Meeting venue

ETTORE MAJORANA CENTRE
Via Guarnotta, 26
91016 ERICE (Sicily) - Italy
Tel: +39-923-869133
Fax: +39-923-869226

GENERAL INFORMATIONS

The "Ettore Majorana" Centre and Foundation of Scientific Culture (EMFCSC) takes its inspiration from the outstanding Italian physicist, after whom the Centre was named. The Centre is situated in Erice where three restored monasteries (one of which was the residence of the Viceroy of Sicily during the XIV and XV Centuries) provide an appropriate setting for high intellectual endeavour. These ancient buildings are now named after great Scientists and strong supporters of the "Ettore Majorana" Centre. The San Francesco Monastery (former Viceroys residence) is now the Eugene P. Wigner Institute with the "Enrico Fermi" Lecture Hall. The San Domenico Monastery is now the Patrick M.S. Blackett Institute with the "Paul A.M. Dirac" Lecture Hall. The San Rocco Monastery is now the Isidor I. Rabi Institute with the "Richard P. Feynman" Lecture Hall, the Directorate and the main Secretariat of the Centre. There are living quarters in all three Institutes for people attending the Courses of the Centre. Participants are also lodged in hotels. Young participants are kindly requested to share rooms. The computer room with internet connection is located off the left-hand side of the I.I. Rabi courtyard

HOW TO REACH ERICE (SICILY)

By Air. There are many flights from Rome to Palermo and a few from Milan which guarantee convenient international connections. We provide ground transportation from/to Palermo airport at any time (24/7) also in the case of late arrivals or early departures. Luggage handling in Rome is notoriously slow; we suggest that you travel with carry-on luggage only.

By Train. Via Milan-Rome, you can reach Trapani directly. From Trapani, to reach Erice comfortably, a taxi is suggested. Confirm the price before taking the taxi.

By Car. There are two possibilities: Drive along the Autostrada del Sole via Milan-Bologna-Florence-Rome-Naples-Villa San Giovanni (Reggio Calabria); then take a ferry-boat from Villa San Giovanni to Messina and drive to Erice (350 km from Messina). Take the ferry-boat either from Genoa or Naples to Palermo, and then drive on to Erice (100 km from Palermo). The places on the ferry-boat must be booked in advance. Should you break up your trip anywhere in Italy, click here for hotel information.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

Participants must communicate their arrival and departure time and flight number well in advance of their arrival. Transportation from and to Palermo airport will be provided by the Ettore Majorana Centre.

ABOUT ERICE

Erice lies on the top of Mount San Giuliano (750 meters) overloolking Trapani from a superb scenic location. Erice was inhabited by the Elymians who erected a temple dedicated to the worship of the goodness of fecundity and love. Successive invaders used this building to adore their own divinities: Tanit-Astarte for the Phoenicians, Aphodrite for the Greeks and Venus Erycina for the Romans. On the ruins of the temple stands the Castello di Venere fortified during the Norman rule. Next to it there are the Giardini del Balio overlooked by medieval towers. The town is surrounded by cyclopean walls of Elymian origin (8th century BC), at whose corners stand the Norman castle, the Spanish quarter and the cathedral (dated 1314), which has manteined its original 12th-century Gothic style in the bell tower and the delicate mullioned windows. The town planning of Erice's oldest part is primarily medieval in character, with little squares and narrow winding alleys opening onto lovely courtyards full of flowers. In Erice there are more than 60 churches, including those of San Martino, San Cataldo, San Giuliano and San Giovanni Battista, which every summer resound with medieval music, revived by world-famous musicians during a festival called Settimana di musica medioevale e rinascimentale. The Cordici Museum in Piazza Umberto I is well worth a visit: in the hall there is a painting by Antonello Gagini, the "Annunciation". Erice has fully maintained the fascinating atmosphere of an old medieval village, with its characteristic arts and crafts: finely decorated pottery, colourful hand-woven rugs and the traditional small cakes made of almond paste and candied fruit.