AIACE 2024
WELCOME ADDRESS
Dear all,
After a one-year break, the Congress is back…As you may recall, we launched a survey to find out what you wanted, and many of you responded. We have therefore decided to postpone the Congress from May (when everyone sometimes has a number of constraints) to October, a quieter period. We have also decided not to hold the General Meeting, which is sometimes considered a little too administrative, particularly for accompanying persons, and to schedule it on video (this year on 27 May).Taking part in the Congress is all about conviviality, collegiality and the joy of meeting up with colleagues, all combined with culture. So Catania in Sicily awaits us from 12 to 15 October, with the possibility of a 3-day extension. From 12 to 14, we’ll be visiting Catania, then setting off to discover the Sicilian Baroque in the towns of Noto, Modica and Ragusa. The extensions will take us to Taormina, Piazza Armenian for a visit to Villa del Casale, Caltagirone and Syracuse.I look forward to seeing many of you there.
Dominique Deshayes
President
AIACE Italy welcomes you to Catania, a city of extraordinary beauty and a crossroads of cultures, where the past meets the present in a fascinating mix of history, art, and traditions. From October 12 to 15, 2024, we will have the privilege of hosting the yearly congress, which will not only be an opportunity for members from all sections to meet and exchange ideas but will also offer the chance to explore the wonders of this unique island. Nestled at the foot of Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano, Catania is a city that tells stories of millennia, a stage upon which civilizations have alternated, leaving an indelible mark. From the Greek era, evidenced by majestic theatres and temples, through the grandeur of Rome, visible in ancient baths and amphitheaters, to the elegance of Arab-Norman architecture blending with refined Bourbon influences, Catania and Sicily offer a timeless journey through history. But it’s not just history that makes this island unparalleled. Sicily is also a treasure trove of unique art and architecture, with examples unmatched in Italy and Europe. From the incredibly beautiful Byzantine mosaics to the Baroque churches of Noto and Palermo, from majestic villas and gardens to small villages that seem frozen in time, every corner of the island encloses a piece of beauty to be discovered. During our congress, we invite you to immerse yourself in Sicilian culture, to be surprised by its various facets, and to discover how the coexistence of so many cultures has created a unique heritage, rich in contrasts yet harmonious as a whole. These will be days of learning, sharing, and discovery, in one of the most fascinating places in Italy and Europe. We look forward to seeing you in Catania to share this unforgettable experience, full of history, culture, and beauty. Welcome to Sicily, where every stone tells a story and every landscape opens the heart.
Franco Rinaudo
President AIACE Italia