HOW TO GET THERE
A car is handy but not essential and can be booked at all the airports.
By car from Leonardo da Vinci airport or from Ciampino airport
Head for the ring road (raccordo annulare) and then follow signs towards the A1 (autostrada 1) north (direction Orte, Sienna, Florence). Get onto the A1 autostrada and head north until you arrive at Orte. This is a toll road and you need about 5 euros. Exit the autostrada and head for Viterbo. Exit at the point marked for direction Siena. This road takes you to the bottom of Montefiascone. Head for the town centre and Caffe Centrale.
By train from Leonardo da Vinci airport
The trains go from within the terminals, just follow the signs. The staff at the railway counter speak English.
Buy your ticket to Viterbo and catch any train going via Ostiense. Make sure that you validate your ticket before getting onto any train in Italy or you will be fined. (Validate the ticket by inserting it into the yellow metal boxes on the platform). Change at Ostiense station onto any train going via Viterbo. (Viterbo is about 90 kilometers north of Rome). The journey lasts about one and a half hours. There are two stops at Viterbo. Do not get off at the first (Porta Romana) but do get off at the second (Porta Fiorentina).
Look for a bus to Montefiascone immediately outside the station. From here -see from Piazzale Roma below.
By train from Ciampino airport
From the front of the terminal take the bus going to Termini (this is the central station in Rome). From here you need to buy your ticket to Viterbo and then proceed as for Leonardo da Vinci above, or else look for a train going to Viterbo via Montefiascone, these are infrequent. (Montefiascone station is sometimes called Zepponami). There is a bus from immediately outside the station into the town. You will be let off at Piazzale Roma. From here you need to walk up a rather steep hill (Via Corso Cavour) to the main square, where you will see a fountain. Caffe Centrale is here. Turn right into Via Nazionale and Hotel Dante is just down on your right.
You can check train times on the net. The sites for the Italian railways are:
http://www.trenitaliaplus.com/
http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/homepage_en.html
You must type in the station you leave from e.g. Roma Termini and your destination Viterbo Porta Fiorentina.
WHERE TO STAY
Participants may stay in a house within the city walls, close to the main square at the centre of the town. Bedrooms are shared (maximum 4 per room) and costs are 18 euros per person per night. If preferred, accommodation can be arranged at a local hotel.
Hotel Dante costs 30 euros per single per night and 50 euros per double room per night. Nothing is included (breakfast etc) and there are no telephones in the room. If you want to book it, either you need to speak Italian (there’s no email) or ask Cheryl to do it. Telephone: +39 0761 826015
Hotel Altavilla costs 33 euros per single per night and 62 euros per double room per night. (They have some triples and larger). Prices include breakfast, use of telephone, tv in room etc. Email: info@altavillahotel.com Telephone (they speak English) +39 0761 820 123
Hotel Urbano V costs 54 euros per single per night and 70 euros per double room per night. A triple is 85 euros per room per night. This includes breakfast, telephone, etc. Email: info@hotelurbanov.it Telephone (they speak English) +39 0761 831094
Make sure that those on site have some idea of when you will be arriving, by contacting Cheryl in advance. This is for security and also to make sure there is someone to help you when you arrive.
Head for Caffe Centrale at the centre of town and you will be met there.
The town of Montefiascone is not too large and the people are friendly, so don’t panic thinking that you will be wandering for hours.