General information

CEFPAS, the Centre for Training and Research in Public Health of the Sicilian Region, is located in Caltanissetta, in the heart of Sicily, less than one hour away from Catania airport and about two hours away from Palermo airport. The Centre is well connected to the entire region. 

Caltanissetta is one-two hours away from most places in sunny Sicily, from Baroque to Phoenician, to Gothic, to Greek, to Norman, etc. The highways from here reach most places cut across marvelous landscapes of beautiful hills and seascapes, making it a superb choice for training, research, congresses and scientific meetings at national and international level. Indeed, for as far back in times as the beginning of civilizations, this land has been, and still is, a crossroads of civilizations and a blend of cultures and populations of particular interest. CEFPAS can therefore offer the best of yet uncontaminated tourism with excellence in scientific know-how.

CEFPAS is endowed with over two hundred spacious, double occupancy rooms, dozens of conference halls of different sizes – one of them seats about 500 people, and no architectural barriers. There is a restaurant with a seating space for 350 people; approximately 1,000 meals can be served at lunch and supper.  

Restaurant of CEFPAS

Additionally, there is space for recreation/sports (one indoor tennis court, indoor basket…) plenty of green areas and clean air.

Furthermore, CEFPAS offers to sportspeople about 3 km of internal roads, suitable for jogging. Additionally, it is possible to play indoor basket or indoor tennis with prior reservation.

From 18:00 to 21:30, a local bus stops at Cefpas and goes into town passing by Caltanissetta’s historical center in order to allow our guests to reach town easily and independently. One-way bus transportation costs € 0,80. Also, a taxi ride to the City Center or back is around € 15,00. 

Finally, on the Center’s premises there is a money machine serviced by the Banco di Sicilia for money withdrawal and automatic payments. Banks are located within minutes from CEFPAS.

Meetings, workshops and conferences of national and international flavour achieve best results when carried out at CEFPAS. During the last six years, dozens of activities have been successfully organized every year by our efficient and effective staff. The spaces are appropriate, fully equipped and well kept; the personnel are friendly and very well prepared even for the most exacting clients. The environment is also luscious with variegated colors and flowers, as you would have never though of finding in the middle of a dry island. We always say: “seasons may change but at CEFPAS it is always springtime”.

Conference Room

CEFPAS is a very big structure and this is where a modern school of Public Health is being developed. Since 1998 CEFPAS is member of ASPHER and other prestigious international organizations such as EHMA, VRQ, EFQM, ISQUA, IUHPE, RHN, SOUTHNET. In the year 2000 it received its ISO 9001 certification and since November 2002 it has become Vision 2000 certified. CEFPAS also houses the second WHO Documentation Centre in Italy and is one of the 12 recipients worldwide of the “Towards the Unity for Health” project of WHO. At present, the Centre is implementing the largest quality project for hospitals in Italy as it is working simultaneously in 72 public hospitals. It is also developing an accreditation system for social services.  

Cefpas carries out about 250 training activities per year on main social-health thematic areas such as: health promotion, management, quality, effective communication, clinical and behavioural sciences and nursing. This year, Cefpas is carrying out 5 masters on these areas. 

The Centre is located in a geographically strategic position, in the heart of Sicily and in the middle of the Mediterranean. Therefore, here there is a good understanding of the problems and the possible solutions of both North and South. With time, CEFPAS is becoming a pathway of culture, through high quality health sector training, research and support activities, while providing employment and economic opportunities to populations – young people in particular - who would have to emigrate otherwise in order to find work.  

Finally, this land is rich in archaeological sights, in history, in music, poetry, in almonds, delicious breads, good food and extraordinary desserts and is worthwhile discovering. The wine and the weather are also generous year round. As for people there is little to say: we are very close to Africa and our hospitality is as warm.

   
Visitors to Italy from non-European countries must hold a valid passport and, from some countries, a visitor’s visa is required. You are advised to check with your travel agent, airline, or local Embassy/Consulate.

Italy is on Central European Time (CET) GMT + 1 and six hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time.

 Electrical current in Italy is 220 volts.

 The average September daytime temperature in Caltanissetta is 20°-25° Centigrade. ?????

 CEFPAS is endowed with a Wi-Fi system for a fast and wireless internet access.

 The currency in Italy is € (euro).

 Foreign currency can be exchanged at the airport, banks and exchange offices. It is preferable that you change your money at the airport.

Credit cards are accepted at the Hotel S. Michele, in
restaurants and in many shops. Master cards only are accepted at CEFPAS.

An automatic money machine is available at CEFPAS where most cards can be used.

Travellers’ checks are not accepted in most places except in banks. Therefore, please keep this in mind when making a decision on payments while in Caltanissetta.

No laundry or ironing is available at CEFPAS but this can be arranged with a store in town. Please check with the reception for the cost per item and the delivery time.

Contact person: Dr. Roberta Arnone

Tel. 0039 0934 505381-505204 

Information on abstracts and scientific issues: abstractaspher@cefpas.it

Information on the other conference issues: congressaspher@cefpas.it