General Information
Organizing Secretariat
Viale della Giovine Italia, 17
50122 Florence – Italy
Tel. 0039 055 50351
infoEPS-IPS2024@oic.it
Congress Venue
Palazzo dei Congressi – Piazza Adua, 1
50123 Florence – Italy
Palazzo dei Congressi is a historical venue hosted inside the 19th century Villa Vittoria. This building boasts a prestigious congress hall, the Florence Auditorium, opened in 1969.
Travel Information to Florence
Visa requirements
Nationals of some countries will need a travel-visa to enter Italy (and 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 procure the necessary visa to attend the congress.
Participants should initiate the application process at least 1 to 3 months prior to departure. 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:
Participants are invited to check with their local embassy regarding any Visa requirements to enter Italy.
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” connection T2 with a stop right at the exit of the terminal.
Thanks to the connections with 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 desk 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 (full flight coverage with 18 journeys).
The International Airport of Bologna “Guglielmo Marconi” (IATA code – BLQ) is located 100 km away from Florence. Bologna city centre is connected to Florence by fast train.
The main railway station of Santa Maria Novella is located five minutes away on foot from the entrance of the congress center Fortezza da Basso. The other two railway stations (Rifredi and Campo di Marte) are at a ten-minute distance from the central railway Station of Santa Maria Novella, or connected to it through local trains and city buses. The fast trains Freccia Rossa and Freccia Argento connect Florence with Rome in 1.30h, Milan in 1.40h, Venice in 2h, Turin in 3.30h and many other important Italian cities.
Thanks to OIC Travel it is possible to purchase train tickets with a 40% discount. The discount is applicable for all tickets in First Class and Club Executive/Lounge issued in adult “FLEXI” fare. Refunds are allowed before the departure of the train (with 20% penalty).
It is possible to change your ticket, on the same route, without limits and free of charge within the departure of the purchased train.
In order to take advantage of this offer, you must purchase tickets through OIC Travel by making payment by Credit Card (even remotely) by contacting OIC Travel (tel. 055 5035371)
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.
Letter of invitation
Visa invitation letter can be required during the registration process.
Only participants fully registered to 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 to obtain a visa or permission to attend the Meeting and it is not a commitment from the organizers to cover any kind of expenses or to provide any financial support. All expenses incurred in relation to the conference remain the sole responsibility of the participant.
If you need additional information write to: registrationeps2024@oic.it.
Local Transportation
Both lines T1 and T2 stop at the Main Railway Station at a few steps from the congress venues. T2 connects the city center with Florence airport.
Tram tickets can be bought at the tram stops throughout the city and need to be validated on board.
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.
Most buses stop at the main railway station and therefore near to the convention venue.
Bus tickets can be purchased in most coffee bars and kiosks (Fares update May 2023)
Tickets valid 90 minutes: 1,50 € – Tickets on board: 2,50 €
The tickets are not effective until they are validated into the yellow machines on the bus.
The single ticket is valid for 90 minutes from the moment it is validated.
Tickets can also be purchased on the app TABNET.
Taxis in Florence can be ordered by phone or found at the official taxi stands but they cannot be hailed on the street. Taxis are usually “stationed” at special taxi parking stands in most of the major squares in the city and at the airport.
The telephone numbers to dial to call for a taxi are:
- 0039 055 4242
- 0039 055 4390
- 0039 055 4798
- 0039 055 4499
Useful Information
Currency
The currency in Italy is Euro.
Banks are open from Monday to Friday, generally from 08:30 am to 5:00 pm. ATMs (cash machines) can be accessed 24 hours a day. All banks are closed at 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 includes tickets and priority access to museums, unlimited bus travel on AT (Autolinee Toscana) buses for the 72 hours the Firenze Card is active. Free admission for those under 18 years of age who are members of the same family unit of the Firenzecard holder and European Union citizens.
Shopping
Florence is a shopping paradise; all famous fashion designers 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. From the last weekend of March to the first weekend of October the time zone is Central European Summer Time (CEST).