Como is a resort area, famous all over the world for the enchanted lake, the beautiful mountains, the magnificent views, the pleasant sunshine, the romantic sunsets, the charming atmosphere, the historical buildings, the tasteful food, the great wines, the cultural events, the breath-taking silk, the fashionable clothes, and much more.
TRANSPORTATION WARNING
LAST NEWS: 7 MAY 2004. THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT APPOINTED A NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ALITALIA AND APPROVED A NEW DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT PLAN. THE SYNDACATES APPROVED THE PLAN AND CANCELLED THE STRIKE. ONLY ONE MINOR SYNDACATE DID NOT ACCEPTED THE AGREEMENT AND IS STILL PLANNING FOR A STRIKE: HOWEVER, THIS SHOULD NOT CREATE PROBLEMS SINCE THE LARGE MAJORITY OF EMPLOYEES WILL WORK REGULARLY.
In the next weeks there could be problems in travelling by air to/from Italy due to possible strikes organized by Alitalia's employees. These strikes could affect also other companies in the case the employees will block the movement of the planes in the airports and the traffic in the roads surrounding the airports.
According to the current Italian laws the Italian government is already issuing orders to make the strike illegal and force employees to work.
An alternative airport to reach Como is Lugano, Switzerland, which is as close to Como as Malpensa. From the Lugano airport to the Lugano railways station you can take the shuttle; from the Lugano railways station you will arrive to the Como railways station by train.
VISA
Citizens of some Countries need to ask for the VISA to enter in Italy. VISA can be obtained at the Italian Embassy or Consulate in the Country of residence.
Attendes can find here the Italian Embassy or Consulate nearest to their residence.
To obtain a VISA to enter in Italy, an invitation letter from the General Chair, prof. Vincenzo Piuri, is needed. Ask for this letter by email at piuri@dti.unimi.it.
VISA Offices may need several weeks to process your request. Please, apply for the VISA as earlier as possible so as to allow sufficient time for VISA processing and for getting possible assistance from the General Chair directly with the VISA Office in the case of difficulties.
In some cases the Italian Embassy or Consulate needs also that the General Chair faxes the invitation letter directly to the VISA Office. Please contact the VISA Office at the Italian Embassy or Consulate near your residence to verify which is the current procedure in your Country. Do not hesitate to contact the General Chair for assistance with the VISA Office in caso of any problem.
CONFERENCE SITE AND HEADQUARTERS HOTEL
Grand Hotel di Como
via per Cernobbio
22100 Como, Italy
phone: +39 (031) 5161
fax: +39 (031) 516-600
email: info@grandhoteldicomo.com
URL: https://www.grandhoteldicomo.com/
category: ****
OTHER CONFERENCE HOTELS
MAP OF THE HOTELS IN COMO
This map is composed by three parts. To have more readable view, click on each of the above parts. Then, you may want to save them on your computer and print them out.
TRANSPORTATION
Como is easily reachable from all over the world.
Important Notice: except when explicitly noted, information (in particular, schedule and fares) provided below or in the linked web sites are defined and maintained by the companies providing such services. These owners are the ONLY responsible for the correctness of the posted information.
The organizers, the sponsors, and the technical cooperating bodies of IMTC 2004 cannot be considered responsible in any way and at any extent both for such information and any problem or inconvenience that may occur you as a consequence of their use.
BY AIR
Through the Milano-Malpensa International Airport
The Milano-Malpensa International Airport is the most suited to reach Como. Most of the worldwide airlines arrive in this airport from Europe, Asia, and Americas. Among intercontinental flights, there are also several direct connections from the major hubs in the USA, Canada, and Japan. For information about the Malpensa airport, flights, timetables, and other services available at the airport visit this site.
From Malpensa to Como by bus
Public bus transportation is available. From the airport to downtown Como, you may use the public bus "Autolinea Menaggio-Como-Malpensa". At the Malpensa airport look for the bus stop "SPT Como" in front of terminal No. 13. Tickets can be purchased inside the terminal building. The one-way trip is about 15 Euro. The bus arrives in downtown Como (Cavour square and Como Bus Station). Have a look to the schedule from Malpensa to Como and to the schedule from Como to Malpensa.
To reach the Grand Hotel, you can take either the public bus No. 6 from the Como Bus Station (direction to Cernobbio), or the public bus No. 11 from Cavour square (direction to the Wahrf of Tavernola, at walking distance from the Grand Hotel). Ask for the Grand Hotel bus stop. The Como Bus Station is 50 meters from Cavour square. The No. 6 bus fare is 2 Euro, while the No. 11 bus fare is 1.5 Euro. Here you find the time table of these busses.
From downtown Como to any of the conference hotels you may want to take a taxi: the fare varies according to the location of your hotel.
From Malpensa to Como by train
If you prefer the train, take the "Malpensa Express" leaving from the railways station within the airport. The one-way trip is about 10 Euro, per person. For further information, visit this site. The final stop of this train is Milano, at Cadorna Station. It stops also in Saronno, a town at half way between Como, Milano and Malpensa. To go to Como, you may want to leave the train in Saronno and commute to the local train from Saronno to Como (Como-Lake Station is located in downtown Como); the one-way fare is about 2 Euro, per person.
To reach the Grand Hotel from the Como-Lake Station, you can take the public bus No. 6 to Cernobbio or the public bus No. 11 to the Wahrf of Tavernola, at walking distance from the Grand Hotel. Ask for the Grand Hotel bus stop. The No. 6 bus fair is 2 Euro, while the No. 11 bus fair is 1.5 Euro.
The time table of all these segments is shown here.
From downtown Como to any of the conference hotels you may want to take a taxi: the fare varies according to the location of your hotel.
From Malpensa to Como by car
If you prefer to drive, you can rent a car at the Malpensa airport from one of the many international and national car rental companies. If you like to reserve your car with one of the major companies, you can do it through the corresponding web site of these companies. Exit from the airport car rental areas and take the motorway No. 35 and then the highway Milano-Como in the direction to Como. Remind that highways in Italy are toll roads. More detailed information about Italian highways are in this site.
Through the Milano-Linate International Airport
This city airport of Milan is an alternative route suitable for some European flights. For information about the Linate airport, flights, timetables, and other services available at the airport visit this site.
From Linate to Como by public transportation
From the Milano-Linate International Airport you can take the shuttle bus to the Milan Central Railways Station, departing in front of the terminal building. Tickets can be purchased inside the terminal building: the fare is 5 Euro.
From the Central Railways Station you have to take the train to Como-FS Station (this station is different from the Como-Lake Station). The train fare is 5 Euro for regular trains and 10 Euro for direct trains. (see in the time table below which trains are regular and which are direct).
The Como-FS Station is in front of the Como Bus Station and 50 meters from Cavour square. To reach the Grand Hotel, you can take either the public bus No. 6 from the Como Bus Station (direction to Cernobbio), or the public bus No. 11 from Cavour square (direction to the Wahrf of Tavernola, at walking distance from the Grand Hotel). Ask for the Grand Hotel bus stop. The No. 6 bus fair is 2 Euro, while the No. 11 bus fair is 1.5 Euro.
Here you find the time table of all segment of this trip, including shuttle, train, and bus.
From the Como Bus Station to any of the conference hotels you may want to take a taxi: the fare varies according to the location of your hotel.
From Linate to Como by car
If you prefer to drive, you can rent a car at the Linate airport from one of the many international and national car rental companies. If you like to reserve your car with one of the major companies, you can do it through the corresponding web site of these companies. Exit from the airport car rental areas, take the direction to Milano Downtown, and then the east ring around Milano ("Tangenziale Est") to Venice. When you are on the "Tangenziale Est" highway, look for the directions to Como. Remind that highways in Italy are toll roads. More detailed information about Italian highways are in this site.
BY TRAIN
Downtown Como is reachable also by train. International trains arrives in the Milano Centrale Railways Station from all over Europe. At this station, you may want to commute to the regional trains arriving to Como-FS Station. Note that this is not the Como-Lake Station mentioned above. The two lines are managed by different companies. You can find some additional information in the web site of the FS, the Italian State Railways.
The Como-FS Station is in front of the Como Bus Station. To reach the Grand Hotel, you can take the public bus No. 6 to Cernobbio or the public bus No. 11 to the Wahrf of Tavernola, at walking distance from the Grand Hotel. Ask for the Grand Hotel bus stop. The No. 6 bus fair is 2 Euro, while the No. 11 bus fair is 1.5 Euro. Here you find the time table of these busses.
From downtown Como to any of the conference hotels you may want to take a taxi: the fare varies according to the location of your hotel.
BY CAR
If you like to drive to Como, you have to take the highway Milano-Como in the direction to Como. To go to hotels in downtown Como, take the Como-Sud exit and follows the directions to Como Center (in italian "Centro"). To arrive to the conference site and the other conference hotels, take the Como-Monte Olimpino exit and follow the directions to Cernobbio and the Grand Hotel di Como. A more detailed map will be published here soon. More detailed information about Italian highways are in this site.
Remind that Como and the other villages nearby the conference site are old historical areas and, as a consequence, the parking space may be limited and subject to fares. We recommend you to check with your hotel if there is a parking area nearby and which is the approximate fare.
MAPS OF THE REGION
To have more readable view, click on the above maps. Then, you may want to save them on your computer and print them out.
. . . BUT I WOULD LIKE ALSO TO VISIT SOME OTHER PLACES, NOT ONLY THE CONFERENCE ROOMS!
Well, you are right! Visiting another country, sightseeing the towns and the countryside, visiting the local museums, eating the local food and drinking the local wine are important at least as the conference. The cultural stimuli for a better and wider knowledge as well as for a better understanding of other people and cultures pass also through the above fundamental aspects of our life.
Therefore, if you like to visit Como or some other places, you may find many information in the Tourist Information page of this site, a section dedicated to stimulate our natural senses and neurons in a more pleasant way.
Daily trips on the Como Lake are available from Cernobbio and downtown Como.
To reach Milano you can take the train, either from the Como-Lake Station (arriving to the Milano-Cadorna Station) or the Como-FS Station (arriving to the Milano-Central Railways Station). From both of these stations you can take the Milano underground and the other city busses and tramways. For information about the Milano city public transportation, visit the this site.
From the Milano-Central Railways Station, you can reach all towns around Italy by train: for example, Florence, Venice, Padova, Verona, Turin, Bologna, Ravenna, Rome, Pisa, and many more. From Milano, you can also reach the Lake of Garda, the Cinque Terre, or the Tuscany.
From Como you may want to visit Lugano (in Switzerland - before leaving for your trip, check is your visa allow you to enter there!).