NRDC-ITA Useful Facts for NISIC Members 0 NRDC-ITA Useful Facts for NISIC Members Headquarters NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Italy Ugo Mara Barracks, Via per Busto Arsizio, 20, 21058 Solbiate Olona, VA For all NRDC-ITA Information ask for Newcomers’ Guide available to military personnel. For any questions please contact the FAMILY SUPPORT CENTRE (F.S.C.). You can send an email to [email protected] who is fluent in English and French, and she will help you during office hours. Why Ugo Mara Barracks? Second Lieutenant Ugo Mara born in Busto Arsizio on 7th August 1895, died 31st January 1918 at the Battle for Col de l’Echelle. He was awarded the Silver Medal of Military Valour. Identity Cards Required: Keep a record of them Passport (with at least Required for booking into hotels. six months) NRDC-ITA Pass All Spouses and children over 15 yrs old require one to enter the Caserma. Photographic ID. NRDC-ITA: Parking Pass Check with Car Pass Office. EH111 EU Health Card Codice Fiscale Essential card for use as identity within Italy. Good idea to carry with you all the time. Every member of the family must have one. It is important for enrolling with the Doctor and School, for instance, and buying tax free goods. For further information ask at FSC. Driving Licence 1 CHURCH Catholic Services: Beata Vergine Maria Immacolata, Ugo Mara Barracks Don Cesare Tel: 0331 346 038 or 0331 346 789 Holy Mass from Monday – Friday: 07.15-07.45 (Not on Saturday) Sunday at 11.00. ● Confession by appointment ● Confirmation and Wedding course ● Baptism and Wedding celebrations Anglican Services: 1. All Saints’ Anglican Church, Via Solferino 17, 20121 Milano Vicar: Vikki Simms Tel: 02 655 2258 2. Church of St Edward the Confessor, Via Clemente Maraini 6, 6900 Lugano, Svizzera Chaplain: Fr Nigel (Traditional Service, very friendly, Service in English on Sunday at 10.30am) 3. International Bible Fellowship, Non-denominational Church, Corso Matteotti 55, 21018 Sesto Caldende, VA https://www.ibf.cbinsieme.org o Italian speaking fellowship meets Saturday @ 17.00 with children’s work and meal afterwards. o English speaking fellowship meets Sunday @ 11.15 with children’s work. o Ladies Bible Study o Youth Group o Mid-week groups Greek Orthodox Church, Varese 2 CLUBS NRDC-ITA SPOUSES INTERNATIONAL CLUB (NISIC): https://nisicitalia.wordpress.com/ First Tuesday of most months (except July and August) there is a coffee morning which is held in the Barracks. There is also a ‘drop in’ coffee morning which is usually held in Varese and/or Gallarate. Family members are welcome to all events. If you would like to help run an activity you will be greeted with enthusiasm! We try to have a representative from each Nation on the Board, although it is not necessary to attend the meetings! Volunteers are always welcome! ● Art Tours led by an Art Historian, usually to Museums in Milan ● BLSD Courses – run by the NRDC-ITA infirmary. ● Book Club once a month – language is no barrier! ● Chatty Ladies – volunteers from Italy, UK/USA, Spain and Germany who get together to practice conversation in their mother tongue. ● Coffee Morning in the Caserma, usually on the first Tuesday of each month at 10.30am and an informal coffee morning in Varese, Gallarate or Busto. ● Community Events include Welcome Brunch in October; Halloween/Light Party in November; Christmas Charity Lunch December; Easter Carnival and Summer Lunch. (There is also an annual Gala Ball and International Day). ● Cook with Me in the Barracks or ‘at home’ – learning and cooking different recipes from NRDC-ITA Nations and sharing lunch together ● Creative Club every Wednesday – In the Caserma. A small group of enthusiasts meet to make something different each week. ● Cultural Tours - visiting local sites in our area for spouses and children ● Language Courses run in the Caserma - English and Italian, good for language skills but also good for meeting new people and learning about each others cultures. ● Self-defence Courses run in the Caserma ● Walks led by locals Benvenuto International Club of Varese: http://www.benvenutovarese.org One coffee morning a month and lots of activities arranged. They aim to welcome women of all nationalities and help them make friends. The Club was started 33 years 1 ago and is run on a voluntary basis. The Benvenuto Club of Milan: https://www.benvenutomilano.net FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano): https://www.fondoambiente.it/contatti/ By becoming a member of FAI, you will get discounted entry to their properties and gardens. Reciprocal agreements with similar organisations in other countries eg National Trust UK CAI: Italian Climbing and Walking Club. 3 EMERGENCY NUMBERS PLEASE KEEP THIS WHERE YOU CAN FIND IT! Family Support Centre (FSC) NRDC-ITA Switchboard NRDC-ITA DUTY EMERGENCY CLERK 24 HOURS Ambulance Fire (Vigili del Fuoco) 112 Carabinieri numero unico per le emergenze Police Hospital - 24hrs 0332 278 111 Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, Emergency “pronto Viale Luigi Borri, 57, 21100 VARESE soccorso” Filippo Del Ponte Hospital, Via del Ponte, 19, Paediatric Hospital 0332 299 111 21100, VARESE Hospital 0331 699 111 Via Arnaldo da Brescia, 1 21052 Busto Arsizio, VA IN AN EMERGENCY: Ho bisogno di aiuto. (I need help) Non parlo Italiano. (I don’t speak Italian) Sono militare, NATO, Solbiate Olona. (I am military. NATO Solbiate Olona) Mi chiamo (My name is) Sono qui (I am here, give details) Incidente. Ho bisogno di un’ambulanza / dei vigili del fuoco (There has been an accident. I need an ambulance or fire brigade.) 4 PERSONAL INFORMATION Fill in personal information for all your family. Name Address DOB Codice Fiscale 5 EXPLORE Italy by SEASON There are lots of Festivals throughout the year. The main holiday is in August when many places close for two weeks. 15th August is called Ferragosto. https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/italy/ The first Sunday of the month, entrance is free to many art sites. “Domeniche al Museo”. Visit Italy using our special Guide. We have created a suggestion book about the 22 different Italian regions with personal recommendations from NISIC Members. Look at the NISIC website https://nisicitalia.wordpress.com/ and plan where to go in Italy! Useful Books: 1. Always Sunday The best places around Varese, Lago Maggiore, Como and Milan by Liesbeth Paardekooper. Highly recommended. 50 well researched places to visit. 2. Cicerone Guide: Walking The Italian Lakes (Lakes Garda, Maggiore, Como and d’Iseo in northern Italy). Simple, clear, accurate, easy to follow – no need to buy a map. 3. Dorling Kindersley - Back Roads Northern and Central Italy includes the Lakes, Venice and the Veneto, Tuscany, Umbria and Le Marche. 25 leisurely drives. A great introduction to different areas with lots of interesting things to see and do.. 4. Lombardy 127 Destinations for Discovering Art, History and Beauty by Philippe Daverio Full of good ideas, not much detail! SPRING 1. Lago Maggiore. (Rocca Borromea – Angera; Eremo Santa Caterina, Arona, Stresa, Isole Borromee - Maccagno – Luino - Ispra…) 2. City tours. (Venezia, Genova, Firenze, Roma, Verona, Padova, Torino…) 3. Torino: Egyptian Museum, Museo nazionale del Risorgimento, Palazzo Reale, 4. Laghi Como, Garda, Iseo and Orta 5. Walking in Cinque Terre http://www.cinqueterre.it/ 6. Napoli – Pompei – Amalfi Coast. 7. Ski Resorts: Pila, San Domenico, towards Sestriere, Passo del Tonale a Sud Tirol 8. Battle of the Orange, Ivrea http://www.italia.it/en/travel-ideas/culture-and- entertainment/italian-carnivals/the-carnival-of-ivrea.html 9. Carnevale: Venice, Varese, Viareggio, Cento (FE). 10. Ravenna – Chioggia - Comacchio, and the Po river Estuary. (Emilia Romagna) 11. Norcia, Spoleto, Casteluccio, Montefalco, Assisi (Umbria) 12. Milan: Ambrosiana Gallery, Duomo di Milano, Leonardo da Vinci Museum, La Scala Theatre, Bus tour of the City, Castello Sforzesco, Navigli, Il Cenacolo di Leonardo Da Vinci (The Last Supper), Santa Maria delle Grazie 13. Sicily 14. Palio’s: Horse racing and medieval traditions recalling historical events through competition throughout Italy. Most famous is Siena (2nd July Palio of Provenza and 16th July Palio of Assumption). More locally Palio di Legnano (last weekend of May); Palio di Ferrara (last Sunday in May) and Palio di Castiglione Olona, Varese (first weekend July). Check online for correct dates. 15. Rice is grown all around Novara, Vercelli and also Mantua. Visit locally Riso Rizzotti at Vespolate. Contact Maria Pia [email protected] +39 338 798 2123. On 31st August they hold a dinner and 1st September a lunch to try all the different rice they produce. Reservation essential. All information and programmes on their website. 6 SUMMER 1. Stintino (Sardinia) 2. Lago di Monate (Larice Club, Cadrezzate) 1 3. Sirmione – Salò – Torri del Benaco - Riva del Garda, Lago di Garda 4. Bellagio, Lago di Como - Lido di Menaggio (Como) 5. Ligurian Coast 6. Cerro Beach, Lago Maggiore 7. Lago d’Orta 8. Elba and Tuscany coast – From Marche to Puglia coast sea 9. Navene, Lago Garda 10. Verzasca Valley, Switzerland: Park the car just north of Verzasca, and take the bus up to Sonogno (need Swiss Francs for car park or Credit Card and for the bus), and then walk all the way back following the river down. Fantastic for children and dogs: take a picnic. At the weekends it has become very popular because of the Ponte Romano (Ponte dei salti). https://www.ticino.ch/en/itineraries/details/The- Verzasca-Valley-trail/138529.html 11. Seaside: Lerici, Portovenere, Cinque Terra & Calabria region 12. Gorgonzola Cheese: Learn more about it with Eredi Angelo Baruffaldi SrL, Via Roma 32, 28060 Castellazzo Novarese, NOVARA. Tel: 0321 83717 and also Caseifico Palzola, Via Euopa 21, 2801 Cavallirio, NOVARA Tel: 0163 80940 AUTUMN 1.