State of the Map 2017/Call for venues/Milan

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State of the Map 2017 - Milan

Milano Italy Duomo-Milan-01.jpg

Welcome to the bid proposal page to host State of the Map 2017 in Milan, Italy.

Wikimedia Italia is an Italian association of volunteers promoting open culture projects on a national scale since 2005. The organization is the official Italian chapter of Wikimedia Foundation inc., the US Foundation known around the world for Wikipedia, the free on line encyclopedia.

Last January 2016, Wikimedia Italia has been officially recognized as the Italian chapter of the OpenStreetMap Foundation. We are very proud of this outcome achieved thanks to our Vice - President Simone Cortesi, OpenStreetMap volunteer since the beginning, and former director of the OpenStreetMap Foundation. The Italian OpenStreetMap community has been talking for years about the creation of a chapter. Most people felt that it was important, but also that founding yet another association was pointless. Associations are not built only on projects, but also, and mainly, on common values and on a common vision: Wikimedia and OpenStreetMap share both, and it's just natural to work together.

During the last ten years of activity Wikimedia Italia has built a strong expertise in the organization of national and international events.

On a national scale, Wikimedia Italia organizes conferences, meetings, editathons (a special type of meetup to improve the encyclopedia. It is usually held in libraries, museums or other cultural institutions, focused on a specific encyclopedic topic, and is a great way to attract new Wikipedians) and, from 2014, mapping parties together with OSM community, which have had a great participation also of beginners!

As regards the international events, Wikimedia Italia organized the Wikimedia Conference in 2013, annual meeting of all Wikimedia chapters to discuss their status and the future of the Wikimedia movement in terms of organisational development. carries on many projects with cultural italian institutions such as libraries, museums, schools and universities.

Wikimedia Italy is also promoting, together with other partners, Wikimania 2016, the annual conference of the Wikimedia movement, organizing meetings and events and collaborating to the communication. During the event (June, 21st to June, 26th) there will be talks, discussions, meetups, training and hackatons on Wikipedia and its sister projects, held together by the conference's motto: "Wikipedia as a driver of change". After venues like Hong Kong, London or Mexico City, Esino Lario, a small Italian village in the Province of Lecco (Lombardy Region) will host the conference. What is peculiar in the current edition is that, for the first time, it will not take place in a huge conference hall, hotel, university but in a small village in the Alps: Wikimania 2016's venue is the entire village! About 1,000 of volunteer editors will come together to learn about and discuss projects, approaches and issues.

We are now definitely ready to host State of the Map in Italy!

Our vision

"Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. That's our commitment."

State of the Map 2017 - Milan will be an event where we celebrate free knowledge and the geographical wonder that the OSM communities represent.

We plan on bringing together a diverse group of people and involve both the private and public sector.

The event will bee an opportunity for visitors to experience the local cultural heritage as well as a good place to plan a short vacation.

Why Milan?

Milan is the second largest city of Italy and the economic capital of the country. It is also well known in the world for the fashion, the design and the culture. The city is definitely the beating heart of Italy, a city of art and culture, an easy-to-reach place and, starting from April, 14th, the new "home" of Wikimedia Italia.

Ancient buildings, monuments, design masterpieces and artworks from different historical periods live together in Milan. Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece "The Last Supper" is located in the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in the very center of the city. Walking down the street of Milan you can find the past and the future mixed together: you may encounter Duomo di Milano , the main Milan Cathedral but also the Bosco Verticale, which has been awarded as the “2015 Best Tall Building Worldwide”, far just 2,4 kms from Duomo.

Besides, in 2015, Milan hosted the Expo: to prepare to this international event, means of transport, the tourist industry and all types of accomodation have beed renewed. In few words, Milan is ready to host an international event such as "State of the map", now more than ever.

Who is the Team?

Our team members are:

  • Simone Cortesi (Treasurer - Wikimedia Italia) simone(at)wikimedia.it
  • Alessandro Palmas (OpenStreetMap project manager for Wikimedia Italia) alessandro.palmas(at)wikimedia.it
  • Giuliana Mancini (Executive Director) direttore-generale(at)wikimedia.it

For further detail please contact: OpenStreetMap Italia a.k.a. Wikimedia Italia http://www.wikimedia.it/ simone.cortesi@wikimedia.it - giuliana.mancini@wikimedia.it

When?

The best season for State of the Map in Italy would be end of May - end of June: the weather is fine and not too hot. In addition, if someone you want to extend your stay in Italy and consider an italian vacation he or she still find several off-peak fares. Places for vacation such as the Alps, the Ligurian Riviera and many beautiful Italian cities (Venice, Florence, Bologna and so forth) are easily reachable.

Where?

Main entrance.jpg

BaSe Milano is a former industrial building, purchased by the Municipality of Milan with the aim of promoting and spreading cultural initiatives. The building has been just renewed and hosts coworking space with some resident firms (from next week Wikimedia Italia premises!). There are some space is available for temporary tenants and 3 huge rooms for events and conferences. The complex also hosts the laboratories of the La Scala Theatre and the Museum of Cultures designed by architect David Chipperfield. BaSe is 700m far from the the railway station Milano Porta Genova and the metro M2 (connected directly to the main railway station Milano Centrale).

A separate document has been prepared with info about the venue and catering.

Transportation

External front view of BaSe.jpg

Going to/from/in Milan is easy: you can count on a capillary underground system, the surface public transportation (tram and buses) and several train stations linking downtown and the neighborhood. Tickets are pretty cheap and it is also possible to rent a bike across the city (one big bicycle parking is just in front of the main entrance of BaSe, Wikimedia Italy's premise and selected venue). There also many car sharing options.

Arriving by plane

Located in Northern Italy, Milan is served by three airports, all well connected to the city center.

  • Milano Malpensa (MPX) is the main international and intercontinental hub, with direct flights from almost any European country, and from most of the main U.S. and Asian airports. It is located 46 km from the city center. Once you land, check the terminal you are into: there are two, not very close but connected by a bus shuttle 24/7 with rides every 7 minutes by day, every 30 minutes by night. To reach Milan city center, you can choose between the following options:
    • Railway shuttle to Milan Cadorna Station via Malpensa Express, departing from Terminal 1 underground station (~36 min). Recommended but they're standard commuter trains, don't rely on good signs or instructions in English (Centrale trains take longer, good only if needed for bus/tram/walk connections.)
    • Bus shuttle to Central Station, from both terminals: cheaper but relies on highway traffic so leave a bit of buffer time. Usually terminal 2 requires less time than 1 with buses.
    • Taxi.
    • Private shuttle: if you are in a large group (let's say 10 or more), and you can arrange your arrival together well in advance.
    • There is actually a much longer mixed route, with a local bus and a suburban train route that probably would be a little bit cheaper, but surely less that comfortable the other options.
  • Milano Linate (LIN) is the city airport, located just 7 km from the city center, connecting Milan to most European capitals, among a fair share of national flights. Your options to reach the city center could be:
    • Urban route bus, number 73, straight to San Babila square in the city center.
    • Bus shuttle to Central Station, leaving every half an hour.
    • Taxi: It's within the municipality borders, so just ensure the meter is used.
    • By private shuttle: minibus for 16 people. They pick you up at the gate, leave you at the venue, and wait for you if the plane is late.
  • Milano Orio al Serio (BGY), located 45 km from the city, is the main hub for low-cost airlines (pro-tip: Orio is actually Bergamo airport, not Milan's).
    • Bus shuttle to Milan Central Station. *Very* dependent on highway conditions. If you plan to arrive or leave in peak hours, there could be some waiting time and lot of traffic. Allow for some delay.
    • City bus to Bergamo, then local train to Milan. Strongly advise against, very busy railway line, prone to delays, less dependable than shuttle.
    • Taxi.
    • Private shuttle: same as above. There are many companies providing the service, all of them let you compare prices online.

Arriving by rail

Milan is served by an high-speed rail network connecting Venice, Turin - Paris, Bologna and Rome:

  • National Railway system: http://www.trenitalia.com/ http://www.italotreno.it/. The main station (Stazione Centrale) is in the very heart of Milan and is connected through 2 underground lines, with fares up to 1,50 € per trip (discounts for multiple or daily tickets). There is a large taxi parking just outside the left exit. Most high speed and international trains will arrive here. While you are there, pay attention to this masterwork of architecture, an unique blend of fascist monumental architecture, Art Deco and Liberty style.
  • Some international trains – mostly from Paris (TGV Italy-France: http://it.voyages-sncf.com/it/tgv-italia-francia) – arrive and depart from Porta Garibaldi, the second large city station. You are just a short walk or two underground's stops from Centrale, so that's almost the same thing. The advice here is to look as the newly built Porta Garibaldi skyscrapers, a new modern addition to the city center designed by Cesar Pelli.

Arriving by bus

Attendee care

More information for attendees and their travelling companions.

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