Include a guided visit to the old town, lunch in a restaurant and entrance to the Royal Site of La Granja de San Ildefonso.

Segovia (http://www.turismodesegovia.com/) is an old Castilian city located about 120 km of Salamanca that offers to the visitor a wide range of artistic richness and wealth of monuments. In the old town, houses and the city walls, palaces and churches, graceful towers and trees combine and intertwine to form a unique web of narrow and winding streets, small secluded squares or ones which unexpectedly open out onto attractive views. Its Roman Aqueduct declared Artistic Historical Monument by a Royal Decree on 1884; the same title was later conferred on many other buildings such as the Tower of San Esteban, the Monastery of El Parral, the Church of La Vera Cruz and the Alcázar. The declaration was further extended to the whole of the old town and all of the orchards and woodland which surround it, which were recognised as an Aesthetic Reserve, and were placed under protection. Finally, in 1985, it was declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO.

The Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso (http://www.lagranja.com/) is located around 11 km of Segovia. Its construction began in 1720 when the King of Spain Felipe V bought the land to the monks with the aim of building a residence of retreat although it soon became the seat of the Court. The Palace was blessed on 27th July 1723, although it was not completed until 1761 by King Carlos III. It is surrounded by the Royal Gardens, inspired by those of Versailles and that cover an area of 6 km2. The gardens contain 26 monumental Fountains, each of which is based on classical mythology.

Ieronimus is an original exhibition (http://www.ieronimus.com) that constitutes another way to look at the Cathedrals and the own city of Salamanca. Ieronimus is the Latin name of Don Jeronimo de Perigueux (1060? -1120), a bishop of French origin who was a key figure in the Reconquest of Spain. He was the chaplain of El Cid Campeador and bishop of Valencia up to he was named bishop of Salamanca when the Diocese was restored in 1102, in the times of its Christian repopulation. The Ieronimus exhibition is a tour by the construction of the Cathedrals of Salamanca and their 900 years of Art and History. The entrance also includes the visit to the inner balconies and the Medieval Towers, allowing spectacular views over the internal and external parts of the Cathedrals and the city.

Venue: “Villar de los Álamos” traditional bull ranch (30 km from Salamanca)

Cost: Inclusive for all participants and accompanying persons
Departure/ Meeting point: 17:30 h. Congress Venue main entrance. A bus service will take all participants to the ranch (30 km away).

“El villar de los Álamos” is a “dehesa” and a traditional ranch estate where close to 600 Spanish bulls are raised. The “dehesa” is a grassy pastureland dotted with cork and holm oaks and the favourite grazing area of the free-range black Iberian pig and the Spanish brave bull. Ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock, originated in Spain out of the necessity to handle large herds of grazing animals from horseback. During the middle Ages, members of the Spanish nobility and various military orders received large land grants from the Kingdom of Castile. Huge land grants allowed large numbers of animals to roam freely over vast areas. Raising brave livestock proved to be a suitable way to earn revenue and defend the land under their control. Participants will be driven through the “dehesa” pasturelands on carts towed by tractors. The tour will allow visitors to observe these magnificent animals at close range in their element, a unique Mediterranean ecosystem. After the drive, food and drinks will be served.

Venue: Hotel Doña Brígida, Golf Club “Vega de Salamanca”

Cost: EUR 70 per person.
Departure/ Meeting point: 21:00 Congress Venue main entrance. A bus service will take all participants to the Hotel (4 km away)

The Congress Grand Finale dinner will take place at the Hotel Doña Brígida, Golf Club “Vega de Salamanca”. It will be an excellent opportunity for all of us to meet and talk within the beautiful surroundings of the golf course with its incomparable views of the holm oaks along the Banks of the river Tormes.