General Information Official language will be English. BANKING SERVICE Official currency in Italy is Euro. Banks are usually open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm and from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Exchange facilities are available at the airport, in hotels, and at exchange counters. Major credit cards are accepted in Italy. CITY OF NAPLES Tourist information about Naples, please click here Useful numbers, click here CLIMATE IN NAPLES Naples enjoys the wonderful Mediterranean climate with the sun shining 250 days per year. A light wind from the sea usually makes the warmer months of July & August a little more bearable. However, for those not used to the heat are advised to keep to the shade between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm The average temperatures during the summer are between 25° C (77° F) and 31° C (88° F). The autumn months are sometimes damp with rainy days. There is less rain during the winter months when temperatures are between 4° C (40° F) and 11° C (52° F) however, it is not surprising to have sunny days with temperatures around 16° C (61° F) in the middle of January. E.C.M The Italian National Commission for continues Training With reference to the request for accreditation No event 1344 - 10020034 entitled "12TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES " has given 15 (fifteen) credits La Commissione nazionale per la formazione continua (E.C.M.) In riferimento alla richiesta di accreditamento dell'evento n. 1344 - 10020034 dal titolo "12TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES" i crediti formativi proposti dalla Commissione nazionale per la formazione continua sono 15 (quindici) ELECTRICITY SUPPLY Electricity supply in Italy is 220V, 50Hz. The 2-pin or 3-pin connecting plugs are different from those used in some Countries e.g. USA , UK , or Japan . Some hotels may provide suitable adaptors for electric appliances. FOOD AND DRINK Undoubtedly 'pizza' is the symbol of Naples. It is the birthplace of the "Pizza Margherita", made with mozzarella cheese, tomato and basil - each colour representing the red, white and green of the Italian flag. The pizza was created as homage to Queen Margherita when she visited the city. For the famous Neapolitan pizza, look for the genuine Neapolitan pizza oven (a built-in bell-shaped stone oven with a clean tile floor Naples is also famous for its pasta dishes, where spaghetti is often served with "sugo di pomodoro", a tomato sauce or the celebrated " spaghetti alle vongole", with clams. Today even in the most pretentious restaurants you will find in the menus the favourites of the Neapolitan 'cucina povera' such as pasta e fagioli. There are very few bad or tourist restaurants, but an infinity of tiny, family-run trattorie or pizzerie where you are sure to satisfy your tastebuds. Wines of the region are 'Greco di Tufo' a dry white and 'Taurasi' a distinguished red, as well as 'Falerno'. Limoncello is the weel-known liqueur made from lemons from Sorrento & Capri. Naples also produces some great ice-cream and pastries, the most famous are perhaps the "sfogliatella" (wonderful flaky pastries stuffed with ricotta cheese and candied peel), the "babà" (a mushroom-shaped piece of leavened sweet paste, soaked with a miixture of rum and water) 'pastiera napolitana' (every Neapolitan associates this cake made from boiled wheat, Ricotta and candied lemon peel, with Easter)       MOVING AROUND IN NAPLES Shuttle service TOURS_and_METRO_LINE.pdf By plane Napoli's 'Capodichino International' airport (www.portal.gesac.it/portal/page/portal/internet) is well linked with the most important European cities and is just 7kms from the city centre. There is a regular bus service connecting the airport to the main train station 'Napoli Centrale' (approximately every 5 / 10 minutes) By train (www.trenitalia.com ) There are three stations in Naples, interconnected by subway. Napoli Centrale (or Garibaldi), the main station located in Piazza Garibaldi; Napoli Mergellina is located in the town centre; Campi Flegrei is located on the west side of the town. By Metro Go to this website: MetroNapoli Taxi service Would highly recommend booking a taxi via your hotel concierge. If this is not possible you can book a taxis by calling one of the following telephone numbers. To avoid any surcharges it is possible to ask the taxi driver for a ' fixed fare' for specific routes and which must be requested at the beginning of the trip. Radio Taxi Napoli: (+39) 081 5564444 Radio Partenope: (+39) 081 5560202 CO.TA.NA.: (+39) 081 5707070 Transfer and Excursion For assistance to book transfer and excursion please contact the local agency Albireo Travel s.r.l. e-mail address info@albireotravel.it for requests and questions. NEARBY SITES OF GREAT INTEREST Capri, Ischia, Sorrento, Amalfi, Pompei, Caserta, Ercolano, Vesuvius, Positano, Campi Flegrei SHOPPPING IN NAPLES (approximate opening hours 09:30 to 13:00 16:00 to 20:00) Naples is a true shopping paradise and offers some of the finest shopping opportunities in Italy. Naples offers a multitude of small artisan shops primarily selling crafts, antiques, souvenirs and typical products of the neapolitan and italian cuisine. In the characteristic narrow streets in the historic city centre can be found the local delicacies, beautiful ceramic in bright colours and the hand-made nativity figurines. Handicraft has a long tradition in Campania and is still today an important economic factor. The clothes, shoes and leather articles are relatively inexpensive and fashion always offers the current trends. In the historic city, the old quarters of the craftsmen have been preserved despite the changing cityscape. Major Shopping Streets in Naples Via Toledo, Via Chiaia, Via dei Mille & Piazza dei Martiri Via Toledo (from Piazza Dante to Piazza Trieste e Trento) is one of Naples's longest shopping streets, with numerous boutiques, a department store, and branches of the big chain stores. Also along this street is the impressive neoclassical architecture 'Galleria Umberto I'. At the end of the road in Piazza Trieste e Trento, is the elegant, Belle Epoque style Cafè Gambrinus, representing part of Naples's history.        CaféGambrinus Galleria Umberto I        Diagonally opposite the café extends the big Piazza Plebiscito with the Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace). For the keen shopper turn right just before Cafè Gambrinus into the exclusive Via Chiaia, to find mostly brand boutiques, but also antiques and art dealers. The price level continues to increase in the Via dei Mille, the most exclusive street in Naples and where all the designer shops are located. Via San Gregorio Armeno and the alleyways of the historic city A visit should definitely be made to the Via San Gregiorio Armeno, the famous street of the nativity scene makers. where they produce the wonderful miniture nativity figuries. The store at number 42 is especially well known for its copies of famous politicians (Pastori dalle Mani Pulite).        Via San Gregorio Armeno Via Scarlatti (Vomero) The Vomero, situated up on the hill, where the elegant boutiques and shoe stores can be found in Via Luca Giordano or in the smaller pedestrian area, Via Scarlatti. Nearby is Villa Floridiana Park, where you can rest and enjoy the beautiful views. Santa Chiara In the Via San Sebastiano across from the Monastery di Santa Chiara are many music stores that also sell mandolins. Nearby is the street of the booksellers, Via Port' Alba, with stores and booths offering antique books about the Naples of the past. Spaccanapoli        Spaccanapoli Worth seeing are also the creative booths along the Spaccanapoli (a street that splits the city from East to West), from Piazza Gesu up to the Via Duomo. Not only can you have your fortune told from Tarot cards; you can also buy poems, local delicacies, and photos of actors and sports idols. Sometimes, Neapolitan street artists go there to sing their folk songs. Markets in Naples Where you can shop inexpensively and in the typical ambiance of the colourful mixture of skirts fluttering in the wind, fresh vegetables, beautiful pottery and household articles, high-quality textiles, as well as second-hand goods. Recommended Markets are: Mercato di Antignano Medium-sized and easy-to-reach market on the Vomero, offering textiles, shoes, handbags, household articles, second-hand clothes, and a covered food market. Opening hours: 9:00 - ca. 14:00 daily, except Saturdays Address: Close to the Piazza degli Artisti Getting there: Metro line 1 to Piazza Medaglie d'Oro and continue on foot (2 min.). Mercato di Posillipo Located at a parkway lined with stone pines, offering a great view of the Gulf of Naples. Posillipo is one of Naples's most elegant quarters. The market offers fashion, shoes, handbags, household articles, and second-hand clothes. Opening hours: Open only on Thursday mornings Address: Viale del Virgiliano in the quarter of Posillipo Getting there: take the bus to the station Viale del Virgiliano)        Mercato di Antignano TELEPHONE SERVICE Country code for Italy is 0039 and area code for Naples is 081. Public telephones are available for local, long distance and international calls, operating with phone cards (available at news stands, tobacconists and coffee shops), credit cards or coins.