ICALP 2005

The ICALP/PPDP'05 Reception will take place in the Lisbon Oceanarium on the evening of Monday July 11. The Lisbon Oceanarium is located in the Parque das Nacoes, a leisure area by the north bank of the Tagus River. After a one hour visit to the Lisbon Oceanarium, a cocktail will be served into an open space situated in its main terrace, offering a splendid view to the Tagus.

The Lisbon Oceanarium was conceived and designed by Peter Chermayeff. It is the mission of the Lisbon Oceanarium to contribute toward global conservation by entertaining, inspiring and educating through bringing people into intimate and emotional contact with the marine environment and its inhabitants. Inhabited by 15,000 animals and plants representing over 450 different species, the Lisbon Oceanarium is constituted by 30 tanks that hold around 7 million litres of seawater. Its waters consist of four distinct ecosystems that replicate the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Antarctic oceans. The giant central aquarium populated by larger animals such as sharks, rays and barracudas, offers a unique opportunity to become immersed within a single Ocean.

Excursion to Sintra and Cascais

The ICALP'05 excursion will take place on Wednesday 13 July in the afternoon, and will start by a visit to town of Sintra, a small delightful town in the forest covered Mountain of Sintra (known in ancient times as "Mount of the Moon"), imortalized as "Glorious Eden" by the World famous poet Lord Byron. Located about 30 kilometers northwest of Lisbon, Sintra is classified under UNESCO's World Heritage List since 1995.

While in Sintra, there will be a visit to the PENA NATIONAL PALACE.

Situated on top of the Mountain of Sintra, the PENA Palace, is a Romantic Palace filed with art works and souvenirs of royalty. The ruins of an old Hieronymite "Manueline" Convent were bought in 1838 by the Prince Fernando of Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha consort to the Queen Dona Maria II. Under the patronage of Dom Fernando, who followed the artistic tradition of the 19th Century German princes, the building of a fabulous Palace started in 1849 under the Portuguese architect Possidonio da Silva and the German military engineer Baron Von Eschweg. Mouledd within the luxurious beauty of the Mountain of Sintra, the palace is a caprice of romantic architecture , with a blend of styles sugesting the Oriental cupulas and minarets, Gothic towers, Renaissance and "Manueline" elements and the Arab "Mudejar" influence. Of the original "Manueline" Convent of the Hieronymite monks remains the Renaissance alabaster Chapel built by Nicolas Chanterenne.

There will be time at leisure, and for wandering around in central Sintra. Descending the mountain on to Cape Roca, the Western-most point of continental Europe, a stop will be made by the cliffs over the Atlantic Ocean. Then following the coastline the tour will pass by Guincho Beach. Arriving at the old fishermen vilage of Cascais that in the 1940's was chosen as residence by exiled European Royalty, a stop will be made by the lovely bay filled with fishing boats. Time at leisure in Cascais, and return to Lisbon via the Estoril coastal road.

ICALP Conference Dinner

The ICALP'05 conference dinner will take place in the Estufa Real restaurant, on Thursday, July 14. This elegant restaurant is one of the finest in Lisbon, with outstanding cuisine rich in Mediterranean flavors and aromas. The restaurant is installed in one of the hothouses of the Royal Botanical Garden of Lisbon, not far from the Monumental Belem area. These gardens were planted in 1768 for King José I, and were used as a gathering point for all the species that were brought by the Portuguese discoverers from other countries.