Housing and Dining in Prato - Fall 2021

Tuscany Campus staff have worked tirelessly to create housing and dining scenarios in Prato that put students’ health, safety and well-being at the forefront of campus life in Fall 2021. The Tuscany Campus has been guided in its work by the Covid Task Force on the main campus, and by a wealth of US, Italian and European health authority protocols and guidelines which prioritise students’ health and safety. Provisions have also been made to provide appropriate housing support and follow strict protocols in the event of quarantine or isolation, and flexible partnerships with a number of local eateries means that at any moment students can switch to meal delivery in their rooms.

Housing in Prato comes in many shapes and sizes and will be very different from what you are used to in the U.S. This is all part of the experience of studying abroad and adapting to the differences of other cultures. Some housing is provided by the University’s residence halls that are managed directly by university staff and resident assistants. Some housing is provided instead by hotel-style residences that are owned and managed by local people. All of them are no more than five minutes from campus, and many of the eateries on the meal plan are no more than a 10-minute walk from each other. The University of New Haven code of conduct applies to all establishments.

These protocols follow the example of the main campus protocols created by the university’s Covid Task Force, while also adhering to Italian government guidelines governing Covid-related safety measures in university halls of residence.

• All housing units, including all bedrooms and bathrooms, and shared spaces like lounges and laundry areas, will be professionally cleaned and sanitized prior to students’ arrival and throughout the semester in accordance with the Italian government’s Covid-19 regulations governing university halls of residence.
• At the entrance to all residential properties, there will be an unstaffed thermometer station, as well as hand gel, and a register where students and staff will need to sign themselves in.
• There will be daily professional cleaning of communal spaces and bathrooms of Residence Hall facilities throughout the program duration.
• There will be periodic professional cleaning and disinfection of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC).
• Throughout the day there will be cleaning of common touch points such as door handles, light switches, and HVAC., entrances, and stairwells.
• A protocol of student cleaning duties will be provided to students during orientation and in each apartment. Students are requested to follow the guidance provided in the protocol information. Failure to comply may affect their health and those of fellow roommates.
• Health and safety regulations will be affixed in all common areas of housing units.
• According to Italian law and campus policy, the use of face coverings is required in all public spaces in the residence hall except inside personal bedrooms and personal bathrooms when their doors are closed. Tuscany Campus staff will provide students with some masks on arrival. Masks are easily available throughout the city at many stores very near the campus, and at supermarkets.
• Equipment Stations for student cleaning duties, including paper rolls, disinfectant spray, gloves, will be available in many places throughout the residence halls, accompanied by instructions for cleaning.
• Hand sanitizing gel stations are to be found throughout the residence halls.
• No bathrooms or lavatories in the residence halls will be designated as public or communal or shared by the occupants of more than one bedroom.
• The University has set aside several isolation beds in separate residential spaces located within the main building on the main campus. These isolation beds are in rooms that will only be used for isolation and will not house any other residential students or staff on our campus. Each isolated student will have access to a private bathroom. Students who are required to isolate will be supported by University staff for academic continuity, medical care, and meal delivery.
• Should additional isolation beds be required, the Prato Campus is pursuing an agreement with a local hotel to provide additional capacity.
• If there is a confirmed case, or a special request by Residential Life or the Prato Campus COVID coordination team, the university will organise a deep and sanitising cleaning in a bedroom.
• Throughout the residence halls will be dedicated foot-operated garbage containers for disposal of waste used to clean touch points, used masks, and tissues.
• No visitors are allowed access to the residence halls, even if from another residence hall.

Residential Options

Each residence is equipped with WiFi internet access, closets/wardrobes, and bathrooms. You will find basic furniture, bedding and towels, basic kitchen facilities, cutlery, dishware, and washing machines. Not all of the residences are equipped with air conditioning, fans, or elevators. Special housing requests should be submitted through the Accessibility Resources Center (ARC) on main campus during the application process.

Meals are not provided at any of these housing locations, though students may use the basic kitchen facilities to make their own meal. Please see the meal plan section for more information about eating out.

The San Francesco Residence Hall is located next door to the main campus building. In San Francesco there are 14 double, triple, and quadruple bedrooms spread over three floors. Each bedroom has a private bathroom, some of which are en suite, and there is a kitchen on each floor. This residence has an elevator for students with limited mobility recognized by the Accessibility Resources Center. Some rooms in San Francesco are set aside for exclusive use by students if they need to isolate.

The Annex Suite will be used in Fall 2021 as an isolation apartment, and will be used exclusively by students who may need to isolate. It is located on the ground floor of our campus building and contains three bedrooms.

The Rinaldesca Suite is located on the second floor of a building in Via Rinaldesca, situated directly opposite the campus. There are four bedrooms, all quadruple, plus kitchen, lounge, and three separate bathrooms.

Via Roma Guesthouse is a residence located just outside the medieval walls of the city at the end of via Santa Trinita, just a five-minute walk from the campus. Via Roma is equipped with three floors of double and triple bedrooms and kitchens.

This residence is situated in a traditional hotel run by the same family that manages Via Roma Guest House and is just a five-minute walk from the campus. Il Giglio is equipped with two floors of double and triple bedrooms and a kitchen area.

Residence Manassei is located inside a historic 13th-century building that is just a five-minute walk from campus. This residence contains apartments with triple bedrooms. Each apartment contains a kitchen unit and an en suite bathroom.

Meal Plan

One of the best things about Italy is the food! To make eating out simple and convenient for students, the University of New Haven's Tuscany Campus runs a prepaid meal voucher system that operates in both Prato and Florence. At Orientation in Prato, you will be provided with a set of meal vouchers which can be exchanged for meals at several city center cafes and restaurants for the duration of the semester. Some restaurants can provide options for students with special dietary requirements.

A major part of any experience abroad here is exploring the options, and our meal plan has been designed to let you sample a wide variety of dishes in family-run restaurants and cafes located throughout the city center. You will discover that food and eating in Italy is different! For example, breakfast in local cafes is a pastry or a sandwich with a coffee or a tea. With some exceptions (such as kebab and Chinese) the restaurants on the meal plan serve typical Italian food like pasta and pizza for lunch and dinner, and don't open for dinner until 7.30pm. Getting used to these differences and adjusting to them, is also part of the experience of education abroad.

Fall 2021 Meal Plan

It might be the case that restaurants and cafes have limited operations during the Fall. Local restrictions might dictate, for example, that they can serve at tables only for lunch but not in the evenings. Or that they can only do take outs all day. Whatever happens, students can continue to use their Tuscany Campus vouchers as normal for takeout snacks, drinks or meals, and can even phone ahead or use delivery apps to have food from some establishments on the meal plan delivered to their residence halls.

If students ever need to quarantine or isolate the Tuscany Campus staff will assist in having food and drinks brought directly to their rooms. Furthermore the Campus staff will organise a system whereby students can still order from their rooms if necessary, without having to physically go outside to hand over a voucher to a delivery person.

The Tuscany Campus has a professional kitchen where staff stockpile large amounts of bottled water and basic supplies in case we need to help students in this way.

• Sample of Local Eateries where you can use your Meal Vouchers

  Name	Description
  Ali Hamza Kebab	This small and super friendly place on via Santa Trinita serves great falafel and kebabs all day long. Ali is a firm favorite of many students!
  Bar San Francesco	This café is located in the heart of the Santa Trinita area. After your breakfast or lunch, you can people watch on the terrace next to the lively street.
  Bartat	This local café in the same building as the nearby Monash University program is a cool spot for breakfast and lunch.
  Bar 4S	This characteristic café is nestled between the city library and our very own Art Studio. The owner Carolina has a big smile for everyone!
  Bon Per Te	This original place offers a range of scrumptious snacks, fried food and pancakes, and is located right by Porta al Serraglio train station.
  Brunch One	Opened in 1986 this legendary diner offers a wide range of pizzas and burgers.
  Buonamici Caffe	Like many in the center of Prato this café has some outdoor seating. It’s ideal for breakfast and lunch as it is located in the city’s main square opposite the City hall and the historic Palazzo Pretorio.
  Caffetteria del Centro	Directly opposite campus, this friendly place is a popular spot for students, locals and office workers alike.
  Chiaroscuro	This café offers a wide range of coffee, teas, home-made cookies, as well as fruit and veggie drinks.
  Chocolat	This cafe is conveniently located in front of Porta al Serraglio train station on via Magnolfi. Perfect for breakfast and lunch (and they do great chocolate too!).
  CiGarba	CiGarba ("We Like It" in Tuscan slang) is a mix between a pizzeria and a hamburger bar. They are also famous for their grilled meat. It is located between the Castle Square and Piazza San Marco.
  Crazy Pizza	This very popular pizza restaurant on via Serraglio near the station also offers takeout pizza.
  Francescaioli	A family-run restaurant in Piazza San Francesco directly under the campus serving traditional trattoria-style dishes and pizza. Many tables available outside in the attractive piazza San Francesco.
  Frieday	Classic Belgian fries with a wide range of sauces, but also panini, fried seafood and even Nutella sandwiches!
  Gelatiamo	Local favorite Aldino serves delicious Italian gelato and pancakes in this store located close to the cathedral.
  GI Doc	Family-run atmospheric restaurant serving a range of typical Tuscan meat and pasta dishes. Be sure not to miss the unusual wine cellar that doubles as a special dining room for two!
  La Cova - Prato	Tapas bar with a typical southern European atmosphere. It opened in the spring of 2015 and is already famous around the city!
  La Bottega Supermarket	This small neighborhood supermarket offers all the essentials for home cooking, snacks, vegetables and fruit. Located in the picturesque piazza Sant'Agostino in the city center. Students can use their vouchers here.
  Mokha	Always one of the most popular places on the plan, Francesco and Domenico serve Mediterranean cuisine and pizza in a chic, sophisticated atmosphere.
  Pizland	This authentic pizzeria serves tasty pizza in keeping with the tradition of Naples, the city where pizza was born. Gerardo and his family are great fun too!
  Pizzeria del Masini	Marco Masini’s unusual pizzas are characterized by his quest for quality, using only locally grown, authentic and healthy ingredients. He also offers vegetarian and vegan pizza.
  Ravioli di Cristina	We couldn’t NOT have a Chinese restaurant on the meal plan given that there are many Chinese immigrants living in Prato. Federico welcomes our students for lunch, dinner or takeaway.
  Da Saporé	Slices of great Neapolitan pizza to eat in or takeaway.
  Siamo alla Frutta	You can use your vouchers at this store to get delicious locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables.
  Buca Niccolini - FLORENCE	This cozy restaurant is conveniently located near Florence’s cathedral and offers a variety of traditional Italian dishes as well as pizzas and big salads. Very convenient for when you want to spend a day in Florence.
  La Cova - FLORENCE	Tapas bar in Florence located near the imposing Palazzo Pitti. Very convenient for when you want to spend a day in Florence.

For questions specific to the Tuscany Study Abroad program, please see our Tuscany Campus FAQ.

General FAQ