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IFLA Conference

World Library and Information Congress: 75th IFLA General Conference and Assembly

"Libraries create futures: Building on cultural heritage"

23-27 August 2009, Milan, Italy


Spanish translation

Tours and Activities

The IFLA 2009 Congress in Milan offers many opportunities for social networking. Some of these events also offer you to visit local librarians or to experience the spirit and culture of Milan and Italy.

Special events

Please note the social schedule below is subject to change.

Sunday 23 August 2009

Opening Ceremony at the Fiera Milano Convention Centre will showcase the traditions of the Italian history.

Exhibition Reception will take place at the Fiera Milano Convention Centre. The exhibition will feature a wide selection of international and local vendors.

Optional event - serata al Teatro Alla Scala (a special price will be available for the delegates)

The Teatro Alla Scala was founded, under the auspices of the Empress Maria Teresa of Austria, to replace the Royal Ducal Theatre, which was destroyed by the fire on 26 February 1776 and had until then been the “Home of Opera” in Milan. Designed by the great neoclassical architect Giuseppe Piermarini, La Scala opened on 3 August 1778, with an Antonio Salieri Opera. (You can see pictures on pages 15 and 20 of the Final Announcement.)

The performance that will take place on Sunday 23 August will be a “Concerto lirico”. A special price will be available for the delegates.

Programme:

Gioachino Rossini from The barber of Seville Ouverture
La calunnia è un venticello
Chae Jun Lim, bass
Francesco Cilea from Adriana Lecouvreur Acerba voluttà
Anita Raveli, mezzo-soprano
Giuseppe Verdi from Rigoletto
from Simon Boccanegra
Caro nome
Shi Young Jung, soprano
A te l’estremo addio
Chae Jun Lim, bass
Vincenzo Bellini from I Puritani Son vergin vezzosa
Shi Young Jung, soprano
Giuseppe Verdi from Don Carlo Nel giardin del bello
(«canzone del velo»)
Anita Raveli, mezzo-soprano
Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
from Don Giovanni Nel giardin del bello
(«canzone del velo»)
Anita Raveli, mezzo-soprano
Felix Mendelssohn–Bartholdy   Symphony n. 4 op.90 in A “Italian”

 

IFLA and the National Committee are pleased to confirm that three tiers of tickets have been confirmed for the performance at serata al Teatro alla Scala on Sunday 23 August and you are able to purchase the following tickets at the indicated prices:


Stalls and first tiers of boxes    €60.00 per person
Second tiers of boxes              €35.00 per person
Galleries                                €20.00 per person

TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE!


If you have already booked a ticket for the performance, then the IFLA 2009 Registration team will be contacting you directly to advise of the changes to your registration.
These ticket tiers will be available to book online via the registration system or alternatively please email the Registration team at ifla2009reg@congrex.com

Tuesday 25 August 2009

Social Evening in the heart of the city

Join us for a special evening of art, music, Milanese food and even some shopping in the famous Milan fashion district.  Events specifically for IFLA delegates will be taking place this night at several different venues:

            Palazzo Reale – Duomo Square
            Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral)
            Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (Central Area)
            Piazza Scala – Palazzo Marino
            Castello Sforzesco

Further details will be provided when you pick up your name badge and Congress documentation in the Fiera Milano Convention Centre (MIC).

Library Visits

Library Visit 1A
Dates:  Wednesday 26 August  

09.30    Visit one commences
11.30    Visit two commences

Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense
Historic Libraryhttp://www.braidense.it

The library is housed in an elegant building (a good example of XVIII century architecture).  The collections of books and documents are deeply connected with the history of Milan.  The main reading room and its furniture are often regarded as one of the symbols of libraries in Milan.


Library Visit 1B
Dates:  Wednesday 26 August  

09.30    Visit one commences
11.30    Visit two commences

Mediateca Santa Teresa
Public Library – http://www.mediabrera.it/

The Mediateca of Santa Teresa, in the ancient church if SS.  Giuseppe and Teresa in the centre of Milan (now entirely refurbished), is a multimedia library that allows access to digital resources.  It is a section of the “Braidense” National Library of Milan.


Library Visit 2
Dates:  Tuesday 25 August       

09.00    Visit one commences
10.00    Visit two commences
14.00    Visit three commences
15.00    Visit four commences

Wednesday 26 August  

09.00    Visit one commences
10.00    Visit two commences

Biblioteca Trivulziana
Historic Library http://www.comune.milano.it/museiemostre

Set in the magnificent frame of the Sforza castle, right in the heart of Milan, this library is universally renowned for its wonderful collection of illuminated manuscripts.


Library Visit 3
Dates:  Tuesday 25 August       

10.00    Visit one commences
11.30    Visit two commences
13.00    Visit three commences
14.30    Visit four commences
16.00    Visit five commences

Wednesday 26 August  

10.00    Visit one commences
11.30    Visit two commences
13.00    Visit three commences

Biblioteca Ambrosiana
Historic Library http://www.ambrosiana.it/ing/index.asp

Founded by Cardinal Federico Borromeo, the library is situated in Milan and was one of the first to be opened to the public.  It was named Ambrosiana after the Patron of Milan, St. Ambrogio, and it collected a large number of codices in Greek, Latin, vulgar Latin and various Oriental languages.


Library Visit 4
Dates:  Wednesday 26 August   09.00    Visit commences

Biblioteca Comunale Centrale Sormani
Public Library http://www.comune.milano.it/biblioteche

The library is hosted in a building of great value with a long history.  The peculiarity of this building consists in having not only one but two facades of great architectural interest.  Sormani library is the main library within the Milan Municipality Library System and owns a rich inheritance particularly focused into humanistic, legal, and art sciences (600,000 books in total plus 40,000 audio documents).


Library Visit 5
Dates:  Wednesday 26 August   09.00    Visit commences

Roman Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
University Library http://www.unicatt.it

This is a vastly endowed library providing information through printed as well as on-line documents.  It has centrally organised facilities with reading rooms and access points scattered throughout the building, combining the infrastructures with an elegant Renaissance architecture.

Library Visit 6
Dates:  Wednesday 26 August   09.00    Visit commences

State University Library
University Library http://www.unimi.it/

The whole library system of the State University in Milan consists of approximately one hundred libraries working on a network of interconnected OPAC.  The main scope is to provide institutes with highly specialised infrastructures with collections of its own as well as worldwide connections.  The visit will concentrate on the cross-shaped central section built in 1450 by Filarete, elegant Renaissance building housing the large reading rooms for Humanities and Law.


Library Visit 7
Dates:  Wednesday 26 August   09.00    Visit commences

State University “Bicocca” Library
University Library http://www.comune.milano.it/biblioteche

The library is a unified structure housed in three different buildings on campus: Central Library, Science Library and Medical Library.  Students can obtain all bibliographic resources necessary for their studies and research and for all other faculties in the university.


Library Visit 8
Dates:  Wednesday 26 August   09.00    Visit commences

Biblioteca Affori and Biblioteca Cassina Anna
Public Libraries http://www.comune.milano.it/biblioteche

“Affori” and “Cassina Anna” libraries are two excellent examples chosen from the 23 public libraries existing in the town of Milan.


Library Visit 9A
Dates:  Wednesday 26 August   09.00    Visit commences

Children’s Library of Rozzano
Public Library http://www.cascinagrande.it/welcomeragazzi.htm

The children’s library, opened in 2007, is situated in an old water mill.  “Cascina Grande” is a typical Lombard farmhouse which has been transformed into a cultural centre and library.


Library Visit 9B
Dates:  Wednesday 26 August   09.00    Visit commences

Biblioteca Chiesa Rossa
Pubic Library http://www.comune.milano.it/biblioteche

“Chiesa Rossa” is a public library of the Municipality of Milan.  The library is situated into an ancient rural building entirely refurbished.


Library Visit 10
Dates:  Tuesday 25 August        09.00    Visit commences

Biblioteca Comunale di Abbiategrasso
Public Library http://www.comune.abbiategrasso.mi.it/

The public library is situated inside a castle whose origins date back to the XII century.  The Abbiategrasso library itself is over 100 years old, being founded in 1899 by a group of book lovers, a Reading Club which carried out all the functions of a library.  In 1929 the Reading Club became the Municipal Library.  The library has been hosted in the castle since 1995.  During the tour it will be possible to visit the restored “Annunciata”, where you can view an interesting exhibition of Lombard sixteenth century frescos.


Library Visit 11A
Dates:  Tuesday 25 August        09.30    Visit commences

Biblioteca Queriniana
Historic Library – http://portale.comune.brescia.it/istituzionale/settori/biblioteche

This library is a very good example of library architecture: the Queriniana library built in the 18th century is well known for its rich collections of illuminated manuscripts.  The library visit will include a visit to one of the best museums of Northern Italy as well as one of the most beautiful Italian squares (piazza della Loggia).


Library Visit 11B
Dates:  Tuesday 25 August        09.30    Visit commences

Biblioteca Morcelli
Historic Library – http://www.morcellirepossi.it/

The library was founded in 1817 and owns more than 70,000 books and manuscripts from XII to XVIII century.


Library Visit 12A
Dates:  Tuesday 25 August        09.30    Visit commences

Biblioteca “Angelo Mai”
Historic Library http://www.bibliotecamai.org

The Angelo Mai library showing XVIII century illuminated manuscripts, is located in the old walled-in town, overlooking the flat plain of the Po Valley, and combines the services of historic libraries with modern facilities scattered in the new district at the foot of the hill the old city is built on.


Library Visit 12B
Dates:  Tuesday 25 August        09.30    Visit commences

Biblioteca “Antonio Tiraboschi”
Public Library http://www.comune.bergamo.it

The “Tiraboschi” public library of the city of Bergamo is the centre of the urban lending library system.  It was designed by architect Mario Botta, and was opened in 2004.


Library Visit 12C
Dates:  Tuesday 25 August        14.00    Visit commences

Biblioteca Centro Cultura di Nembro
Public Library – http://www.nembro.net/
The public library of Nembro, opened in 2007, is the result of a complete refurbishment of an 1897 building, which was previously a primary school.


Library Visit 13
Dates:  Friday 28 August          
Price:    €50.00 per person

Timings:
08.00    Coach departs the Milan Convention Centre
10.00    Tour commences at the Palazzo Tursi
13.30    Welcome and Lunch in the garden of the Berio Library
15.30    Tour of the Berio Library
18.30    Coach will depart to return to the Milan Convention Centre

Genova City Tour and Berio Library
Biblioteca Berio www.comune.genova.it

In the morning it will be possible to visit the Historical Centre (the largest in Europe) of Genova.

Going along the medieval streets, called “caruggi”, famous for their historical workshops, escorted by a tourist guide you can reach a lot of remarkable spots:

  • Piazza San Matteo, with the Romanesque Cathedral
  • Via San Lorenzo, with the Cathedral, masterpiece of the Gothic style, where are preserved the San Lorenzo Treasure and the “Sacro Catino”
  • Palazzo Ducale, rich of history, art and culture
  • Piazza de Ferrari, symbolic centre of the City, with its big Fountain

There you will leave your tourist guide and a Berio’s librarian will take you across Porta Soprana, with its two towers indicates the ancient city, to the Cristoforo Family House.

You will then reach the Berio Library and have lunch at Berio Caffé, from 13.00 to 15.00 hours.

In the afternoon you will visit the Berio Library.

The civic library was built by Abbot Giuseppe Vespasiano Berio in the second part of the sixteenth century.  Now the building, completely restored, with a large court inside and green gardens around, is really a cultural centre open to the city, where daily conferences, seminars, concerts, performances and exhibitions take place.

During its long history (more than 250 years) the Berio Library collected a very rich treasure of precious books and documents from XV to XVIII century: parchments, coats-of-arms, manuscripts, illuminated codes, maps, autographic letters and funds of some of the Genova ancient and important families.

Half Day Tours

Milan City Centre Walking Tour

Date: Monday 24 August
Time: 09.00 - 12.00 hours
Price: €45 per person

The coach will collect delegates from Milan Convention Centre and transfer them to the Piazza del Duomo where the walking tour of the city will begin. From the Piazza del Duomo you can see the famous Cathedral built in 1386 and where Napoleon was crowned as emperor; then you will visit the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele famous for its architecture and shops. The Piazza della Scala is named after the world's most famous opera house built in the neoclassic style by the architect Piermarini. Opposite the Scala stands Palazzo Marino. The Piazza Mercanti is the ancient heart of medieval Milan. The Castello Sforzesco is one of Milan's most famous monuments. The end of the tour will be near Castello Sforzesco, the old symbol of Milan, ancient and sumptuous dwelling palace of the Renaissance. The coach will collect delegates at a designated area and return delegates to the Milan Convention Centre.

Tram Tour

Date: Monday 24 August
Time: 09.00 - 12.00 hours
Price: €70 per person

The coach will collect delegates from Milan Convention Centre and transfer them to the tram pick up point. Delegates will then board the tram which will allow them the possibility of discovering Milan aboard a real 1920's tram. Travelling around the city centre passing along the Castle square, stop at Ponte Vetero, the Cathedral, the San Lorenzo Columns, The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the tour proceeds with Porta Venice, Piazza Repubblica Manzoni and Via Monte Napoleone, continuing with Piazza della Scala and Corso Garibaldi the tour will end in Castle square. The tram ride will last for approximately two hours and the coach will collect delegates at a designated area and return delegates to the Milan Convention Centre.

Franciacorta Tour

Date: Monday 24 August
Time: 08.30 - 13.00 hours
Price: €75 per person

The coach will transfer delegates to Franciacorta which is approx 1hour 30 minutes away. A visit to Franciacorta at the famous winery Guido Berlucchi & C., one of the most famous spumante producers. Besides the original gallery of 1600 there are also the underground cellars with steady temperatures not higher than 12° C, which give to the sparkling wines the best maturing conditions. Berlucchi & C. is placed in Borgonato di Cortefranca, the charming medieval village in the heart of Franciacorta. The wines produced are all D.O.C. and D.O.C.G. and include the wines Terre di Franciacorta Red wine (Cabernet, Barbera, Merlot, Nebiolo), Terre di Franciacorta white wine (Pinot white, Chardonnay), the champagnes Franciacorta D.O.C.G. white millesimè (Chardonnay, white Pinot, black Pinot). The visit on site lasts about 45 minutes and follows all the production stages. The coach will depart for the return journey of approx 1hour 30 minutes returning delegates to the Milan Convention Centre.

Soncino Village Tour

Date: Tuesday 25 August
Time: 08.30 - 13.00 hours
Price: €70 per person

The coach will collect delegates from the Milan Convention Centre and transfer them to Soncino village which is located 1 hour from Milan. Rich in artistic and historical treasures such as the Sforza's family fortress, the Print Museum located in the famous Printer's house (where the first Jewish Bible was printed), cathedrals and palaces. Visit of the Sforza's fortress: Built in 1473 from the architect Bartolomeo Gaudio the Rocca has 4 towers: one that hosted the kitchen and bedroom of the Captain, one the treasure and the twin towers.

Visit the Printer's house: where you can feel the atmosphere of the ancient Jewish printing house of XV century. On the lower floor printing machines of the 1800 and beginning 1900 can be admired as well as a reproduction of a machine of 1400. On the first floor some original and some copies of books printed by Sonsino together with some other famous printer's works can be seen. On the second floor a short movie will be shown on the Sonsino's history and the permanent exhibition on the Printing history can also be visited. You will also be able to enjoy a walking tour around the Historical Walls and the Undergrounds before the coach returns delegates to the Milan Convention Centre.

Last Supper and Santa Maria delle Grazie Tour

Date: Tuesday 25 August
Time: 14.00 - 16.30 hours
Price: €65 per person

The coach will collect delegates from the Milan Convention Centre and transfer them to the Last Supper and the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie where they will meet with our English speaking guide for the visit. Santa Maria Delle Grazie Church, built at the end of the XV century in a late gothic style, is famous for the Cenacolo which houses the world-renowned Ultima Cena fresco of Leonardo Da Vinci. The coach will collect delegates at a designated area and return delegates to the Milan Convention Centre.

Brera Art Gallery Tour

Date: Tuesday 25 August
Time: 14.00 - 17.00 hours
Price: €55 per person

The coach will collect delegates from Milan Convention Centre and transfer them to the Brera Art Gallery one of the most famous museums in the world. The Brera Art Gallery includes masterpieces by the greatest Italian masters of between the 14th and the 19th centuries and several works by the most important foreign masters. The coach will collect delegates at a designated area and return delegates to the Milan Convention Centre.

Brescia Walking Tour

Date: Wednesday 26 August
Time: 08.30 - 13.30 hours
Price: €85 per person

The coach will collect delegates at the Milan Convention Centre and transfer them to Brescia which is approx 1 hour 30 minutes. Delegates will then be separated into groups of 30 people per guide for the walking tour of Brescia and will visit the following locations:

  • Piazza della Loggia and Palazzo della Loggia which is the most beautiful square in Brescia and was inaugurated in 1433.
  • Piazza Paolo Sesto is the east side of the wide square, which was in the heart of the old city, is occupied by the Tower of "Pégol" and the Loggia delle Grida, incorporated into the Broletto, the Duomo Nuovo (the New Cathedral) and the Duomo Vecchio (the Old Cathedral).
  • Santa Giulia Museum is the site of the convent which encloses millenary remains. It was founded by King Desiderio in 753 A.D. Nowadays, the superimposition of buildings on the foundations of old ones is evident from the mosaics of the old Roman villa, the Lombard Basilica of S. Salvatore, the Renaissance Church of Santa Giulia. In the Church of Santa Maria in Solario, with frescoes by Floriano Ferramola, under the cupola, the "Treasure of Santa Giulia" is displayed.
  • Roman Forum: when Brescia was under Roman rule, this square was the centre of both religious and political life. The Capitolium Temple, prominently situated at the north end, had an arcade with a double order of columns, as can be seen from the remains of the arches on the former ground level. The Basilica (the law courts) was situated on the south side: remains of this edifice can be seen incorporated into the nearby houses in Piazza Labus. The magnificent Piazza del Foro was traversed by the "Decumanus Massimus" (nowadays Via dei Musei) which ran from Bergamo to Verona. The Church of San Zeno in Foro faces onto this road. It has a small churchyard enclosed by railings with statues of intertwined dolphins; inside the Church a collection of paintings deserves attention. The imposing Palazzo Martinengo Cesaresco al Novarino, opposite the Church, was built in the XVIIth century. Important Roman remains which were found underneath it are now on display in the basement for delegates to view before boarding the coach for the return journey to the Milan Convention Centre.

Vigevano and Pavia Walking Tour

Date: Thursday 27 August
Time: 08.30 - 13.00 hours
Price: €70 per person

The coach will depart the Milan Convention Centre and transfer delegates to the most ancient heart of Vigevano which dates back to the early Middle Ages, at that time it was a fortified town nearby a ford in the river Ticino. For centuries the town was an important centre for textiles, particularly silk and wool. However, in the second half of the nineteenth century, textile production made way for the shoe manufacturing industry. Today, Vigevano is still the most important town in Italy for footwear manufacturing generally.

This walking tour will visit the Ducale Square in Vigevano which was designed by Bramante and is one of Italy's most beautiful piazzas. The buildings of the square was instigated by Duke Ludovico il Moro and work began in 1492. The tour will then transfer to the Certosa di Pavia or Charterhouse of Pavia (built c. 1396-1465) is a famous monastery complex situated near a small town of the same name in the Province of Pavia, located 8km north of the City of Pavia. Certosa is the Italian name for a house of the cloistered monastic order of Carthusians founded by St Bruno in 1044 at Grande Chartreuse. The Certosa is renowned for the exuberance of its architecture, in both the Gothic and Renaissance styles, and for its collection of art works which are particularly representative of the region. The delegates will meet the coach at the designated area for the return journey to Milan Convention Centre.

Full Day Tours

Lake Como Tour

Date: Monday 24 August
Time: 09.00 - 17.00 hours
Price: €200 per person

The coach will depart from the Milan Convention Centre and transfer delegates to Cernobbio which will take approx 1 hour. Cernobbio is a lovely village situated on Lake Como and will be the departure point for delegates as they depart by private motorboat for a tour of the Lake bound to one of the beautiful villas and admiring the charming lake landscape. Delegates will visit Villa Carlotta which is a Palace built in the XVIII century with staircases and gardens, partially modified by Count Sommariva according to the "Empire" Style, visit its wonderful botanic garden which houses orange trees pergolas, various tropical plants and the world famous rhododendrons and Azalee flowering in April-May, visit its famous museum that houses works of art of Canova, Acquisti, Appiani and so on . . . After the visit to Villa Carlotta, lunch will be provided in a charming restaurant on a bay overlooking the Lake, with its fish and meat specialities. Crotto dei Platani restaurant is an elegant and rustic location located in the romantic setting of the Como Lake in a little town called Brienno. The cuisine combines local traditions, creativity and truly unusual flavours. It has also a private pier for boats. After lunch delegates will return by Coach to the Milan Convention Centre.

Lake Garda Walking Tour

Date: Monday 24 August
Time: 09.00 - 17.00 hours
Price: €130 per person

The coach will depart from the Milan Convention Centre and transfer delegates to the Lake of Garda, bound to Sirmione which will take approx 2 hours. On arrival in Sirmione the delegates will begin their full day walking tour. The town is located on a narrow peninsula that extends about 4 km into Lake Garda, one of the most enchanting places on the lake, and where one can enjoy a splendid view of the two shores. Delegates will enter the town over a drawbridge and can follow the narrow lanes of the centre to the archaeological site at the end of the peninsula. A visit to the Rocca Scaligera (Sirmione Castle) which was built in 1250 by Mastino I della Scala, Lord of Verona, as a fortress to protect the Lake and a landing of the fleet, is included which will take approx 40 mins. After leaving the Castle you will walk along Via Vittorio Emanuele and Via Santa Maria Maggiore where you will admire its XV century church. As delegates proceed they will reach the Ancient City Walls and then taking the Passeggiata delle Muse (Muses promenade), you will be right at the Grotte di Catullo. The Grotte di Catullo is one of the most interesting archaeological areas in Italy: olives and cypress trees surround the remains of a large Imperial age villa; it is the largest and best preserved villa in Northern Italy.

Delegates will be able to purchase lunch at one of the local restaurants and after lunch delegates will have some leisure time until 15.30 before meeting with the coach at the designated area for the transfer back to the Milan Convention Centre for arrival in Milan at approx 17.30 hours.

Mantova Tour

Date: Tuesday 25 August
Time: 09.00 - 17.00 hours
Price: €130 per person

The coach will depart from the Milan Convention Centre and transfer delegates to Mantova which will take approx 2 hours. One of the most pleasant excursions to the town of Virgilio and the Gonzagas family. A town where you can find most of the works of the painter Andrea Mantegna. The Castle of Saint George was constructed during the reign of the Gonzagas and stands on the banks of the lake as a fortified outpost against possible enemy incursions. Over the course of the centuries, this beautiful castle was gradually transformed into the private residences of the nobility of Mantova.

The delegates will walk to the centre of town to visit Piazza Sordello, Piazza Sant'Andrea and Saint Andrews. After visiting Saint Andrew's a brief pause to see the Rotunda of Saint Lawrence. It is the oldest church in Mantova, and has been preserved despite all the troubles of time. Delegates will be able to purchase lunch in one of the restaurants in town and will have time after lunch at their leisure before meeting up with the coach at the designated areas for the transfer back to the Milan Convention Centre.

Bergamo Tour

Date: Tuesday 25 August
Time: 09.00 - 17.00 hours
Price: €110 per person

The coach will depart from the Milan Convention Centre and transfer delegates to Bergamo which will take approx 45 minutes. Bergamo and its province can rightly be considered a casket holding art, nature and culture treasures. In Bergamo and its surroundings people can discover monuments and artistic objects of uncommon beauty, as well as important historical and cultural witnesses, hidden among hills, mountains, country landscapes, rivers and lakes. In our province, nature and culture combine in charming itineraries which lead the visitor far from the overwhelming stream of everyday life, giving him the opportunity to become part of an atmosphere which evokes past times, where the passing of the days and men's actions recover their original meaning.

During the tour delegates will visit the Venetian walls, Citadel, streets and squares of the historical centre, Piazza Vecchia, Palazzo della Ragione, Santa Maria Maggiore Church, the Colleoni Chapel, the Cathedral, the 'Rocca' Fortress. Visit of the Pinacoteca Carrara. Delegates will be able to purchase lunch in one of the restaurants in town and will have time after lunch at their leisure before meeting up with the coach at the designated areas for the transfer back to the Milan Convention Centre.

Parma Tour

Date: Friday 28 August
Time: 09.00 - 17.00 hours
Price: €130 per person

The coach will depart from the Milan Convention Centre and transfer delegates to Parma which will take approx 2 hours. Parma has its origins as a Roman colony on the Via Emilia in the year 183AD, both the city and the suburbs offer numerous vestiges of the Roman presence. In the XIXII centuries Parma starts to be an important cultural and trade centre, at the crossroads for merchant caravans travelling through Europe towards the South, and for pilgrims heading for the Holy Land and travelling along the so called strada Romea or Via Francigena - the Pilgrim's Way.

Visit of Duomo & Baptistery: The Cathedral of Parma is the work of 'maestros' from the central regions and from Lombardy and was completed in the XII century after a series of reconstructions and renovations. The interior has the Latin cross layout and is the work of the Mannerist school of the Emilia region.

Il Teatro Farnese: The Farnese Theatre - a magnificent structure and sublime example of the great theatrical tradition of the Po Valley courts - is situated on the first floor of the Palazzo della Pilotta. It was commissioned by Ranuccio I to pay homage to Cosimo II De' Medici with a theatrical production worthy of the duke, during his stay in Parma while on his way to Milan.

Delegates will have time at their disposal to visit the beautiful Ducal park at the end of the tour and delegates will also be able to purchase lunch in one of the restaurants in town before returning to the Milan Convention Centre.

Pre and Post Congress Tours

Italy is the first Country in the world for a number of sites included in UNESCO's World Heritage List.

There is scarcely a place in Italy that was left untouched by the long and extraordinary history of the Country. Travelling around Italy is always an "artistic tour": there are so many artistic treasures spread over the whole Country, so many cities that are real jewels, so much historical and natural heritage is present, so that Italy could be defined as an open-air art gallery. Because of these reasons it becomes very hard to make a choice about where and what it is worth to be visited.

We would direct you to the following websites to assist you in making your own independent pre and post Congress travel arrangements:
http://www.enit.it/otp.asp?lang=uk
http://www.touringclub.it/viaggi/index.asp

Suggested Tours: Pre and Post Congress Tours

We would like to suggest some tour proposals, as follows:

Verona
A suggested three day pre or post Congress tour could be a tour to Verona. The first day could commence in Verona where highlights include visits to "Giulietta House" and "Arena di Verona Theatre" before staying overnight in Venezia. On day two the tour could include a tour of Venezia and its Lagoon once again staying overnight in Venezia with day three enjoying a tour of Brenta, Paddadio's Villas, the Po Delta, the City of Chioggia, and the City of Vincenza with the Palladio's theatre before either departing for Milan or your own country.

Rome
A suggested four day pre or post Congress tour could be a tour to Rome. The first day could commence in Rome where highlights include visits to Pompei, the Amalfitana Coast, and the City of Sorrento before staying overnight in Sorrento. On day two the tour could include a visit to Sorrento, Capri and Napoli with an overnight stay in Rome. On day three the tour could include a visit to the City of Rome with an overnight stay. Day four could be a travel day to either Milan or your own country.

Another suggested four day pre or post Congress tour to Rome could include the following itinerary.

On day one the tour could commence in Rome with travel to Assisi via Todi, Spoleto and Foligno before staying overnight in Perugia.

On day two the tour could include a visit to the City of Montepulciano which could include a visit to "strada del vino" Orvieto Cathedral before returning to Rome for an overnight stay.

On day three the tour could include a visit to the City of Rome with another overnight stay in Rome. Day four could be a travel day to either Milan or your own country.

It is advised that you arrange and confirm your pre and post Congress tours in plenty of time to ensure you secure your desired requirements as availability will be limited due to the time of year.