SOCIAL AND TOURIST PROGRAMME

Participants and accompanying persons are welcome to attend the Conference social events. An attractive tourist programme during the Conference, post-conference tours will also be organised.

Social events

Thursday, September 18, 2008

20.00 - 22.00

Welcome Reception Grand Hotel Bernardin Included in the fee for participants and accompanying persons

Friday, September 19, 2008

20.00

Conference Dinner - Grand Hotel Bernardin Included in the fee for participants Price for accommpanying person: 50 EUR

Accompanying Persons Programme

Friday, September 19, 2008, 10.00 - 13.00

Sightseeing walk of Piran with lunch

The old seaport of Piran lies at the end of the Piran peninsula, which gradually narrows between the bays of Strunjan and Piran. The peninsula reaches Cape Madona, ending with the Šavrini hills. The meaning of the name Piran: elder scientists support the supposition that the origin could derive from the Celtic word bior-dun, supposed to mean a settlement on the hill, while younger generation advocates of the Greek word pyr-fire, as the original settlement was primarily used as a lighthouse for vessels sailing to nearby Greek colony Aegida on the site of today town Koper. The town has preserved the medieval layout with narrow streets and compact houses, which rise in steps from the coastal lowland into the hills and give the whole area a typical Mediterranean look. A walking tour lasts up to 2 hours.
Price for non accompanying person: 22 € per person (min. 10 pax)
The price includes: English and Italian-speaking guid.

Excursions

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Visit of the saltpans Sečovlje with Mediterranean lunch

The Slovenian coast was scattered with saltpans as early as in the beginning of the 20th century. Most important were the saltpans in Piran, of which only a small portion still survive in Strunjan and, for Slovenia, the extensive saltpans of Secovlje. Mediterranean cultural landscape, the strategic significance and cultural heritage of which for centuries has helped shape the Mediterranean civilization.
A guided bus transfer from Portorož to Sečovlje saltpans, where you will be enjoying an hour and half long visit of saltpans, learning more about the old ways of producing the salt…
After that we will go to "Tonina hiša" which is a special museum, which shows you old items and proofs illustrating the life of the Istria inhabitants in ancient times. After this visit we take you to the saltpans of Sečovlje, where salt has been produced for 700 years. There you can see the first salt crystals building forms similar to flowers on the surface.
Before end you will be taken to the small Istrian village to have a typical Mediterranean lunch.

Duration:		half day (9:00-13:00)
Price:		60 EUR per person (min 10 PAX)
Included:		bus transport, English speaking guide, entrance to the Saltpans Sečovlje and Museum, typical Mediterranean lunch in a small Istrian village
Note:		camera, sunglasses

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Škocjan caves and Socerb castle

The Škocjan caves have an extremely complex system of cave passages in a total length of 5.8 km. The caves are the biggest and best known natural phenomenon within the classical Karst area. With the shifting of sink holes in the geological past, numerous collapsed valleys have formed at the contact point where flysch meets limestone under the caverns. With their depth of 163 meters, Velika dolina and Mala dolina charm every visitor. The finest view of both valleys with the natural bridge and the cave that separates them is from an observation point.
The caves, with an immense underground gorge and halls, are the beginning of the Škocjan underground system The caves probably have the biggest cave hall in Europe, measuring 12,000 square meters (1.2 hectares) in cross section. The Reka river runs underground for almost 40 kilometres, to the sources of the Timav in the Gulf of Trieste (Italy).
After visiting the caves we will go to the Socerb castle. Socerb Castle is perched on the edge of a 300 meters high Karst rock and offers a wonderful view of the Koper and Trieste Gulfs. Due to its location, Socerb Castle was already an important stronghold in Illyrian times, modified into a fortress in the Roman period.

Duration:		half day (9:00-14:00)
Price:		60 EUR per person (min 10 PAX)
Included:		bus transport, English speaking guide, entrance fee to Škocjan caves
Note:		camera

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Cancellation of tourist programme

All cancellations must be sent in writing to Conference Secretariat. For cancellations received before September 2, 2008, an administrative fee in the amount of 10 EUR will be charged to your credit card or applied toward the refund of payment made by bank transfer. Cancellations received after September 2, 2008 are not refundable.