Registrations are open!
Don't miss the chance to be part of this amazing event and register for WFTGA Siracusa 2024!
Check the Convention registration fees on our website!
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Convention Secretariat may be contacted by email at convention2024@wftga.org.
Please note that the Organising Secretariat is open on working days, 9.00-13.00 / 14.00-18.00 CEST |
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Siracusa, Sicily, Italy
The 20th WFTGA Convention will not be hosted, as experienced at previous Conventions, in a hotel or in a conventional congress centre, but in a real and still active theatre! In Newsletter #3, we described the ancient Greek limestone theatre that we will all admire during our Main Convention programme, but now it’s time to introduce the Teatro Massimo Città di Siracusa, the 19th century venue that the city Mayor and Council have generously offered for use by the participants for our convention.
Meetings, lectures, and workshops will be held in a beautiful and wonderfully decorated ambience that, since 1872, has been a symbol of wealth and prestige for the Syracusan upper classes that attended performances and operas in its eclectic styled interiors.
The auditorium has the typical horse-shoe shape of classic European opera houses with audience seats plus three rows of box seats. Designed to accommodate more than a thousand spectators, now it has a seating capacity of almost 500 people.
Wherever you may be seated, you will be able to admire the amazing decoration of the central vault featuring a trompe-l’oeil balustrade that opens onto a clear blue sky where three female allegorical figures float, holding in their hands symbols of poetry, music, and arts.
A feel of wonder and magic will envelop you and make you step back in time… so don't miss the dates of WFTGA’s 20th Convention!
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Teatro Massimo Città di Siracusa
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The 2024 Convention Theme
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SICILY, TODAY AS IT WAS YESTERDAY,
A MEDITERRANEAN CROSSROADS OF CULTURES
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Let’s introduce you the Ex-Bo members of AGTS (Association of Tourist Guides of Siracusa) the local hosts and organising team and experts of Siracusa together with all their colleagues, ANGT (Italian National Association of Tourist Guides), pictured here. This group along with Symposia PCO (Professional Conference Organisers) and the WFTGA (World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations) and all the volunteers are working hard to make your stay in their amazing city a memorable, enjoyable, and fulfilling experience. So don’t miss the dates!
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Carlo Castello
President AGTS
Donatella Minardi
Vice-president AGTS
Rita Sipala
Ex-Bo member AGTS
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Maria Lina Ribisi
Ex-Bo member AGTS
Giuseppe Celani
Ex-Bo member AGTS
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Greek Theatre - from left to right: Rita Sipala, Carlo Castello, Donatella Minardi, Giuseppe Celani, Maria Lina Ribisi
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WFTGA 2024 Convention Programme
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2024
Pre-Tour (3 days): 19th - 21st January
- your arrival day to be the 18th -
Delegates Meeting: 21st January
Delegates Pre-tour (2 days): 19th & 20th January
MAIN CONVENTION: 22nd - 26th January
Post Tour (4 days): 26th - 29th January
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Landmarks of Siracusa: The Catacombs of St. John
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Catacombs of St. John and - from left to right -
Sebastian, Elisa, Andrea, Carlo, Michela, Alushca, and Maria Lina wearing protective helmets for the visit
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An extraordinary throwback into the Roman past of Siracusa is a visit to the Catacombs of St. John. Built on the ruins of an ancient Greek aqueduct between the 4th and the 6th century A.D., the Catacombs of St. John cover an area of 10,000 square metres and are the second largest in size after those in Rome.
Although never used as a hiding place during the Christian persecutions, the Catacombs of St. John are documented as a private burial ground for affluent Roman patrician families and members of the clergy and, according to archaeologists, more than 10,000 people have been buried here.
Like many underground areas, the Catacombs of St. John have been used also as air-raid shelters during the bombardments of World War II and a walk in this labyrinth of underground tunnels is a fascinating albeit eerie experience.
We will be visiting them on Wednesday, January 24th 2024 at 09:00, during one of the tours included in the Convention programme. To participate, register now!
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Eat, Drink & Experience Sicily like a local
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 Just a few minutes’ walk from the Catacombs of St. John and the nearby Paolo Orsi Archaeological Museum are a couple of well-known pastry stores and cafes where you can taste not only a delicious and mouth-watering cannolo or cassatina but also an almond paste or pistachio pastry, dolcetto di pasta di mandorle o pistacchio, and a mulberry, coffee, lemon, or almond granita. Even though January is not the month usually associated with a cold and refreshing granita or a gelato, sunny Sicily is definitely the place where the exception to the rule… becomes the rule!
See how they fill a cannolo and taste it at one of the Convention's coffee breaks!
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Arrival and departure information
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Mount Etna as seen when arriving in Catania Airport
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PRE-TOUR ARRIVAL
Should you be participating in the pre-tour you will need to arrive on January 18th at the Catania Airport. Accommodation for 3 nights, including the arrival night on the 18th is included. The pre-tour programme starts on the morning of the 19th.
The arranged transfers to reach the hotel in Catania from the Catania Airport are available at these times:
- On the 18th at 14:00
- On the 18th at 18:00
GENERAL ARRIVAL
Your arrival airport is Catania Airport. The hospitality desk will be available to welcome you and direct you to the arranged transport.
The hospitality desk will be at the airport from January 18th to the 21st.
The arranged transfers are available at these times on these dates:
- On January 20th at 18:00
- On January 21st at 15:30
If you do not make use of the available transfers, the hospitality desk will direct you to the public transport area.
GENERAL DEPARTURE
If you are not participating in the Post-Tour, your departure will be from Siracusa to Catania airport/train station.
We are currently working on arranged transfers to reach the Catania Airport. More information will be communicated.
POST-TOUR DEPARTURE
Should you be participating in the Post-Tour you will need to arrange your departure on the 29th after 18:00 (departing after lunch and considering the time to arrive at the airport, check-in, do all the security checks, and be at your gate in time). Please, note that the transfer will take all participants to Palermo Airport (not Catania).
It is suggested to arrange your departure from Palermo. Should you require an additional night in Palermo (for departure on the 30th) contact the convention organiser at convention2024@wftga.org.
NOTE: All transport/transfers required outside of the prescribed pick-up/departure times are for your own account and not included.
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Our Tourist Guides in Sicily can't wait to welcome you in Siracusa!
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What to expect in Newsletter #5
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- Regional, Pre and Post Convention tours
- WFTGA Virtual Conference / Join us for more information
- Landmarks of Sicily
- Eat, Drink and Experience Sicily like a local
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For more information, visit our website at
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