8 Mail and Shipping

Parcel post packages from the U.S. to Italy can be sent air mail (from 10 to 12 days, but you may experience long delays). Federal Express and UPS packages can take about 2 days. If you must ship boxes to Italy, plan to have them arrive after you do. Address them to: Your First Name and Last Name, c/o Indiana University – BCSP, Via Malcontenti, 3, 40121 Bologna, Italy. Please note: There is no one to receive packages at the BCSP office from July 1 to August 31 and during the summer break.

Do not provide an estimated value for each item. Be aware that you may be charged disproportionate fees based on the value of the content. Items estimated at € 20 or less will most likely not be taxed. Contents estimated between € 20 and € 150 will most likely be taxed at 22% of their value. If you send a gift, take it out of the original packaging and remove any tags. It is important to list what is in the package and declare the contents as used. Do not list items as gifts and do not insure shipments or you will be subject to costly customs fees.

Do not expect to have prescription drugs, contact lenses or cosmetics sent from the

United States. Clearing them through customs involves major difficulties and costs.

Stamps are sold at tabaccherie (T-shops) as well as at the Post Office. All tabaccherie are equipped with postal scales for weighing letters and small packages. However, the tabaccherie may not have stamps for sending mail to the US. Go to the Post Office to send mail internationally. Several commercial mailing companies, such as Mail Boxes Etc., or DHL, have offices in Bologna where you can send packages by major courier.