The rendez-vous is intended as an encounter point for those Symposium delegates who choose to attend. A provisional desk will be arranged on the spot, where Conference material will be distributed to those present, thus alleviating longer queues on Monday morning.

It will take place in the Gardens of the University of Barcelona, situated in the so called Historic Building of the University, currently in the very centre of the city of Barcelona.

How to reach there

The Historic Building is the main public building in Plaça Universitat, impossible to miss. It is within walking distance (5 minutes) from Plaça Catalunya, end point of the Rambla. It can be reached most easily by Metro, station Universitat --lines 1 (red) and 2 (purple).

Once in Plaça Universitat please enter the University through the main door in the central block of the building, then follow the signs which will be displayed for the event.

Brief historical note

Due to severe political turmoil during and after the War of the Spanish Succession to the throne, the city of Barcelona was deprived of its secular Universitary Institution in 1717. After a painfully long period of 125 years, a new course finally began in the restored University in 1842. It took another 21 years until a Project to give the University its own see was approved. The architect was Elies Rogent, and works began in 1863. Classes started in the new house in 1871, although installation of pictoric and sculptural elements --assigned to reputed artitsts of the epoch-- delayed full completion of the work until 1882. This Historic Building was declared "National Historic-Artistic Monument" in 1970. The explosive expansion of the University of Barcelona during the second half of the 20th century required the development of a new campus, which is located near the Noth-West end of the city. Several other University Centres are scattered around the city, too, but the Historic Building still hosts a few University Departments, such as Mathematics. The Rectorate, central administration offices, the Library (with a rich archive of antique works), and a remarkable Paranymph can also be found within Historic Building premises.

The University Gardens were conceived by Elies Rogent as an integral part of the entire complex, and were constructed in parallel with the rest of the Building. Plants were imported from a former Botanic Garden of Barcelona. Although the University Gardens were not intended to be a Botanic garden, various Botanics and Pharmacy Professors would actually use it as a supply of plants for teaching purposes until 1939. In fact, the University Gardens have been open to the public during various periods of their history, such as now.