Location
The XIV OPTIMA Meeting will be held at the Botanic Garden of the University of Palermo, via Lincoln, 2, Palermo. (STAR no.2 in the map below).
The Opening ceremony will be held in Palazzo Steri, Sala delle Capriate (STAR no.1).
Hall A and B are in the Dip. STEBICEF / Sez. Chimica e Tecnologie Farmaceutiche, via Archirafi 32 (STAR no. 3).
From the airport (33 km): The simplest transportation is by bus. Buses depart every 30 minutes. The fare to Palermo is around 7€. From the city of Palermo, the Prestia e Comandé airport buses depart from the square in front of the main train station, with a stop at Politeama (for buses en route to the airport the stop is indicated by a sign at the corner of Via Libertà in front of Prada); there are departures for the airport from Politeama from 4:15 AM to 11:15 PM. Travel time averages 40 minutes but delays along the route are common. A train (the "Trinacria Express") serves the route between the Palermo airport and the main railway station, departing every hour or so, travel time averages 40 minutes; ticket costs around 6€. Taxi fares are at least 50€ for a ride into the city.
In the city: A ticket for the city buses (operated by AMAT), available from tobacco vendors, some bars and some kiosks, costs around 1.30€. You must stamp the ticket in one of the on-board machines upon boarding the first bus you take using that ticket. Taxis, horse carriages and three-wheel vehicles are expensive, better ask for the price from the driver before mounting.
Please make your own accommodation arrangements. We advise that you book as soon as possible, because September in Palermo is high season. A selection of Hotels that are granting special prices for OPTIMA Meeting participants follows. At any rate we recommend that you use a booking website (e.g. http://www.tripadvisor.com, http://www.booking.com, http://www.trivago.com/), which usually offer lower rates. Do not choose an hotel too far from the Botanical Garden or the City Centre, because the public transportation with suburbs are infrequent!
Hotels are marked in the map with circles.
1) NH Palermo ****
Foro Italico. 90133 Palermo
Tel. +39 091 6165090
E-mail: nhpalermo@nh-hotels.com
double single use, 100€; double, 110€
2) Hotel San Paolo Palace ****
Via Messina Marine, 91 - Palermo
+39.091.6211112 (Centralino)
+39.091.6215300
booking.congressi@sanpaolopalace.it
http://www.sanpaolopalace.it.
double single use, 85€; double, 100€
3) Massimo Plaza Hotel ****
Via Maqueda 437- 90133- Palermo
Tel. 091.325657 fax 091/325711
www.massimoplazahotel.com
booking@massimoplazahotel.com
double single use, 89€; double, 108€
4) Hotel Posta Palermo ***
Via Gagini, 77 - 90133 - Palermo
Tel. 091.587338 fax 091587347
www.hotelpostapalermo.it
info@hotelpostapalermo.it
double single use, 79€; double, 98€
5) Hotel Palazzo Sitano****
Via Vittorio Emanuele, 114
90133 Palermo (I)
Tel. +39 091 611 98 80
Fax +39 091 662 23 36
double single use, 100€; double, 130€
6) Hotel Porta Felice ****
Via Butera, 45
90133 Palermo
Tel: +39 091 617 56 78
Fax: + 39 091 617 14 25
E-mail: info@hotelportafelice.it
Internet: www.hotelportafelice.it
double single use, 85€; double, 120€
7) Hotel de France
Piazza Marina ,1
90133 Palermo.
[All prices quoted are per night and include breakfast].
