OPALweek F.A.Q.

The Bologna OPAL-week Frequently-Asked-Questions page

This is a miscellanea of answers to FAQs. Latest update: Sep. 11th at 19:00.

The conference fees (100,000 ITL) should be paid cash when registering at the conference venue, together with the additional contribution of 50,000 ITL if partecipating to the OPAL dinner. People accomodated at the University House Carducci are also asked to pay the bill when registering. Registration will take place at the conference venue (Accademia delle Scienze, via Zamboni 31) on Sunday 13th from 16:00 to 19:00. The telephone number of the Accademia is : +39 51 222596.

The Welcome drink is at the conference venue at the same time of the registration.

Special personnel will be available during the week for helping you out with documentation for visiting Bologna and the main interesting places nearby (like Florence, Ravenna, Venice, etc.., Milano Marittima, Rimini, Riccione, etc...).

Bus tickets are sold by tobacconists and newsagents. The recommended option is to buy a "citypass" ticket (10 fares, 14,000 ITL). You have to insert this ticket into the punching machine on the bus on every trip.



    Here are the telephone numbers of the hotels in Bologna
    relevant for the opal week, and the basic rules for 
    access and payment for the University facilities. 



                                Telephone          Fax

   Hotel Alexander              +39 51 247118     +39 51 247248
     via Pietramellara 47

   Hotel Donatello              +39 51 248174     +39 51 248174
     via dell'Indipendenza 65

   Hotel Metropolitan           +39 51 229393     +39 51 224602
     via dell'Orso 6

   Hotel Orologio               +39 51 231253     +39 51 260552
     via IV Novembre 10

   Hotel S. Donato              +39 51 235395     +39 51 230547
     via Zamboni 16

   Hotel Nuovo                  +39 51 247926     +39 51 247386
     via del Porto 6

   Hotel Giardinetto
     via Massarenti 76          +39 51 342793


    ===================================================     
    University Hostel (via De' Chiari 8, 40124 BOLOGNA
                       via S. Vitale 59, 40125 BOLOGNA)
    ===================================================

    The Reception (via De' Chiari 8) 
    is open 8.00 am - 10.00 pm. 7 days a week.
    There is NO Reception in via S. Vitale 59 (i.e. people
    lodged in via S. Vitale 59 have to pick up their keys
    at the Reception in via De' Chiari)

    People planning to arrive in Bologna after 10.00 pm
    on September 13 should send a mail to: opalbo.bo.infn.it

    Bills can be paid directly at the Reception:
    Visa Cards are accepted
    American Express Cards are NOT accepted


    ============================================================
    University House "Carducci" (via Gandusio 14, 40128 BOLOGNA)
    ============================================================

    The Reception is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  
    Bills have to be paid (cash) at the Conference Secretariat
    when registering.

Car Parking
=========== 

Here are a few suggested private parkings. During the "opening time" cars
can go in/out from the garage. Outside the "opening time" cars cannot
be taken out or brought in.

Some of the garages can stay open on Saturday and Sunday if a number of people
are interested. Please let us know by email in case you are interested.
The alternative is to use only the Masini during the weekend. 

* Garage Masini, Viale Masini 4, tel. 051.25.51.96
  near the railway station

  open every day 24 hours
  price: 20-25,000 Lit/day


* Garage Marchesi, Piazza di Porta Castiglione 14, tel 051.33.00.08
  near the Giardini Margherita (the largest park in Bologna)

  opening time: 8-20 from Monday to Friday
                on Saturday and Sunday it may open on request (done in advance)
  price: 20-33,000 Lit/day


* Autorimessa Ugolino Ugolini, via Mazzini 26, tel 051.34.48.97
  near S.Orsola Hospital

  opening time: 7.30-20 from Monday to Friday
                8-19 on Saturday
                on Sunday it may open on request (done in advance)
  price: ~30,000 Lit/day


Suggestions:
============

* People lodged at the University Hostel (Via de Chiari) can conveniently
  park at Garage Marchesi.

* People at the University House Carducci can park at the Garage Masini,
  it takes about 15 minutes by foot. Otherwise, if you do not mind to leave
  your car unattended there are several places on the road near the House. 
  They will be most probably by payment (blu lines, it is a recent change)
  and tickets or magnetic cards are sold at the tobacconists.
  The rate is 1,500 Lit/hour from 8 am to 6 pm, a whole day will cost 
  15,000 Lit.

* For people at the hotels:   

  All the hotels can sell a bonus ticket to park in every allowed place in
  Bologna and use the city buses for 8,000 Lit/day.

  - Alexander, Donatello and Milano Excelsior have no own parking, but they
    have an agreement with Garage Masini at a special rate of 18-22,000 Lit/day


  - Internazionale, S.Donato and Royal Carlton have private parkings at a rate
    of 30-35,000 Lit/day.


  - Orologio has a private parking at a rate of 35,000 Lit/day.
    In alternative the car can be leaved in Piazza Roosevelt (near the hotel) 
    on the blu lines using the bonus sell by the hotel (8,000 Lit/day).


  - Metropolitan has no own parking, but it has an agreement with 
    Garage Bologna (via Riva Reno) at a rate of 25-35,000 Lit/day.

Where can you go for lunck or dinner ? Here are our suggestions:

A list of Restaurants Made by Opalists for Opalists

Restaurants for lunch (quick service).

Self Service Pizzeria "Marsala", Via Marsala 17/19, Self-Service restaurant. Good quality and "Cern Restaurant Two" prices. They also make pizza at lunch.

Il Centro, Via A. Righi-Via Indipendenza corner. Self-Service restaurant. Good quality, large choice, and "Cern Restaurant Two" prices, or slightly higher. It tends to be crowded at peak hours.

Il Bassotto (Bass'8) , Via Ugo Bassi 8, Same as "il Centro".

Osteria dell'Orsa, Via Mentana 1/f. This is not a self-service restaurant, but it is an informal place very nice for a quick lunch. Live jazz music in the evening.

McDonald, Just next to the "Two Towers", in Via Rizzoli. If you cannot stand italian food.

In addition, in the region around the Conference Venue, there are many bars where you can sit-down and have sandwichees or slices of pizza. Try along "Via Zamboni" or in the central "Via Rizzoli" and nearby streets.

Restaurants for Dinner: Restaurant in the central region of Bologna are generally rather expensive. Tipically a "moderate" price for a full dinner (pasta, second course, dessert, and a cheap wine) is hardly below L.45000. (about 36 CHF), and in general it is unlikely to spend less than L.35000 (28 CHF) even in cheapest places. Large variations are possible. Expensive restaurant might reach L.90000 (more than 70 CHF). The "moderate" and "expensive" cathegories largely overlap, really depending on the type of food. First courses are generally cheaper and more typical of the italian cuisine (like pasta). Second courses are generally more "standard". In addition to normal restaurants, there are also many "Pizzeria", which make pizza, of course, but also pasta etc... with usually good quality and cheaper price than restaurants. They are "Piatto d'Oro" style restaurants, but they are usually much better (and cheaper). Another option are the so called "Osterie". They are very informal places, which were originally born as rough places to drink wine and eat a snack, and which are now becomed more and more similar to normal restaurant. They are usually still (but not always) cheaper than normal restaurants, altough with lower (but not always) quality. Service is always included in Italy, and no tips are required. The places listed below are all at walking distance from the Conference Venue.

Pizzeria "Piedigrotta", Via S. Stefano 40/F, Closed on Tuesday

Pizzeria "La Bella Napoli", Via S. Felice 40, Closed on Monday.

Pizzeria "Pino" , Via S. Stefano 172/B, Closed on Monday.

Pizzeria "Pino" , Via Goito 2, Closed on Monday.

Pizzeria "La Mela" , Via Fusari 5, Closed on Monday.

Pizzeria "Belle Arti" , Via Belle Arti 14, Closed on Wednesday. Also good for a quick lunch, as it is close to the Conference Venue.

Restaurant "Matusel" , Via Bertoloni 2/2, Closed on Sunday. Cheap. Very popular among students. Large round tables to share with other people. Vary good quality/price ratio. Reservation is strongly suggested. Tel. 051-231718

Osteria "Dell'Orsa" , Via Mentana 1, See the "lunch" section. Tel. 051-231576

Osteria "Senza Nome" , Via Senzanome 42. Tel. 051-331147

Osteria "Bentivoglio" , Via Mascarella 4/B, Closed on Monday, Live Jazz music in a dedicated room. Tel. 051-265416

Osteria "La Matta" , Mura di Porta Galliera 11 a/b (porta Mascarella) Tel. 051-240177

Ristorante Tony Via A. Righi. Tipical Bolognese Cuisine. Moderate Price.

Ristorante Donatello Via A. Righi. Typical Bolognese Cuisine. Moderate Price.

Ristorante Ciacco p. San Simone 1/C Typical Bolognese Cuisine. Moderate Price. Tel. 051-265441

Ristorante Trattoria Boni Via Saragozza 88, Moderate Price. Tel. 051-585060

Ristorante Leonida Vicolo Alemagna 2/b, Typical Bolognese Cuisine. Moderate Price. Closed on Sunday. Tel 051-239742.

Ristorante Le Posta Via Grada 21/A Typical Tuscany Cuisine. Moderate Price. Closed on Monday. Tel 051-6491922.

Ristorante Da Silvio Via San Petronio Vecchio 34/D Moderate Price Tel 051-229357

Ristorante Da Pietro Via Falegnami 18, Umbria Cuisine, Moderate Price, Closed on Sunday, Tel 051-230644

Ristorante Anna Maria Via Belle Arti 17/A, Bolognese Cuisine, Moderate Price, Closed on Monday, Tel 051-266894

Ristorante Cesarina Piazza S. Stefano 19, Bolognese Cuisine, famous restaurant, placed in one of the most beautiful places of Bologna. Moderate-Expensive, Closed on Monday, Tel 051-232037.

Ristorante Benso Vicolo S. Giobbe 3, Expensive, Tel 051-223904.

Ristorante Diana Via dell'Indipendenza 24. One of the most famous restaurants in Bologna. Typical Bolognese Cuisine, Tortellini with soup and boiled meat. Expensive. Closed on Monday. Tel. 051-231302.

Ristorante Cambusa Via Mascarella 8. Specialized in Fish. Moderate-Expensive. Closed on Monday. Tel. 051-266645.

Ristorante Le Maschere Via Zappoli 5/B. Specialized in Fish. Try the "Astice alla Catalana". Expensive. Tel. 051-261035.

Ice-Creams

Gelateria delle Moline Via delle Moline 13/B. This small place, at walking distance from the Conference Venue, makes the best ice-cream in Bologna. Also try the "Focaccia con gelato e panna", if you are not on diet. Closed on Tuesday.

How to ask for a decent coffee ? Here are our suggestions.

Italian Coffee Handbook

In Italy people usually have coffee while standing at the bar desk. It is very unusual for an italian to sit down at the table and order a coffee. If he does it, he is a tourist.

In Italy any time is good for a cup of coffee. Italians don't take too much time to drink a cup of coffee (also for reasons which will be clear in a moment). Usually they drink it in a sip or two, lifting the elbow of the arm which helds the cup, and twisting the wrist at the same time in a very quick movement. Then they say ``aaaahhh'', or ``a posto !''. (ready !), and they quickly leave the bar.

Hera are a few tips concerning the large variety of coffee which you can order at an italian bar.

``Caffe' normale'' (normal coffee') is the default, and it will be served to you if you just ask for a ``caffe' ``. It is a very small quantity of coffee for ``european standards'', and it is a negligible quantity for ``american standards ''. This is actually the main reason why italians drink coffee very quickly: they don't have much to drink !!!

``Caffe' lungo'' (you might traslate it with ''large'', but it is an euphemism). It looks like the "petit" of the CERN restaurant. It is less strong than the ``normale'', but it actually has more caffeine. Strongly recommended before the Plenary Session.

``Caffe' ristretto'' (small !!!). It is usually no more than a couple of drops of coffee. Sometimes it is so dense that turning the cup upside down it gets sticked to the bottom and it does not fall down. For experts only.

``Caffe' macchiato'' (literally ''spotted'', but it means ''with milk''). Within this choice you have the following options:

Macchiato freddo (``freddo'' means ``cold''): it is a normal coffee with room-temperature or cold milk. Usually you will be given a small pot with milk and you will help yourself. Otherwise the barman will spill milk in your coffee, until you say ``basta !''.

Macchiato caldo (``caldo'' means ``hot''). It is coffee with hot milk. Usually it is served with milk foam, so that it will look like a small ``cappuccino''. To be sure, you might want to specify ``macchiato caldo con schiuma'' (with foam). Otherwise it could just be a coffee with hot milk, but without foam, if the barman is not in the right mood.

You can also try any combiation of the above: ``lungo macchiato caldo'', ``ristretto macchiato freddo'' etc...

If you just can't stand italian coffee, you can still order a ``caffe' americano'' (american coffee). This usually requires some highly non-standard techniques for an italian bar, and it will keep the whole bar staff busy for at least ten minutes.