Ponte Vecchio and Ponte alle Grazie.

Bicycle Tours - In past years students have had loads of fun taking a bicycle tour of the Tuscan countryside. I Bike Italy (tel. 23 42 371) specializes in organizing one day bike tours. 60 Euro for a full day tour (lunch & wine tasting at a vineyard are included). Pick up and drop off from the Duomo.

Walking Tours - The same company offers walking tours of the countryside. A 5 mile walk through nearby Fiesole includes a picnic lunch for a total of about 60 Euro.

Students are expected to abide by the McGill Code of Student Conduct at all times. McGill students in Florence are also expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and considerate manner. Students should also remember that plagiarism and cheating are condsidered to be extremely serious offences.

2. Take care of the furniture and every other object (linen, kitchenware, etc.) in your apartment. Do not move the furniture. Property damages will be paid for by the student.

3. Utilities in Italy are very expensive. Electricity, gas and water bills can be very high so please take care to switch lights off before you leave the apartment.

4. Be quiet after 11pm. You will be living next to people, young and old that will call the police at the drop of a hat. If you're going to have a party, let your neighbours know in advance.

5. You may not put up your friends in your apartment. The anti-terrorism laws in Italy require that the police be informed of who is residing in any apartment. The school must be informed in advance if you are expecting any guests. Their names and the dates they are expected to stay with you are required.

6. Please note that many stoves are gas operated. There is a safety gas valve in all kitchens to turn gas on and off. When the stove is not in use ensure that the knob is turned off. Always check the stove knobs to ensure that they are in the OFF position.

7. If you have a hot water problem. Do not touch the BOILER. Contact the Housing Agency.

Please be aware that you all read, signed and submitted to us a copy of the following with you application form.

I understand and agree to abide by the following conditions while I am taking McGill's Summer Courses in Italy means that I am accepted and I agree to be subject to the following terms and conditions:

• I shall be subject tot he rules, regulations and policies of McGill, including but not limited to, thoses contained in the Charter of Student Rights and Responsibilities (www.mcgill.ca/secretariat/handbook/student). I understand that McGill may terminate my participation in the program for any reason.

• I will carry sufficient personal, accident and health insurance for the durantion of my stay in Italy.

• I shall be financially responsible for all my expenses while in Florence, Italy, as well as for any damage that I cause to the accommodations or to the teaching centre.

• I shall be respectful of my fellow students as well as other tenants in the apartment building in which I shall reside.

• I will not cause McGill to incur any expense, including but not limited to, telephone, telecommunications, and transportation, and I will promptly and fully reimburse McGill for any expenses incurred.

• I undersand that there will be NO REFUND of any part of the Florence fees after the following dates: 21 April 2006 (for May session students); 14 May 2006 (for June & July students).

• I shall hold McGill harmless from any claims, demands or actions of any kind, and shall indemnify McGill from any loss or expenses incurred, and accept full responsibility for my participation in the program.

• I understand that I have to register for the course through MINERVA before my departure for Italy.

• I accept responsibility for submitting all necessary documentation by the first day of classes in order to complete my registration.

In addition, you also read, signed and agreed to all conditions stated in the application form, including points 1. McGill tuition & 2. Florence tuition.