FRONTIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN ANTARCTIC GEOSCIENCE  * Pontignano (Siena), Italy - 29-31 August 2004

Travel and accommodation information

Participants will be responsible for arranging their own transportation to/from Florence or Siena. We encourage participants to reach Siena on Saturday, 28 August (accommodation and dinner have convenient prices in Pontignano; there are several bus connections from Florence to Siena in the afternoon). A shuttle bus from Siena (bus terminal at Piazza Gramsci) to Pontignano can be arranged at about 18,30, in connection with the arrival of the bus departing at 17,10 from Florence. Please indicate this choice in the registration form.

Information and resources for international and domestic travel are as follows.

1. Air Travel
Complete information about travel to nearby airports in Italy (Pisa, Florence, Bologna, Roma) is provided on the 32 IGC site  (www.32igc.org) and in printed form in the supplementary info in the second circular for 32 IGC.

2. Surface transportation
A.  Bus service between Florence and Siena is carried out by TraIn (www.trainspa.it, also in English). Buses depart from the central bus station in Florence, located 1 block from the train station and the beautiful Santa Maria Novella cathedral. On week days (i.e. 28 August, 31 August) there is a bus leaving every hour (direct buses are called "Rapida" and take 1 h 15 min.; busses called "Diretta" stop in Colle Val d'Elsa and Poggibonsi and take 1 h 35 min.). On Sundays (29 August is a Sunday!) the bus schedule has less frequent departures.
B.  There is daily bus service from Pontignano to Siena (Piazza Gramsci), and connections to regional buses or train (as for day trips in the local region by accompanying persons) from Siena.

3. Accommodations at Pontignano:  availability and dates
The workshop is to be held at the Certosa di Pontignano in the Tuscan countryside, near and with a breathtaking view of the hilltop city of Siena. The facilities at Pontignano are owned and operated by the Università degli Studi di  Siena.  For more information on the Certosa di Pontignano, its origins as a Carthusian monastery and a plan view of its gardens and cloister, visit http://www.unisi.it/servizi/certosa/certosa_ingl/index.html .

Accommodations for participants and accompanying persons can be available at Pontignano conference location beginning on the evening of 28 August, through 31 August (1 September departure).  Registration costs of 150 euros will cover two nights accommodation (29-30 August) plus meals during the workshop, stay of a longer duration can be arranged at additional cost, according to the prices listed in the registration section.

Accompanying persons can also be accommodated at Pontignano. Staff at Pontignano and at the tourist office in Siena can be of assistance in planning tourist excursions in the region.

4.  Letters of invitation
If some scientists require an official letter of participation for the workshop, for their institutions and travel authorization, this can be arranged with Carlo Alberto Ricci by contacting Jacqueline Müller (see address in registration section).
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