Venues & Social Events

Le Ciminiere

“Le Ciminiere di Catania” is a center born from the recovery of some parts of the now abandoned buildings that made up the large industrial complex for refining the sulfur extracted from the mines of the Sicilian hinterland.

The Center is now the venue for significant national and international conferences, events, concerts, shows, and expo attracting over 500 thousand visitors annually. It covers 27,000 m² multilevel area of which 16,000 with buildings, 8,300 of free spaces, and 2,700 of green zones, for 46,120 m² of total usable area. Inside there are also some museums and permanent exhibitions.

The 35^th ECS Conference will take place in the premises of Pavilion C of Le Ciminiere which covers 2,330 m² including halls, exhibition spaces, and services. Plenary sessions will take place in the main Auditorium, while the info & registration area, poster sessions, coffee breaks and exhibitors will be distributed throughout the pavilion.

Le Ciminiere di Catania is situated in a convenient and easily accessible position:

  4 km from the “Vincenzo Bellini” Airport 

100 m from the “Giovanni XXIII” Metro Station 

  450 m from the Central Station of Catania

 600 m from the Bus Station

 1.4 km from the Harbor of Catania, one of the most important in the Mediterranean

   Adjacent parking and access to major highways in 3 km (A18 CT-ME, A19 CT-PA)

  1.6 km from the historical center of Catania

The congress center is also just a 4-minute walk from the venue designated for the icebreaker evening (9^th April) and 15 minutes from the locations of the gala and dancing evenings (12^th April). More information on social events is at the bottom of this page.

Piazzale Asia / Rocco Chinnici s.n., Viale Africa 12, 95129, Catania, Italy

University of Catania

With an average enrolment of 38,000 students, the University of Catania has been since 1434 and is the oldest one in Sicily. The educational system is run and overseen by 17 departments located in the city of Catania, as well as two other units in Ragusa and Syracuse.
The workshops will take place at the three main sections of the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences of the University of Catania, located in the historic center of the city: the Botanical Garden, a former Convent, and the ancient headquarters of Animal Biology.

Orto Botanico - Botanical Garden - Sezione di Biologia Vegetale, Università di Catania 
via A. Longo 19, Catania, Italy

The Botanical Garden of Catania was established in 1843 by a Benedictine monk who also served as a botany professor. Encompassing around 16,000 m², it serves as a hub for research, study, and training. The garden boasts diverse collections from the Mediterranean and beyond, including prominent ones dedicated to succulents, palms, and native Sicilian flora. With its rich botanical heritage and serene atmosphere, the garden offers a peaceful retreat for nature enthusiasts and researchers alike.

The botanical garden is easily reachable via various bus lines belonging to the Catania Metropolitan Transport Company AMT (BRT1, BRT5, 421, 433, 442, 431, 448, 429, 744, Alibus). It is also a 10-minute walk from both the “Borgo” Metro stop and the Circumetnea railway stop (FCE Company).

Conservatorio Vergini al Borgo - Conservatory - Sezione di Biologia Vegetale, Università di Catania 
via Empedocle 58, Catania, Italy

The former Conservatory of the Virgins in Borgo, also known as "La Badiella," was founded in 1776 by the priest Giuseppe Giuffrida. After the renovation works, it has been the headquarters of the Section of Plant Biology of the Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences of the University of Catania since 2003.

This place is easily reachable via various bus lines belonging to the Catania Metropolitan Transport Company AMT (BRT1, BRT5, 442, 929, 927, 556, 744, 433, Alibus). It is also a 4-minute walk from both the “Borgo” Metro stop and the Circumetnea railway stop (FCE Company).

Sezione di Biologia Animale, Università di Catania 
via Androne 81, Catania, Italy

The Section of Animal Biology of the University of Catania, former department of Biology "Marcello la Greca" later merged with others, aims to promote and conduct research, educational, and cultural activities in the fields of animal biology and phylogenetics, ecology, and genetics. The facility houses a small Zoology Museum, the oldest in Sicily, founded in 1853 by Prof Andrea Aradas, that exposes over 400 taxidermied vertebrates and thousands of invertebrates.

Biologia Animale is located in Catania city center, not far from the central Via Etnea and Piazza Stesicoro, and from the famous Bellini Garden. It can be reached on foot in 20 minutes from the “Stesicoro” or “Milo” Metro station or with the AMT bus lines 421, 433, 702, and 901 getting off at the “Piazza Santa Maria di Gesù” stop.

For more information on transports, visit the page Travel & Accommodation.