Venue
Our conference venue will be the former convent of Santissima Annunziata (Blessed Virgin Mary) located in Sestri Levante, along the Portofino Coast. Situated in the Eastern Riviera (Riviera di Levante) of the Liguria region, Sestri Levante is conveniently located near and accessible from Genoa, Pisa and Florence.
With its “Baia del Silenzio” (Bay of Silence) and “Baia delle Favole” (Fairytale Bay) the town is known for its beauty and its celebration of international literature. Every year, the town hosts the Andersen Festival (the author Hans Christian Andersen having been enchanted during his time here in 1833), a street theatre and awards celebration to recognize children’s and youth literature contributions as well as the importance of cultivating imagination in human development.
The former convent-cum-conference hall was built in 1496 by the Dominicans. Its location is extraordinary: at the tip of the Sestri Levante peninsula, it is perched on the sea with two sides facing the Baia del Silenzio (Bay of Silence) and the third the open Mediterranean sea.
You can reach easily the conference venue from the railway station of Sestri Levante with a nice and relaxing walk of 15 minutes: check the route clicking on this map
Accommodation
There are many lodging options in Sestri Levante and the immediate area. Considering that this is a touristic area, we encourage you to book your accommodation in advance and as early as possible.
Further note that because the area is well served by railway with each village having its own station, you may opt to book accommodation in a neighbouring village along the Ligurian coast within a 10-20 minute radius of Sestri Levante. We suggest looking into: Lavagna (5 mins), Santa Margherita Ligure (15 mins), and Monterosso (20 mins by train).
