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2012 Conference
8th Congress of the IAHN
7-10 October, 2012 Paestum
(Salerno, Italy)
Practical Information
Banking Services
Banks in Italy are open Monday through Friday, usually from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., although opening and closing hours vary slightly from bank to bank, and some offer a service in the afternoon as well. ATMs tend to be accessible 24 hours a day.
Climate
Southern Italy and the islands have a Mediterranean climate. Summers are long, hot and dry, and winter temperatures tend to be relatively moderate, with daytime averages not too far below 10C. These regions are also affected by the humid sirocco in summer. September is usually nice and warm in the Salerno area, with temperatures around 25C / 77F. |  | Currency Exchange
The unit of currency in Italy is the euro (see image to the right for the sign of this European currency). It is largely a "cash and carry" society. Credit cards are not as widely accepted in Italy as they are in the US, for instance, so you should not count on using them for buying train tickets in small train stations, shopping for groceries and day-to-day expenses in general. Larger train stations will accept credit cards. However, do not arrive at the station expecting them to take your card. It is best to carry cash for typical day-to-day purchases such as groceries and personal supplies. Credit card usage and the number of stores accepting them are increasing. MasterCard and Visa are the most widely accepted, followed by American Express.
Electricity
Electricity in Italy is 220V, 50 Hz.
Opening Hours
Hours of operation can differ significantly in Italy. Remember to remain flexible when needing to get currency, purchase a particular product or go to a restaurant. Most stores are open from approximately 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Clothing stores are usually closed on Monday morning or sometimes the entire day, while grocery stores generally close Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Restaurants often close on either Monday or Tuesday. Except in tourist areas, stores are generally closed on Sundays. Store hours are usually posted.
|  | Passport and Visa
Participants from countries of the European Union only need a valid document certifying their identity and citizenship. We strongly recommend nationals from countries not belonging to the European Union to check with the local Italian embassies on the passport and visa requirements to enter Italy. If you need a letter of invitation to obtain a visa, please contact the local organizers.
Telephones
To call Paestum from abroad, dial the international code valid in your country (00 in most European countries, 011 in the USA), followed by 39 (the country code for Italy), and 0820 (the local number for Paestum). To call abroad from Italy, you have to dial 00 before the country code and following numbers.
Time Zone
Italy is in the Central European Time Zone CET/CEST (GMT+1 / GMT+2). Daylight Saving Time or Summer Time in Italy begins on the last Sunday in March at 1:00 a.m. UTC and ends on the last Sunday in October at 1:00 a.m.
Tipping
You are not expected to tip on top of restaurant service charges but you can leave a little extra if you feel service warrants it. If there is no service charge, the customer should consider leaving a 10% tip, but this is not obligatory (though it seems to be common practice). In bars, Italians often leave small change as a tip. Tipping taxi drivers is not common practice, but you are expected to tip the porter at top-end hotels.
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