Information for attendees

  By Train

The main railway station is Verona Porta Nuova, at the junction of the Milan–Venice and Brenner–Rome railway lines. The railway station is located 1500 meters from the conference venue (20 minutes walking distance). There are connections with all main Italian railway stations all day long with various types of train services: Regional, Intercity, and Eurostar. Approximate traveling times with high-speed trains:

At the railway station, buses can be taken stopping at Piazza Brà, the central square in which the Arena amphitheater is located and the conference venue as well.  Bus lines.

  By Car

Verona can be easily reached by using: - the A4 Serenissima Milan-Venice motorway, exiting at Verona Sud. -the A22 Brenner-Modena motorway, reaching the intersection with the A4, heading towards Venice and exiting at Verona Sud. Once at the motorway exit, follow the signs indicating "tutte le direzioni" (all directions) and then follow the “city center” signs. Approximate distance of Verona from major cities (by motorway)

  Accommodation

A number of hotels are located within walking distance from the conference venue. This includes:

Prices are given as guide only, please check for an exact price. Note also that many other hotels of various categories are available near the conference venue  in the center of Verona within less than 15 minutes travel by public transports.

  Touristic information

Verona is a city on the Adige river in Veneto, northern Italy, with approximately 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven provincial capitals of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third largest in northeast Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona covers an area of 1,426 km2 (550.58 sq mi) and has a population of 714,274 inhabitants. It is one of the main tourist destinations in northern Italy, owing to its artistic heritage, several annual fairs, shows, and operas, such as the lyrical season in the Arena, the ancient amphitheater built by the Romans. Three of Shakespeare's plays are set in Verona: Romeo and Juliet, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and The Taming of the Shrew. The city has been awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO because of its urban.

As far as the quality and the preservation of its Roman antiquities are concerned, Verona is second only to Rome. Its luminous marble monuments will take you two thousand years back in time: its famous amphitheater, the Roman Theatre (older than the Arena), Ponte Pietra ( the "pons lapideus", the Roman Bridge built over a natural ford used by people for centuries), the Arco dei Gavi (Gavi Triumphal Arch) erected to celebrate one of the most influential families of the city.

You will be able to see the monumental gateways which greet the visitor - Porta Borsari and Porta Leoni and which testify to the grandeur of the Roman Empire. A simple walk along Corso Cavour, Corso Portoni Borsari, and Corso Santa Anastasia practically lead you along the ancient Roman Via Postumia which ended up in the Roman Forum, now Piazza Erbe.

Beneath the level of the street, the fascinating remains of Roman villas and mosaics have come to light, giving a glimpse of the magnificence of Verona's Roman past. For a journey back in time, a visit to the Scavi Scaligeri or the Villa at Valdonega is an absolute must. The rule of the Scaligeri transformed Verona's appearance, with its fortifications, the beautiful Castelvecchio and its nearby Ponte Scaligero, Cangrande's palace and other palaces of the Della Scala Family (Lords of Verona), the Domus Mercatorum and Piazza Erbe and last but not least, their splendid intricate funerary monuments, the "Arche Scaligere".

The period of Venetian domination as well has left its mark on the city - the palaces of its nobles, the art-works of its great painters in the Castelvecchio Museum and the churches of the city. The Renaissance Palaces of noble families line the streets - Palazzo della Gran Guardia, Palazzo Pompei, Palazzo Maffei, the "Loggia del Consiglio" and the Domus Nova in Piazza dei Signori ("Lords' Square"). The figure of a great architect dominates this particular period, that of Michele Sanmicheli who designed the gateways to the city - Porta Nuova, Porta Palio, Porta San Zeno and Porta Vescovo. During the period of Austrian domination, Verona becomes the lynch-pin of a perfect defensive system of fortresses and walls known as the "Quadrilatero". Bastions and fortresses guard the city, and both civil and military architecture flourishes (Palazzo Barbieri and the Arsenal).

Verona is an open, hard-working and vivacious city. The hospitality and courtesy of Veronese people ensure that guests enjoy a warm, enjoyable yet discrete welcome.

More info at  http://www.tourism.verona.it/en  and  http://www.veronatouristoffice.it/en/ .