THE CITY

The Congress will be held in Turin, the former Italian Capital (1861-65).
Its cultural and industrial importance is evidenced by the presence of the Polytechnic University founded in 1859 and of big industries such as Fiat, Avio, and SKF.

Turin hosted Winter Olympic Games in 2006 and now is able to offer a suitable organization and proper accommodation facilities available for international conferences congresses, fairs, exhibitions and big events.

The recently modernized Turin International Airport (www.aeroportoditorino.it)

is just 10 miles north-west of the city centre. There are direct flights to and from several national and international airports, as Rome, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Munich and Paris. A direct train connects the airport with the Dora GTT station of Turin and a bus connects the airport wit the Main Railway Station (Porta Nuova) every half an hour. There are buses connecting the city centre with the airports of Turin and Milan Malpensa (about two ours travel). Turin is connected by fast trains (French TGV and Italian high velocity system AV) to Lyon-Paris, Milan and Rome.

Turin is an easy city to get round on foot, but it also has a good public transport system. Congress participants will surely enjoy the technical sessions and exhibition, but also the industries, historical monuments, museums, nature, sport and food offered by Turin.

This elegant city has many magnificent XVIII century monuments and a surplus of monuments and museums. The National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento, the Egyptian Museum and the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist are worth a visit. The historic centre is crowded with baroque churches, such as the Madonna della Consolata, and grandiose former royal residences. The extraordinary Palazzo Madama on Piazza Castello deserves a visit. For the more modern minded, 8 Gallery is a trendy shopping centre on the first floor of the Lingotto centre. Its boasts chic boutiques and cafes, as well as an elegant gallery.

For more information about the city visit the web site www.turismotorino.org