Facilities and Accommodation

University Facilities

University of Italian Switzerland   The Summer School will be held in the main building of the Lugano campus of the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI). USI is a new University that was opened in 1996. There are two small campuses, one in Mendrisio (Academy of Architecture) and one in Lugano (Faculty of Economics; Faculty of Communication Sciences; and Faculty of Informatics). In Lugano there is also a Faculty of Theology, which however is organizationally independent of USI.

Location within the City  The Lugano campus is situated conveniently within the city, in walking distance (10-15 min) from the heart of the city as well as from the Lake. The University address is: Via Giuseppe Buffi 13, CH-6904 Lugano (formerly "Via Ospedale"). In the on-line map of the City of Lugano, you can find the University in quadrant D4 (enter "università" or "universita" for University in Italian). Note that on some older maps, the new University is still not marked; in such maps the campus site is in the place of the former "Ospedale Civico" close to River Cassarate. More information on USI can be found in the USI web site www.unisi.ch.

Internet and computer access  For those participants who bring along a notebook or other device with WLAN equipment, it may be of interest to know that the Lugano University campus is a public hot spot. That is, there is an open-access WLAN that requires no pass word and is free of charge. Those without such equipment will find desktop PCs with Internet access in the computer rooms of the University (in the basement of the main building). These computers require a user name and pass word, which will be assigned to the Summer School participants on the first day of the Summer School.

Intranet access, printing and email  With their personal user name and pass word, participants will also gain access to the University's Intranet, which includes access to printers. There will be a shared Summer School space where participants will find readings, assignments, and other course materials. Each participant will also have a private space for storing personal files (e.g., assignments or papers in progress) on the USI server.  For email connection, participants are advised to make sure that they either can access their permanent POP3 email account(s) through the Internet or else have at their disposition a web-based email account (such as Hotmail, Yahoo, or Gmail) to which they have redirected all incoming mail from their usual account(s). Since virtually every Internet user today has webmail facilities and since these can be installed free of charge with many providers, no special POP3 email accounts will be installed for the summer School participant.

Accommodation

Participants are expected to arrange their own accommodation. Self-catering holiday flats for two or three persons are available from about CHF 650 per week (approx. USD 750 or EUR 500, at currency exchange rates of June, 2011). Rent is usually possible for entire weeks (Saturday-Saturday) only. Hotel accommodation in a simple but clean and friendly two- or three-star hotel will be available from about CHF 95 (EUR 75 / USD 110) per night for a single room, or CHF 150 (EUR 120 / USD 175) for a double room with bath/toilet and shower, including breakfast. Lugano also as a Youth Hostel which offers excellent value for the money (about CHF 35 / EUR 28 / USD 40 per night; inquire about long-stay discounts).

The suggestions below are for information purposes only. For additional information, please consult the web site of Lugano Tourism, where you can download catalogues of hotels and holiday flats with current prices.

Hint: In the start page of Lugano Tourism, select the type of accommodation you prefer in the drop-down menu "Accommodations." An entry mask opens in which you can enter the dates for which you need accommodation (e.g., for LSS 2012, Saturday 16 June to Saturday 30 June 2012) along with other options; this will produce a list of available accommodations with links to them. You can also download PDF files with complete catalogues of "Flats and Holiday Homes" and "Hotels."

Information about accommodation can also be found in the web site of the City of Lugano (in Italian language only, Section "Turismo").

In the past, many Summer School participants have found it helpful to contact the Lugano Tourist Office (= "Lugano Tourism")  and to ask them for help. If you wish to do so, you can use the contact form under the link just given, or email them at info@lugano-tourism.ch. They will be happy to help you find a suitable accommodation. Alternatively, your travel agent should be able to assist you in finding and booking an accommodation that suits your exact requirements.