OCAD University Faculty of Art Florence Program STUDENT HANDBOOK 2019/2020 Studio Address: Via Bonifacio Lupi 14 2° Piano FIRENZE 50129 Italia Inquiries can be directed to: Vivian So, Program Assistant, Faculty of Art 416.977.6000 ext 307 / [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages 1. Introduction 3 Emergency / Useful Telephone Numbers 4 2. Accommodation and Accessibility 5 3. Getting Things Done 6 4. Housing/Hotels 7 5. Restaurants 12 6. Contemporary Art Galleries 16 7. Shopping: Art Supplies / Special Resources 18 Food / Household 23 Other 26 8. Reading: Bookstores 28 Libraries 29 9. Banking and Finances 30 10. Transportation / Travel 33 11. Services: Post Office 37 Telephone and Internet Medical Insurance (OHIP, travel health insurance) Medical Services Personal Safety Police / Lost and Stolen Goods Laundry Lesbian / Gay Resources Churches 12. Entertainment: Cinemas 46 Clubs and Music Ballet/Dance/Opera/Theatre Sports/Recreation 13. Packing 49 14. Comments and Suggestions from Students 49 2 1. INTRODUCTION The Faculty of Art Florence Program (formerly the OCAD University Florence Off-Campus Studies Program) was established in 1974. Since then our campus in Florence has annually provided a rich and challenging cultural experience for both students and faculty at OCAD U. This European campus offers a facilitated, directed study approach to learning and is open each year to a limited number of students from all areas that have completed at least two years of study. While in Florence, students develop a body of work in a communal studio setting and study art history amidst a backdrop of architectural and artistic treasures from the Italian Renaissance. The studio component of Faculty of Art Florence Program is coordinated each year by different faculty members from our Toronto campus, while the history component is taught by our Florence resident expert on Italian art history. The Faculty of Art administers this program and facilitates students’ preparation for their studies abroad. The Faculty of Art Florence Program includes two different levels of learning: 300 level and 400 level. We began this publication in 1975/76; the program had been founded by Franklin (Archie) Arbuckle the previous year. Updates are completed each year by students and faculty. It would be appreciated if each one of you would write any new or different information into your books throughout the academic year in Florence. Your successors will be as grateful as you are now that this information is at your fingertips. We hope that it helps you to see the city of Florence as yours to discover, to experience, and to enjoy. 3 Emergency and Useful Telephone Numbers: Tel. Police Emergency (polizia) 113 Medical Emergency (ambulanza) 118 Fire Department Emergency 115 Urban Police Emergency 113 Note: Local phone numbers must be preceded by 055 followed by a six or seven digit number. To call a landline phone in Florence from Canada first dial 011-39-055 then the number; omit the “055” if calling a cell phone. Embassy of Canada in Rome 06 85444 2911 Consular Section, Via Zara 30 00198 Rome www.italy.gc.ca Tel.: +39 06.85444.1 (recorded information available; only emergency phone calls are answered by operators: follow the prompts—choose option 1, then 2 for emergencies.) Fax: +39 06.440.3048 Email: [email protected] For Emergencies you may also e-mail: [email protected] Toll-free number from Italy: 00-800-2326-6831 Collect: +1 613 996-8885 / +1 613 944-1310 (TTY) OCAD University – Toronto, Canada 416-977-6000 Vivian So (Faculty of Art) ext. 307 Faculty of Art Office ext. 321, 371 , 306 All OCAD U admin email addresses are: [email protected] (eg. [email protected]) 4 2. ACCOMMODATIONS AND ACCESSIBILITY Academic Accommodations for students with disabilities If you are registered with the Centre for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at OCAD University and will need academic accommodations while you are in Florence, please speak to your primary advisor in the CSD and Vivian So, Program Assistant, Contemporary Painting and Print Media in the Faculty of Art office upon your acceptance to the Florence program. Accommodation and Accessibility Resources Centre for Students with Disabilities http://www.ocadu.ca/services/disability-services.htm Telephone: 416-977-6000 ext. 339 Email: [email protected] Hours: Monday to Thursday - 9 am to 4 pm; closed 12 pm to 1 pm Friday 9 am to 12 pm Health and Wellness http://www.ocadu.ca/services/health-and-wellness.htm Telephone: 416-977-6000 ext. 260 Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ocaduhealthandwellnesscentre/?fref=ts Twitter: @ocaduhwc Hours: Monday to Friday - 9 am to 4 pm Here are some external online resources that you may find useful: Transportation information for people with disabilities: https://www.angloinfo.com/how-to/italy/tuscany/healthcare/people- with-disabilities Accessible Florence: http://www.aboutflorence.com/accessible- florence.html 5 Disabled Access Review of Florence: http://www.sagetraveling.com/florence-disabled-access English Speaking Doctors and Medical Facilities – Florence (Psychiatry and psychoanalysis): https://it.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/67/2017/02/ACS- Doctors-Florence-Feb2017.pdf 3. GETTING THINGS DONE When you arrive in Firenze, you will want to start getting organized, find an apartment (if you haven’t arranged one beforehand- but we recommend you attempt to find one as early in advance as possible) and orient yourself to shopping. There are some important differences in how things are done which will be useful and important to know. Generally, stores and offices are open in the mornings (8:30 am) until about noon or 1 pm, and re-open in the mid/late afternoon until early evening (4-7 pm). Some stores are closed Monday mornings. These hours are not always the same for different types of places and may change in different seasons. You will have the most success doing practical stuff if you get an early start on the day and knock-off at noon. Stores right in the tourist center will hold hours more similar to those we are used to in Toronto. Payphones and landlines in apartments are now rare in Florence. Plan on getting an Italian SIM card for your phone, or setting up an international plan with your Canadian service provider. For information about setting up your cell phone in Florence, see Services. Learn to read street addresses. The r after a street address usually denotes a business. When searching for an address on the street, look for a red number on the side of the building (if your address is listed as Via San Gallo 45r, for example). Residences will generally have a black or blue number. If you are looking for Via San Gallo 45, the address number will be written in black or blue on the side of the building. The red and black numbers do not match in sequence on the street (i.e. a black 40 may be a block away from a red 40). This applies only in Florence. Note that Google maps does not understand the distinction between red and black addresses. It will get you close, but you may have to do some searching nearby to find where you are going. Eating affordably will be a major concern until you get settled in your apartment. Be aware that buying in small corner shops is more expensive than the bigger grocery stores, and that buying in a café (things like bottled water) can be 4 or 5 6 times the cost. Some cafes charge extra if you sit down (rather than have your coffee standing at the bar). Prices in cafes are usually posted; sometimes you pay the cashier ahead of time. Always be prepared to pay in cash in cafes, bars and small shops. Check the “Food/Household” section of this handbook for less expensive suggestions. The studio has a refrigerator where you can temporarily keep food and drinks to cut down on cafe consumption. Legal Stuff: You MUST apply for a Permit to Stay (Permesso di Soggiorno) within 8 days of your arrival in Florence. The Class Assistant and/or Florence Coordinator will give you information on what the process entails and what paperwork and fees will be required. You may have to deal with two government-related applications. The first is to get an Italian Social Insurance number (Codice Fiscale). This may be required by the rental agency to complete your lease (only one of your group will need it). It is an easy process which involves going to a government office (Agenzie delle Entrate) in Via Santa Caterina d’Alessandria. Other reasons you may need one include certain registered purchases, such as getting an Internet or cell phone account. 4. HOUSING/HOTELS In recent years, most students have contacted rental agencies and secured apartments before arrival online. There are a lot of international schools that will be looking to book apartments every spring, so get as early as a start as possible. If you have not found somewhere in advance, you will want to start loo king for a place to live for the school year as soon as you arr ive. Finding an Apamrt ent: Most rental agencies have websites that list av ilable apartm ents. You can look at what is available and e-mail, fax or phone the agency for furthet r de ails. This has ebe n a successful approach for mostu st det n s. You will need to clarify the kind of apar tment you want, and through a series of communications, you should be able ton re t somet hing obef re arr iving in Flo rence. You will have to pay a deposit up front when you reserve an apartment and you will then be committed to it.