The Abbazia di Spineto is located in the southermost part of the province of Siena, Italy, 6 km from Sarteano. It is at a short driving distance from the railway station and Autostrada A1 exit of Chiusi-Chianciano. Roma and Firenze can be reached in about 90 min by car or by train. The nearest train station is Chiusi/Chianciano (10 min drive to Spineto). Trains in Chiusi/Chianciano station arrive from Roma (south) and from Firenze (north). Firenze will be the most convenient airport to land especially if you will make it on time for the bus provided by the organizers. A list of possible lodging places in Firenze can be found in the travel info page of the Arcetri Observatory.

In planning your travel, please remember that Registration will take place on the afternoon of Sunday July 5 2009. The Conference begins on Sunday evening at 7.00 pm with a talk by prof. Maarten Schmidt. A welcome buffet will follow. Conference ends on Friday July 10 at 2.00 pm.

Please note that there is no public transportation connecting The Abbey to the rest of the World, while there will be a free shuttle for transportation of the participants staying in the Farmhouses to the Conference Center, and viceversa.

Transportation from/to Florence by bus, and from/to Chiusi-Chianciano train station with a pick-up service, will be provided by the organizers on sunday July 5, 2009 for all of you which will submit the travel form on time. The bus will leave Florence central train station (Firenze SMN) at 12:30 pm on sunday July 5, it will stop at Florence Airport at 1:30 pm, and reach Spineto in 2 hours. The bus from Spineto to Firenze will depart after lunch (2:30 pm) on friday July 10. It will stop at the Airport (at 4:30 pm) and at Firenze central station. The free pick-up service from Chiusi will be organized from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm of sunday July 5. If you want to reach/leave Spineto at different times, a Taxi can help you in reaching the Abbazia from Chiusi-Chianciano train station and viceversa. The total cost for the ride is approximately 30 euros per car and it takes about 20 min. More details on the bus and pick-ups are given individually to those who requested these services.

We have organized 2 meeting points on Sunday July 5. The first one will be at Firenze SMN (Santa Maria Novella, the central railway station) at 12:30 pm, the second one at Firenze Airport at 1:30 pm. The bus ride from Firenze to Spineto takes about two hours. If your flight is delayed and you will not be on time for the bus departure you should go to Firenze SMN railway station and catch a train to Chiusi-Chianciano (there will be one train every hour which will stop in Chiusi and the ride to Chiusi is 1.5 hour). You can reach Firenze SMN from the Airport in about 30 min by bus VOLAINBUS (4.5 euro) or taxi (about 18 euro). And once in Chiusi if you don't see any pick-up service available you should take a taxi for Abbazia di Spineto (main entrance).

If you land in Pisa, you should take a train to reach Firenze central railway station (Firenze SMN, change in Pisa Centrale, ride takes about 1.5 hours). If at the time of your arrival there will be no trains from Pisa Airport you should take a taxi to reach Pisa central station. If you arrive at Firenze SMN before 12.30 pm of Sunday July 5 (or at Firenze airport before 1:30 pm), you can reach the meeting point and get a ride on the bus. IMPORTANT NOTICE: if no direct trains to Firenze SMN are available after your landing time you can consider catching a BUS. The bus company is TERRAVISION and they accept on-line reservation. This bus can take you from Pisa Airport to Firenze SMN (70 min) and to Firenze Airport (90 min). On sunday July 5 for example there should be 2 convenient buses to reach our meeting points, leaving Pisa Airport at 10:30 am and at 12:00 noon. The cost for the bus is comparable to a train ticket Pisa A./Firenze.

If you land in Rome you should take a train to reach the central railway station in Roma (this jouney takes about 30 min and its final destination should be Roma Termini. The frequency of those trains is about 1 every 30 min). In Roma Termini you should connect to trains going to Chiusi-Chianciano station. Those trains have usually Firenze, Venice or Milan as final destination, but only some of them will stop in Chiusi-Chianciano on their way (check timetable when available, there will be one train every hour and the ride from Roma Termini to Chiusi is about 1.5 hours).

If you land in Milano, Bologna or any other italian destination you can take a train to reach directly Chiusi-Chianciano station and arrange for a pick-up there, or you can take a train for Firenze SMN and reach the meeting point for the bus there.

If you arrive by train, your destination should be Chiusi-Chianciano station. There will be a free pick-up service at the station from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm of Sunday July 5. This pick-up service is done using taxis with a sign saying "Abbazia di Spineto". You will find these waiting for you opposite to the station exit. Free pick-ups in Chiusi are from 11 am to 6 pm on July 5 and are scheduled at regular intervals. Each taxi can carry 4 people with luggage and has the list of participants scheduled for each departure. You can plan to be on this service only if you submit the travel form. You will received a confirmation mail a few days before Conference starts.
Those who arrive in Chiusi-Chianciano at different times, can take a private taxi, right opposite to the station exit. Destination: Abbazia di Spineto main entrance (approx. fare is 30 euro, up to 4 people).
Three weeks before the Conference starts we shall also provide train timetables. Right now this is not available for the summer season which starts in mid june.

If you will be driving take the highway A1 and get off at Chiusi-Chianciano. Then follow directions to Sarteano (7 km). From Sarteano follow the signs to Radicofani: The Abbazia di Spineto is 3-4 km from Sarteano (see the map on top of this page).
If you drive from Roma Airport (Leonardo da Vinci, located in Fiumicino) take the highway from the Airport to the Grande Raccordo Anulare (GRA), as you were going to Roma city. GRA is a big road going all around the city of Roma, it is at about 12 km from the Airport. Once you reach the intersection with GRA you should take the GRA towards north, direction SS1(Aurelia), SS2(Cassia), A1 to Firenze/Milano. On the GRA you have to drive 20 km before finding the exit for A1 to Firenze/Milano. On the highway A1 going north you will have to drive about 142 km before finding the Chiusi-Chianciano exit.
If you drive from Firenze Airport you are very close to the Firenze North A1 gate. Take the A1 towards south (Roma direction). After about 130 km you will find the Chiusi-Chianciano exit.

Trains from Florence to Chiusi-Chianciano

Trains from Roma Termini to Chiusi-Chianciano

Trains in Chiusi/Chianciano station take you to Rome (south) or to Firenze (north).

Trains from Chiusi-Chianciano to Firenze

Trains from Chiusi-Chianciano to Roma Termini

You might want to consult the timetables for any italian destinations using
The Italian Railways service
or
The German Railways service.
However remeber that the timetable might change slightly for the summer. Summer timetable will be available by mid June.