COVID-19 OUTBREAK UPDATE 11/05/2020

Dear students and colleagues,

We would like to thank all the applicants (more than 320), their supervisors and the sponsors for their continued support and interest in ICVSS 2020 even in these unprecedented times.

Given the continued threat of COVID-19 and the health guidance information from our government authorities, the organising committee has decided to postpone ICVSS 2020 until a later date when it will be safe to travel again.

Other scientific meetings have chosen the virtual option but we strongly believe that ICVSS is unique because of the real (academic and social) interaction of students with lecturers and researchers from industry. We will therefore await a date when we can meet again physically and safely.

All applications and reference letters received so far will be considered valid for the selection of the school when we are able to fix a date.

We would like to thank you all for your patience and we really hope to be back soon with better news. Our thoughts and very best wishes are with you all.

The ICVSS School Directors
Roberto Cipolla, Giovanni Maria Farinella, Sebastiano Battiato

Why we have chosen Sicily?

Pictures: by Z. Uhrikova, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

LOCATION OF ICVSS 2020

ICVSS 2020 will be hosted by Hotel Village Baia Samuele in Punta Sampieri - Scicli (Ragusa), Sicily in dates TO BE ANNOUNCED. Sicily is one of the most beautiful islands of the Mediterranean. The island is very rich in archeological sites from various Ancient Civilizations. The sea, weather, food and the wine are excellent.

In particular Punta Sampieri - Scicli (RG) is located in the south east of Sicily in a late Baroque area called Val di Noto. The Val di Noto area is included in the Unesco World Heritage List and includes eight nearby towns: Caltagirone, Militello Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo, Ragusa and Scicli.

The location of the school rises in the middle of an ample bay delimited on the west from Sampieri and on the east from a cliff, on which is founded an ancient furnace, rare example of industrial archaeology. The Hotel Village "Baia Samuele" stretches in a gentle slant to the beach: 120 thousand square meters delimited from rows of secular cypresses. An ultramodern village with an original architecture, pleasant design and all comforts you can imagine. The frame of plants and flowers, typical of this angle of Sicily, in front of the island of Malta, completes this gilded dream of the Mediterranean.

ACCOMMODATION RESERVATION AT HOTEL VILLAGE BAIA SAMUELE

ICVSS participants will be hosted at Hotel Village Baia Samuele (school location) at very special rates. There are no other accommodation options. ICVSS participants must make reservations for accommodation no later than TO BE ANNOUNCED, using the accommodation reservation form (Accommodation Reservation Module) to be sent by email directly to Baia Samuele reception (icvss@igrandiviaggi.it). After TO BE ANNOUNCED we can no longer guarantee a reservation at the Hotel Village Baia Samuele (hence a place at the Summer School). Please note that no other accommodation options are available.

The accommodation prices for ICVSS participants will be similar to those of past years. More information is coming soon.

SCHOOL BUS SERVICE

The following bus service will be provided by the school (without charge):

FROM	TO	DEPARTURE - TO BE ANNOUNCED	ARRIVAL - TO BE ANNOUNCED
Catania Airport	School Location	12.30	14.30
Catania Airport	School Location	19.00	21.00

FROM	TO	DEPARTURE - TO BE ANNOUNCED	ARRIVAL - TO BE ANNOUNCED
School Location	Siracusa	09.00	10.00
School Location	Catania Airport	09.00	11.00
School Location	Catania	09.00	11.15
School Location	Taormina	09.00	12.00

SHUTTLE SERVICE

A shuttle service is available provided by Eraclea Travels Staff .

Reservation can be done directly on site during the school or by email to: info@eracletravels.it.

BY CAR

Route 1 (From Catania to School Location through Ragusa): Catania - Ragusa (SS 194), go on in direction Marina di Modica, go out at the exit for Sampieri-Marina di Modica. 2 Km after Marina di Modica you arrive to the village.
Get Detailed map on Route 1

Route 2 (From Catania to School Location through Siracusa): Catania - Siracusa (SS 114), Siracusa-Gela (A18), go on in direction Pozzallo (SS 115), go on direction Sampieri-Marina di Modica. 2 Km after Marina di Modica you arrive to the village.
Get Detailed map on Route 2

Route 3 (From Palermo to School Location through Caltanissetta): Palermo - Caltanissetta (A 19), Exit SS 626 Caltanissetta/Gela/Agrigento, go on in direction Modica by SS 115, go on direction Sampieri-Marina di Modica. 2 Km after Marina di Modica you arrive to the village.
Get Detailed map on Route 3

FLIGHTS TO SICILY AND CAR RENTAL

Useful informations on Flights and Car Rental can be found here. The main rental car companies operate at the airport of Catania.

MAP

Red markers indicate Catania Airport and the School Location.