Getting to Prato
Prato is the second-largest city in Tuscany, Italy. It is located about 20 mins from Florence. The school is held at Monash University's Prato Centre, in Palazzo Vai, Via Pugliesi, 26, 59100 Prato PO, Italy. Note that the centre is closed on the arrival day (Sunday) so please just make your way directly to your hostel or hotel. After checking in, you may want to check that you can find the centre so that you can be there promptly for the first session on Monday morning.
Map of Prato
- Google map showing locations of interest to the school including train stations, hotels, the centre, and more.
Visas
Italy is part of the Schengen region of Europe. To enter Italy, you may need a (Schengen) visa. The information here may be helpful in determining if you need a visa.
Airports
There are three international airports near Prato. The closest is Florence, but it is relatively small and only has a limited number of connections. Alternatives that are also easily reachable are Pisa and Bologna. At the time of writing, there are direct services to the following cities from each of the three airports:
Florence airport (Peretola)
Expect 25 mins by car, 40 mins by bus. One-way taxi ~ 40-50 EUR. Bus operated by CAP every 15 mins just outside airport area on main street (buy tickets at news agents “Tabacchi” or on board bus). To arrive at Monash Centre, get off in via del Ceppo Vecchio just before the castle (Castello deell’imperatore), then ~ 3 mins by foot.
Direct services include (note: others may be available as well - check online for most recent schedules):
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Amsterdam
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Barcelona
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Bruxelles
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Dusseldorf
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Frankfurt
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Geneva
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London LCY
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Madrid
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Monaco
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Paris CDG, ORY
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Vienna
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Zurich
Bologna airport (BLQ)
Expect 30 mins (by bus or taxi from airport) to Bologna train station, then 50 mins by regional train to Prato, not counting transfer time.
Direct services include (note: others may be available as well - check online for most recent schedules):
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Amsterdam
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Barcelona
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Brussels
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Casablanca
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Cologne/Bonn
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(Copenhagen; note early departure Friday at 1430)
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(Dubai; early departure Friday at 1520)
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Duesseldorf
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Frankfurt
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Istanbul
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London LHR STN
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Lyon?
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Madrid
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Moscow (note: late departure from BLQ on Sat 00:10)
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Munich
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Paris CDG
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Prague
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Sofia
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Vienna
Pisa airport (e.g., Easyjet, Ryanair)
Expect 2 hours by train or 70 mins by Terravision bus to Firenze Santa Maria Novella Train station in Florence, then short train ride from there to Prato.
Direct services include:
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Amsterdam
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Berlin
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Bruxelles
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Cologne/Bonn
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Doha
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Eindhoven
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London LGW LTN STN
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Monaco
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Paris ORY
In Prato
Map of Prato
- Google map showing locations of interest to the school including train stations, hotels, the centre, and more.
