» lab fees
» banking
» other ways of getting money
» phone cards

It is recommended to bring small denominations of Euros with you for use immediately upon arrival. It is difficult to cash traveler's checks, particularly in Rome.

Lab Fees

LAB FEES are due in Euros in cash at Drop/Add each semester:
Stone carving E50
Metals E50
Photo E50
Printmaking E50
Ceramics E50
Drawing E40
Painting E40
Book Arts E25
Creative Writing E25

STUDENTS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE IN MANY CASES ADDITIONAL MATERIALS COSTS OUTSIDE THE LAB FEES, ESP FOR WOOD, BRONZE, MARBLE, METAL PLATES. THERE MAY BE ALSO ADDITIONAL FEES FOR SHIPPING WORKS OF ART HOME.

Banking

Currency & Banking:
Credit cards with check-cashing privileges and ATM cards are the best way to obtain money when needed. You are allowed to withdraw the equivalent of up to $250.00 per day.You might consider pre-arranging for parents or relatives to deposit money in your ATM checking account in the US as you need it so you can easily access the money from Cortona.

It is not recommended that you bring the entire amount of money you expect to spend in cash. You will not need a large amount of money with you when you arrive in Rome or Cortona if you have an ATM or credit card. If you want to bring the entire amount of money you will need for the semester, bring it in the form of traveler's checks. Be sure to keep a list of your traveler's check numbers in a secure place separate from the checks themselves in case they are lost or stolen.

We recommend that you take a small amount of US cash with you when you travel to Italy and exchange it in the airport or train station as soon as you arrive. After you arrive in Rome or Cortona, we suggest you cash travelers checks as needed weekly at the local bank or use your ATM to obtain cash from automated tellers.

Credit cards (American Express, Visa and Mastercard) are honored in most places throughout Europe. They are not a substitute for cash, but using them gives you the advantage of the best exchange rate when you are billed by the credit card company. It is highly recommended that you bring a credit card in your name, signed on the back to be used in case of emergencies.

Exchange rates at banks are generally better than exchange rates at a cambio. Also, a cambio in a train or airport will usually have a lower rate than one in a more business-oriented district. Frequently hotels will exchange money or traveler's checks, but the rate is much less favorable than at a bank.

When cashing traveler's checks it is required to have your passport. The exchange procedure can take up to half an hour, so it is a good idea to cash enough traveler's checks to last you for about a week at a time.

Bank Transfers:
There are two banks in Cortona that have handled money transfers for UGA students. It is imperative to identify a bank in the US that is "corresponding" with the Cortona bank of your choice.

The Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze has an agency in Cortona on the Piazza Signorelli. This bank, whose main office is in Florence, is a corresponding bank with the following US banks:

Florida:
Southeast Bank
One Southeast Financial Center
International Corporate Banking
20th Floor
Miami, FL 33131

Georgia:
Bank of America
99 Annex, 35 Broad Street
Atlanta, GA 30399

North Carolina:
Wachovia Bank & Trust Co.
Third and Main Streets
P.O. Box 3099
Winston-Salem, NC 27102

North Carolina National Bank
1 NCNB Plaza
P.O. Box 120
Charlotte, NC 28255

The Banca Popolare di Cortona is the other bank we encourage UGA students to utilize. To have money sent to you through this bank have it addressed as follows:

Your name
Banca Popolare di Cortona, Cortona Branch
CAB 5496/25400
Through
Banca Commerciale Italiana, Arezzo Branch
Swift Address: BCIT IT MM 158
Telex: BCI I 572612

Allow 2 to 4 weeks for possible delays or mistakes in delivery. If your parents need to send you money by mail, have them send a money order (not a personal check or cash) by Registered mail (or better, private overnight companies).

Other Ways of Getting Money

Post Office
The US Post Office will send International money orders to Italy for a maximum amount equivalent to $700.00. There is a form to ask for and there is a charge for the transfer. You pick up your money at the Cortona Post Office. Time expected for the transfer is 2-3 weeks.

Western Union
Western Union will send money to Italy very quickly. They use local agencies for delivery, however, as there are none located near Cortona. You will have to travel to Florence or some other site to pick up your money yourself. Please make sure when transferring money that you understand exactly what the procedure is for receiving the money.

American Express
American Express will cash your personal, American check if you have an American Express card with your name on it (not your parents) and your checkbook. They will give you traveler's checks in US dollars if you wish. There are American Express offices in Florence, Rome, Venice and Milan.

Phone Cards
It is best to purchase phone cards after arrival in Italy, and carefully consider which brand of card to buy. There are many types available and the program cannot recommend which ones work.

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