7th International DIANA Users Meeting
TNO DIANA BV and the DIANA Users Association are honoured to announce the 7th International DIANA Users Meeting, which will be held in Brescia, Italy, from 17 -18 June 2010. The event will be hosted by University of Brescia.
The aim of this meeting is to provide a forum for exchanging experiences with DIANA and for discussing users' needs. The meeting also offers the possibility to learn more about current and future developments in the program.
Abstracts for oral presentation should not exceed 300 words and should be sent by email to the Users' Meeting Secretariat (Email: info@dianausers.nl) not later than 28th February 2010. Notification of acceptance will be sent before 31st March 2010.
About Brescia
The city of Brescia is the second largest city in Lombardy (Northern Italy), after Milan, with a population of around 200,000 inhabitants. The city is at the centre of the third-largest Italian industrial area, concentrating on mechanical and automotive engineering and machine tools. The area produces woollens, silks, leather, and wine. The financial sector is also a major employer, and the tourist industry also plays an important role, given the proximity of Lake Garda, Lake Iseo and the Alps.
Brescia's origins can be traced to the Bronze Age. In 27 B.C. Brixia was raised to the rank of "Colonia Civica Augusta" by emperor Augustus. With the fall of the Roman Empire, Brescia suffered the curse of barbarian invasions. Under the Lombards it became one of the most important Lombard duchies. The dark period following the fall of Charlemagne's empire, who dominated the city until 888, left only a few traces.
The city became a free comune between the XII and XIII centuries. During the period of Signorie, XIV and XV century, Brescia came under the domination of noble families such as the Visconti. In the period 1426 until 1796 the city experienced a period of splendour and economic development under Venice's liberal rule. After the city rebelled against Venice, it was included by Napoleon in the Cisalpine republic. Later the city was incorporated in the Austrian empire. In 1849, the Brescian revolutionaries rebelled and resisted the Austrian for ten dramatic days, which won Brescia the name of the "Lioness of Italy". Finally, in 1859, Brescia was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy and the city's history has been tied to that of united Italy.
Brescia's centre is grouped around four piazzas, where the visitor can appreciate footprint of the city's history and palate's pleasure, thanks to the small shops selling local products, to the gelaterie and pasticcerie. Among the remains of the Roman town of Brixia, the most important monument is the Tempio Capitolino, a Roman temple built by Vespasiano in 73 AD. Undoubtedly Brescia’s most intriguing site is the Abbey of San Salvatore e Santa Giulia from the VIII century. The complex also houses the Civic Museum, including a Roman museum. Brescia's Castle, the core of the city defence for centuries and monument to Brescia's various overlords, was built in the XV century and holds today a complex of musea.
Around Brescia, easily accessible from the city are Lago di Garda, Lago d'Iseo, Val Trompia and the hilly wine-producing district of Franciacorta.
Brescia is located on the Milan-Venice railway line. Nearby airports include Milano, Bergamo, Verona and Brescia (Ryanair flying from London Stanstead).