ITALIAN IN ACTION 2016
CORSO DI ITALIANO PER STRANIERI 2016
A PRIVATE STUDY PROGRAMME
GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Compiled by: Leon Ha
In Collaboration with Marinella Caruso
Programme Facilitators
Dr Marinella Caruso
Mr Leon Ha
Cassamarca Lecturer
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Student Forum
Website: http://tinyurl.com/Bergamo2016FB
ORGANISED BY
SUPPORTED BY
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................. 2
OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................... 3
COURSE STRUCTURE................................................................................... 4
ENROLMENT & FEES .................................................................................... 5
SCHOLARSHIP & TRAVEL INSURANCE...................................................... 6
ACCOMMODATION ........................................................................................ 7
HOST FAMILY.................................................................................................. 7
APARTMENT ................................................................................................... 7
BED AND BREAKFAST ...................................................................................... 7
YOUTH HOSTEL .............................................................................................. 8
GETTING TO BERGAMO ................................................................................... 9
Passport & Visas....................................................................................... 9
Smart Traveller ......................................................................................... 9
Planes ....................................................................................................... 9
Trains ...................................................................................................... 10
GETTING AROUND BERGAMO ......................................................................... 11
Walk ........................................................................................................ 11
Bus .......................................................................................................... 11
Funicolare ............................................................................................... 12
Taxi ......................................................................................................... 12
LIVING IN BERGAMO ................................................................................... 13
BANKING & MONEY ....................................................................................... 13
COFFEE, GELATO & WATER .......................................................................... 13
ELECTRICITY & POWER SOCKETS .................................................................. 14
FOOD & GROCERY ........................................................................................ 14
MOBILE PHONES & PREPAID PLANS ............................................................... 15
SHOPPING .................................................................................................... 15
TIME ZONE DIFFERENCES .............................................................................. 15
WEATHER..................................................................................................... 16
ATTRACTIONS IN BERGAMO ..................................................................... 17
IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS ............................................................... 18
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................ 20
1
INTRODUCTION
This is a private study programme organised by the Centro di Italiano per
Stranieri (CIS) of the University of Bergamo (UNIBG). It is an intensive course
focussing on the Italian language, culture and lifestyle. It can be credited
towards your degree. The course is open to students from all around the
world and is usually held annually from late June to July.
The course is divided into five* different levels (A1, A2, B1, B2 and C1). Upon
arrival, each student is required to sit a language proficiency test. The test
allows the University to arrange students into their respective level. Students
are more than welcome to move from one level to another, should they feel
uncomfortable in the level that they are placed in. Students are also free to
nominate the length of course they wish to participate, i.e. 3 weeks or 4
weeks.
The University of Western Australia (UWA) supports and recognises this
private study programme. The course encourages the students to apply the
language skills they have acquired on campus and put the skills into practice.
It is an excellent opportunity for our UWA students to have first and hands-on
experience of the Italian language, culture and lifestyle. Upon successful
completion of the course, UWA students are entitled to credit this private
study towards:
•
•
•
The Italian major (it can replace a language unit but not a specialist
cultural unit); or
An elective; or
A broadening unit.
Since the introduction of new courses in 2012, the UWA Italian Department
has opened its door to students from faculties other than the Arts Faculty. It is
strongly advisable for all students to seek professional course advice from the
respective Student Advising Office on the subject of credit point accreditation.
Students interested in this program should know that they are expected to
make all arrangements by themselves. This guide will serve as a guide to help
students throughout various stages of the course. For more details about the
private study programme, please visit the UWA website at this link:
http://www.arts.uwa.edu.au/courses/undergrad/study-abroad/italy
* Availability of levels may vary subject to UNIBG.
2
OVERVIEW
The following shows the standard steps or procedures for students who are
interested in the programme.
Step 1
Fill up a pre-approval form. The form is available from the Arts Faculty
Student Advising Office.
Step 2
Fill in an online application form for University of Bergamo (UNIBG).
Step 3
Make an international fund transfer to pay the deposit and secure a spot in the
programme.
Step 4
Apply for scholarship and insurance from the University of Western Australia
(UWA) Study Abroad Centre.
Step 5
Upon successful completion of the programme, fill up an advance standing
form and present your academic transcript (hardcopy) to your allocated
advising office.
3
COURSE STRUCTURE
Upon arrival, all students are required to sit for entry test. This test is essential
for UNIBG to streamline the students into various levels (A1, A2, B1, B2 and
C1) according to their language proficiency level. Should any students feel
uncomfortable at the level that they have been allocated, they are encouraged
to speak to the University by the end of the first week and arrangement can
be made.
Classes run for 5 hours each day Monday through Friday both days inclusive.
Classes generally begin at 9.00 am for 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in
the afternoon. Students are given an hour of lunch break between the two
sessions. Classes are highly interactive and each student is encouraged to
participate in activities to improve their reading, writing, listening and speaking
skills.
At the end of the course (for both 3 weeks and 4 weeks duration), there is a
final exam to assess the students’ knowledge and understanding. Upon
successful completion, students are entitled to apply for 6 credit points (CP) to
be transferred to their home degree at UWA. Students will be able to view
their final results online on the UNIBG website. UNIBG will post a hard copy
letter and academic transcript to your nominated postal address in October.
4
ENROLMENT & FEES
Students interested in the private study programme have to enrol through the
UNIBG website. Students should acknowledge that it is each individual’s
responsibility to enrol for the course before the closing date set by UNIBG.
The online enrolment form can be found on http://tinyurl.com/CISEnrolment2.
The enrolment form is in both English and Italian.
Please nominate an email that you will check regularly and it is entirely the
student’s responsibility to check their nominated email account on a regular
basis and to pay the deposit by 30 April 2016.
The tuition fee for all levels is as follows:
Duration
3 weeks
4 weeks
Amount (€)
500
600
For the latest conversion rate, please consult your local bank or currency
exchange kiosk. For iOS users, there are many apps available on the App
Store. XE Currency and Currency are both reliable apps and are available for
free.
UWA students are entitled to a 15% discount. The table below shows the total
amount each student has to pay for the course, depending on the duration of
the course they intend to participate for. You are still required to pay the
deposit (€220) with the discounted amount.
Duration
3 weeks
4 weeks
Discounted Amount (€)
425
510
Payments have to be made in a local bank. Speak to your local bank about
international fund transfer and please find the payment details below:
Should your bank require further information about UNIBG address, please
refer to the Important Contact Details section.
5
SCHOLARSHIP & TRAVEL INSURANCE
The Study Abroad Office from UWA offers scholarships and travel insurance
to eligible students participating in the short-term private study programme.
The scholarship will be awarded to successful students upon completion of
the course. From past experience, most students who applied for the
scholarship are rewarded the scholarship upon returning from the private
study programme.
Travel insurance is offered by UWA too but it will only cover the students over
the course duration in Bergamo. It is offered to UWA students who have
purchased
their
flights
through
either
Campus
Travel
(http://www.campustravel.com.au)
or
STA
Travel
(http://www.statravel.com.au). There is a STA Travel agent located on the first
floor of the Guild Village. The travel insurance generally does not cover the
travel period and the weekend where students usually visit other cities in Italy
or other countries. Please read the product disclosure statements (PDS)
carefully during application. It is strongly advised that students pick up their
extra individual insurance policy to cover themselves for the entire period of
travel.
Scholarship applications are now open and will close on 29 April 2016.
Applications can be done online through the following link:
https://www.globalstudio.uwa.edu.au/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewP
rogram&Program_ID=10001. Students are advised to check their student
email regularly and it is the students’ responsibility to keep track of their
scholarship application.
For more information on scholarship and travel insurance, please visit the link
http://www.international.uwa.edu.au/students/exchange/short-term-programs
or speak to one of the staff at the Study Abroad office.
6
ACCOMMODATION
At the enrolment stage, students are prompted to choose the type of
accommodation they wish to stay in when they are living in Bergamo. UNIBG
provides four different types of accommodation, i.e.:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Host family
Apartment
Bed and breakfast
Youth hostel
Host Family
Students who want to stay with a host family have the choice to stay in a
single room (€190/week) or double room (€160/week). A double room
indicates that the student will be sharing the room with another person. A host
family is ideal for students whose culinary skills are somewhat
underdeveloped. The host family option includes breakfast and dinner for the
student. Upon arrival, it is strongly recommended that students discuss the
payment option with their respective host family.
Students choosing to stay with a host family must also state if they have any
diet restrictions and/or allergies that the host family needs to be aware of.
Students should be aware that smoking is very common in Italy and students
with asthma should make a note during enrolment so UNIBG can allocate a
non-smoking family for the students. Students allergic to animals such as cats
and dogs should state this in the enrolment form too.
Apartment
Students who choose to stay in an apartment (€350/month) will be allocated
in an apartment either in Città Alta or Città Bassa. In general, student will be
allocated with other students from the university. Students who choose this
option will not have food included. However, there are supermarkets and delitype shops around Bergamo and students should not find it hard to buy their
groceries. Details on living in Bergamo will be covered in the later part of this
survival guide.
Bed and Breakfast
For the past few years this has been a popular choice among students from
UWA. The price range is from €35 to €40 a day and it includes breakfast. It is
a very interactive environment as students from the same university would be
living together under the same roof. Past students have given positive reviews
about their experience staying at Bergamo Sottosopra. For more details on
this bed and breakfast, students can see its Facebook page on this link:
http://www.facebook.com/BergamoSottosopra. Students are still required to
book this accommodation through UNIBG.
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Students choosing to stay at the Bed and Breakfast must also state if they
have any diet restrictions and/or allergies that the host needs to be aware of.
Students should be aware that smoking is very common in Italy and students
with asthma should make a note during enrolment so UNIBG can allocate a
non-smoking premise. Students allergic to animals such as cats and dogs
should state this in the enrolment form too.
Youth Hostel
From past experiences, this is the least popular option among all the four
available options as the price is not fixed yet and the youth hostel may not be
in the proximity of the university. Students are welcomed to choose to stay in
a youth hostel and are welcomed to write to Marinella or Leon about their
experience upon returning to Australia.
As most accommodation providers accept cash payment only, please prepare
sufficient cash (at least for the first week) upon arrival at Bergamo. There are
ATM machines around Bergamo for you to withdraw cash. More details about
banking and money will be covered later in this survival guide. Please note
that UNIBG will charge €40 fee for sorting out accommodation for students.
At any point of your stay, should you not be happy or satisfied with anything,
please do not hesitate to approach the secretary of CIS of UNIBG, Giovanna
Beghini. Arrangement could be made to help improve your experience and
stay in Bergamo.
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TRANSPORTATION
Getting To Bergamo
Passport & Visas
Students travelling on an Australian passport do not need a visa to enter Italy
if the total duration of stay in Italy does not exceed 90 days. For this case,
students can stay in the country as a tourist even the purpose of travel is
education. However, should you need to stay in Italy for more than 90 days,
please consult the Italy Consulate in Perth to obtain the right visa to stay in
the country.
Students travelling on an Italian or any European passport are encouraged to
enter the country with their Italian or European passport to avoid border
control, immigration and visa issues or limit of stay in the country.
Students travelling on passports other than the passports stated above may
be required to apply for a visa to enter the country. It is strongly advisable to
check with the Italy Consulate in Perth or check for any visa requirement
online: http://www.esteri.it/visti/home_eng.asp.
Please make sure your passport does not expire within six (6) months upon
your international departure from Perth Airport, i.e. if you are leaving Perth in
June 2016, your passport should expire later than January 2017. If you are
eligible to apply for or renew your Australian passport, please visit:
https://www.passports.gov.au/Web/index.aspx. International students may
need to apply or renew your passport through your country’s embassy or
consulate.
Smart Traveller
All Australians travelling overseas are encouraged to register their travel
itinerary and plans with the Australian government. It is essential that
Australian students register with the Australian government in case of
emergencies overseas or in Australia, current events, abnormal weather,
threats to Australians, and election calls. This is to help the government to
keep track of your current location and whereabouts. For more information
please visit: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/.
Planes
Bergamo has an airport, Orio al Serio International Airport (BGY). It is an
airport oriented around low-cost airlines and predominantly handles airlines
from around the European region. The nearest airport that handles airlines
from around the world is Malpensa International Airport (MXP) in Milan. From
Milan, students can easily catch Trenitalia from Milan to Bergamo.
There are no direct flights from Perth to Milan. However, there are several
airlines that will connect passengers from Perth to Milan with only one transit,
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e.g. if a student wish to stop by Dubai, then the flight route will be PER – DXB
– MXP and returning route will be MXP – DXB – PER.
Airline
Cathay Pacific
Emirates
Etihad Airways
Qatar Airways
Singapore Airlines
Thai Airways
Stopover City
Hong Kong
Dubai
Abu Dhabi
Qatar
Singapore
Bangkok
Airport Code
HKG
DXB
AUH
DOH
SIN
BKK
The table above shows flight route with only one transit point and airlines that
serve both the Perth and stopover city route and the stopover city and Milan
route. Passengers are allowed to check in their luggage directly from Perth to
Milan without the hassle to check in their luggage again at the stopover city.
Students who wish to minimise expenditure can choose to fly to a stopover
city such as Singapore from Perth with budget airlines such as: Jetstar and
Scoot. For more flight options, please speak to a travel agent such as Flight
Centre, STA etc. There is an STA office located in the Student Guild Village.
Upon arrival at Malpensa International Airport, students can choose to catch
another domestic flight from Milan to Bergamo or take a train from Milano
Centrale to Bergamo. The latter is a more popular option as the train takes
approximately an hour to travel between Milan and Bergamo.
Trains
After clearing all customs and immigrations and collecting luggage, students
can follow the signs around the airport to the train station. Tickets from the
Malpensa International Airport to Milano Centrale can be purchased from the
nearby machines. It is strongly advised that students carry smaller notes with
them as some machines may not take big notes.
Upon arrival at Milano Centrale, be prepared to see a huge crowd. Make your
way out from the train station but do not leave the building. As you walk out
from the train station, take the escalators down two floors. You will see the
large Trentitalia sign and a row of ticketing machines. The ticketing machines
display up to four different languages, English included and you can purchase
your train ticket to Bergamo. Note that some locals may come up to you to
offer you a helping hand to purchase the tickets. Kindly reject their offer by
saying “No thank you” in English or “No grazie signor/signore. Faccio da solo.”
This is because they are expecting you to give them all the change from the
ticket in return.
After buying the train tickets, make your way up the escalator to the train
station. There are train schedules on big screens. Look out for which platform
you should board your train. As you walk into each platform, there is a yellow
box. Insert your train ticket that you have bought from the ticketing machine
earlier to validate your ticket. It is important for you to validate your ticket as
10
controllers will walk around the train to check the passengers’ tickets. For
more info, you can visit Trenitalia website here: http://www.trenitalia.com.au.
The train ride from Milano Centrale to Bergamo takes approximately an hour.
Prior to your arrival in Bergamo, it is strongly recommended that you have
established some communication between you and your host family, the Bed
& Breakfast host, or the main contact of your accommodation. In your
communication, make sure you seek for advice how to get to your
accommodation.
When you get off from the Bergamo train station, you should see directly in
front of you a McDonalds and a bus station which is on your right. Between
McDonalds and the bus station, there will be a tourist information center.
Please see the appendices for Google Map view of the Bergamo train station.
Getting Around Bergamo
Walk
Bergamo is divided into two parts: Città Alta (upper city) and Città Bassa
(lower city). Walking around Bergamo on foot is easy and there are road signs
to guide yourself. You can get a city map at the tourist centre which is
diagonally on your right as you step out from the train station.
In Città Bassa, most of the roads are made of bitumen and concrete so it is
fairly easy to walk around. If you are doing some exploring around the city, it
is advisable to wear a pair of good walking or running shoes. If you are after
some retail therapy along Via XX Settembre, a pair of thongs or sandals may
be sufficient.
In Città Alta, most of the roads are covered with stones and pebbles. Unlike
UWA where most buildings are concentrated at one area or campus, UNIBG
is scattered over Città Alta and Città Bassa. The main building for CIS is
situated at Città Alta. It is recommended that you pack a pair of good walking
or running shoes as you maybe required to walk from one building to another
at Città Alta.
Bus
There are public buses to catch around Bergamo. Transport within Bergamo
is provided by ATB. ATB buses provide services around Città Bassa and Città
Alta. There are many ways to move between Città Bassa and Città Alta. You
can catch Line 1 buses (1, 1A, 1B and 1C) which carry passengers from the
lower city to the upper city and vice versa.
It is strongly recommended that you purchase a multiple travel pass that can
save you money. These multiple pass tickets can be purchased from any
magazine stalls around the city. It is important that you validate your travel
pass by inserting it into a box (similar to what you would have done if you
have taken the Trenitalia train from Milano Centrale to Bergamo).
11
For more information about bus routes and charges, please visit:
http://www.atb.bergamo.it
Funicolare
This is another option for you to travel between Città Alta and Città Bassa. All
Line 1 buses will make a stop at a Funicolare Ticket Station. At the ticket
station you can use the same multiple pass you use for ATB buses. You can
catch the funicolare to go up and down the city.
At Città Alta, there is another funicolare that carries passenger between Città
Alta and San Vigilio. More details about tourist attractions around Bergamo
will be covered in later section of this guide.
Taxi
There are taxis around Bergamo and the taxi drivers go by meter. Not all taxi
drivers speak English so it is important to learn some basic phrases to help
you to give directions to the taxi drivers if necessary.
To call for a taxi in Bergamo, call +39 035 4519090.
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LIVING IN BERGAMO
Banking & Money
In Bergamo, cash, credit card and debit card facilities are available at most
outlets. However, some shops may only accept cash so it is strongly advised
to have some cash in your pocket at all time. Like all overseas travel, it is
important to be careful of your valuable personal belongings such as money
and mobile phones as in some areas (e.g. railway stations) there is a risk of
pickpocketing. Generally speaking, Bergamo is quite safe but low crime rate
does not mean zero crime rate.
There are many travel debit cards available in Australia. Most banks these
days offer a travel prepaid Master or Visa card which allows you to load
money from your current account into the travel cards and your nominated
foreign currency. There are other travel debit cards offered by the Australian
Post, Qantas and Virgin Australia. Qantas and Virgin Australia allow you to
collect frequent flyer points, if linked to your frequent flyer account, whenever
you pay using the travel card that they issue. Please visit your bank, Australia
Post, Qantas or Virgin Australia website for more details on how you can use
travel debit cards overseas.
If you need to withdraw cash from any ATM machines in Italy, make sure you
speak to your bank prior to your arrival in Italy. Different banks have partnered
with different overseas bank to provide zero-fee transaction when you use the
ATM machines overseas. Please visit your local bank to obtain more details
on managing your money while overseas.
Coffee, Gelato & Water
Drinking coffee is an important aspect of the Italian culture and lifestyle. While
you are in Bergamo or travelling around Italy and if you happen to be a coffee
lover, you can easily find coffee shops around Città Alta and Città Bassa.
When you order caffè, it is simply a cup of espresso shot. Caffè doppio means
double espresso shots. In Bergamo and Italy, you can also find other types of
coffee such as caffèlatte and cappuccino. Be aware that most Italians have
their coffee as standing up at the bar as sometimes it may costs extra to sit
down and enjoy a cup of coffee.
Around Città Alta you can find many shops selling gelato. In the past, many
students have taken their lunch break to explore Città Alta and they have
found some nice shops selling gelato. One of the famous shops is located at
Piazza Vecchia and it sells a wide range of gelato. There are also sorbets
available for anyone with lactose intolerance.
Tap water in Italy tastes different from tap water in Perth, which is why Italians
commonly buy bottled waters. You may boil tap water or use a filtering jug
during your stay in Italy. In Piazza Vecchia, there is a water fountain and most
people would drink water off from the fountain or refill their water bottles from
13
the fountain. It is also important to stay hydrated at all times even though the
summer in Bergamo might not be as hot as the summer in Perth.
Electricity & Power Sockets
Electricity in Italy, as in the rest of Europe, comes out from the wall socket
with 220 volts. The power sockets in Italy is different than that in Australia so it
is strongly recommended that you buy an adapter prior to your arrival in Italy.
These days there are traveller adapters that come with a USB port so you can
charge your smartphones and tablets directly without a plug. For more
information about electricity and power sockets in Italy, see the website:
http://goitaly.about.com/od/travelpackingtips/l/bl_electricity_italy.htm
Food & Grocery
Lunch is not provided for all accommodation options. There are many
pizzerias, shops and restaurants around Bergamo and it is definitely worth the
adventure exploring food places for lunch.
One of the popular foods in Bergamo is polenta. It is made of corn and
mashed into porridge. It is served with meat or vegetables. If you catch a
funicolare from Città Bassa to Città Alta and as you walk out from Café
Funicolare, across the street slightly on your left there is a small stall at the
corner that sells polenta. There are various toppings (pork, chicken, beef or
vegetables) and at a reasonable price. It is one of the popular choices among
students during lunch hour as it is within walking distance from the university.
Italy is the home to authentic pizza. Around Città Alta there are many
pizzerias that sell different flavours of pizzas. It is again a common and
popular choice among the locals and Australian students. There are many
cafés, bars and restaurants around Bergamo. Bergamo is an easy city to walk
around and explore on foot. It is important as part of an overseas study
experience to explore a city by yourself.
There are two main supermarkets located in Città Bassa: Billa and Pam. You
can find most of your daily needs such as bread, meat, fruits and vegetables
dairy products etc. in the supermarket. Debit and credit cards are accepted in
the two supermarkets.
Billa
Address
Via G. Tiraboschi 53, 24100 Bergamo
Business Hours
Monday – Sunday: 8.00 am – 8.00 pm
Note: Billa is located underneath OVS. OVS is a clothing chain store which is
quite popular across Italy. You need to walk inside the clothing store and
there will be sign to guide you to the supermarket.
Pam
Address
Business Hours
Viale Camozzi 115, 24125 Bergamo
Monday – Sunday: 8.00 am – 8.00 pm
14
Mobile Phones & Prepaid Plans
Roaming fees can be very expensive and it is strongly recommended that you
purchase a local prepaid SIM card upon arrival. Remember to turn off the
data-roaming feature on your smartphones prior to leaving Perth. Some
mobile phones may be locked or commonly known as SIM-locked to your
local Australian mobile companies. Speak to your local mobile company to
unlock your phone if you wish to continue using your phones overseas. Note
that some phone unlocking process may incur fees.
Once you have unlocked your mobile phones and tablets, you can purchase
prepaid SIM card and use your mobile phones and tablets as usual. There are
few mobile companies in Italy: Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM), Vodafone, Wind
(Italy) etc. From past experience, TIM has the best coverage and deals for
prepaid users. It is strongly advisable that you shop around the companies
website to help you decide which package is the most suitable for you. If you
wish to visit another country during the duration of your stay, please check the
roaming rates and charges.
Similar to Australia, you would need to provide a photo ID for photo
verification when you purchase a SIM card in any outlets. Passport is
accepted as a form of photo ID across Italy.
If your smartphone is consuming battery quickly, it is wise to pack a power
bank with you to save yourself from unnecessary anxiety and stress should
your smartphone runs out of battery when you are out and about exploring the
city or travelling.
Shopping
There are two main shopping areas in Bergamo. Sales in Italy generally begin
on the first Saturday of July and you can expect massive discounts even for
many local and international brands and some designer labels. In Città Bassa
at Via XX Settembre, there are numerous international brands such as: Calvin
Klein, Max Mara, Sephora, Timberland, Zara and others.
The other popular shopping destination is the Oriocenter Shopping Centre
which is located directly opposite the Orio al Serio International Airport.
Oriocenter shopping centre offers a wider range of brands such as: Calvin
Klein, Diesel, H&M, Tommy Hilfiger, Zara and others. ATB Bus 1C provides
regular services between the shopping centre and the city centre.
Time Zone Differences
Bergamo adopts daylight saving in summer (GMT+0200) it is 6 hours behind
Perth (GMT+0800).
15
Weather
Weather in Bergamo throughout the months of June and July is considered to
be nice and pleasant. It can get hot and humid during this period and it is
common to have some rain in Bergamo. The temperature will gradually warm
up towards the end of July. Throughout these two months, the temperature
should range between 15ºC to 35ºC. It is important to stay hydrated at all
times. Sunscreen is your personal choice.
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ATTRACTIONS IN BERGAMO
Bergamo had a population of approximately 120,000 in December 2011. This
city has many attractions to offer to tourists. The following list shows some of
the major tourist attractions around Bergamo:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Piazza Vecchia
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Colleoni Chapel
Campanone
Donizetti Theatre
The Archaeology Museum
The Science Museum
The Donizetti Museum
Orto Botanico Lorenzo Rota
San Vigilio
There are still many other things to see and do around Bergamo or around the
Lombardy regions. It is virtually impossible to cover everything in this study
guide so students are encouraged to plan their weekends or holiday wisely
prior to departure. This survival guide focuses primarily on Bergamo only.
Instagram can be a good place to start to search for travel inspiration in and
around Bergamo.
The Bergamo Tourist Centre has launched an app in the app store for iOS
users. There are many other useful websites that can help you to plan your
trip to Bergamo and around Italy or Europe such as:
•
•
•
•
•
TripAdvisor
Lonely Planet
Airbnb (for accommodation)
Booking.com (for accommodation)
Expedia (for flights and accommodation)
Most of these websites have designed app for both iOS and Android users.
Most of all make the most out of your time in Bergamo, Italy and/or Europe.
This will be an enriching and fantastic experience. It will be a winter break that
you wil never forget. It is normal to feel a little homesick or anxious in the first
few days upon arrival but once you get the ball rolling you will find yourself
immersing in the local community, culture, food, language and lifestyle. Be
prepared to come back to Perth with an exponentially improved Italian,
whether it is written or spoken. It is normal to come back home and missing
the delicious and authentic pastas, pizzas and gelatos and more from Italy!
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IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS
Segreteria CIS, University of Bergamo
Address
Telephone
Business Hour
Via Salvecchio 19, 24129 Bergamo (Città Alta)
+39 035 2052407
Monday – Wednesday: 9.00 am – 12.00 pm
Tuesday – Thursday: 2.00 pm – 4.30 pm
Emergency Contacts in Bergamo
•
•
•
•
Police in Bergamo
Via Noli Alessandro 14
+39 035 286511
Railway Police
Piazza Marconi Gugliemo
+39 035 248007
Pronto Farmacia
+39 800 801185
This is a 24-hour service and will direct you to your nearest pharmacy.
Aziende Sanitarie Locali (ASL)
Via Gallicciolli 4, 24121 Bergamo
+39 035 385111
http://www.asl.bergamo.it
ASL is the emergency line in Bergamo to call for ambulance.
Taxi Contact in Bergamo
Telephone
+39 035 4519090
Tourist Information Bergamo
Address
Website
Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII 57, 24121 Bergamo
http://www.turismo.bergamo.it/turismobergamo/
Italy Consulate in Perth
Address
Telephone
Business Hour
Level 2/1292, Hay Street, West Perth, 6005 WA.
08 9322 4500
Monday – Tuesday: 9.00 am – 1.00 pm
Wednesday: 9.00 am – 12.00 pm, 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm
Thursday – Friday: 9.00 am – 12.00 pm
Australian Embassy and Consulate in Italy
•
•
Australian Embassy Italy
Via Antonio Bosio 5, 00161 Rome
+39 06 852721
Australian Consulate-General, Milan
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•
Via Borgogna 2 (third floor), 20122 Milan
+39 02 77674200
Monday – Thursday: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Friday: 9.00 am – 4.15 pm
Consular Emergency Centre, Canberra (Toll free from Italy 24hr)
80087779
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, I would like to thank University of Bergamo (UNIBG) for
their ongoing support for our University of Western Australia (UWA) students
over the years. Without them planning and organising their summer intensive
course, our students from many years would not have the opportunity to apply
what they have learned here in Perth into practice. The private study
programme has also provided many of our students a golden opportunity to
live in Italy and have a taste of the Italian culture, food, language and lifestyle.
Without doubt I am sure in many years to come, should this collaboration
between UNIBG and UWA continue, many students will continue to benefit
from this programme.
I would also like to extent my gratitude to Dr Marinella Caruso for entrusting
me with the task to put everything we have known about this private study
programme over the years into a survival guide to provide guidance to
prospective students interested in the programme. Knowing that students will
benefit in one way or another from this guide makes the effort worthwhile.
This guide will not be possible without the ongoing support from Dr Caruso.
The amount of personal time we spend outside our working hours to put
everything together are countless but again, my intention has always been the
same: to share advice, experience and knowledge with other students and to
create a better education for all our UWA students.
Last but not least, I would like to thank students from the past who have been
actively involved to share their experience and stories with our prospective
students. It is all these valuable and priceless first-hand experience that has
raised inspiration among the prospective students to consider this
programme. Whilst there are many past students who have contributed to
make this survival guide a reality, I would like to thank specifically a few
outstanding and notable students: Emma Dyce, for coming to talk and share
your experiences and stories to our students and proof reading this document
over and over while you are on the trains in America; Alexander Smith, for
giving me wonderful feedbacks and ideas into this book and proof reading this
guide over and over again; Katherine Parkes, for sharing with me important
information and proof reading this guide; Kirra Somerville, for your
constructive comments and ideas that help to make this guide a reality. I
hereby thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.
As we continue to build on this solid relationship between UWA and UNIBG in
the years to come, I look forward to improve this guide in the future with more
concise and up-to-date information for the benefits of our prospective
students.
I hope you enjoy using this book as much as I do writing and editing it!
Viva l’Italia!
Leon
January 2016
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