Conference Venue and Travel Information

Prato Background Information

Prato’s beautiful historic centre contains medieval and Renaissance buildings of great significance, including the Basilica di Santa Maria delle Carceri, designed by Giuliano da Sangallo, and the palace built by the famous merchant Francesco Datini. Prato also contains the Luigi Pecci Museum of Contemporary Art which is housed in an ultra modern (1987) complex planned by Italo Ciamverini.

A mere 20 minutes from Prato, is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Florence. Founded by Julius Caesar in the 1st Century BC, Florence is a world cultural centre in terms of art, architecture, intellectualism and Renaissance. The city is renowned for its wonderful museums which contain some of Michelangelo’s most famous works. Historic buildings include Il Duomo, the enormous domed cathedral designed by Brunelleschi in the 15th Century, and the Pitti Palace, and galleries such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery house collections of Italian and foreign art dating from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance and beyond.

Conference Venue

The conference will be held at the stately 18th Century Palazzo Vaj. This wonderfully restored building with a beautiful open-air terrazo is surrounded by medieval towers and provides the location for Monash University in Prato.

For further information:

• http://www.ita.monash.edu/information.html/html
• http://www.prato.turismo.toscana.it/

AUSTRALIANS STUDYING ABROAD (ASA)
PROPOSED PRE-CONFERENCE CULTURAL TOUR

Australians Studying Abroad (ASA), has long been associated with Monash University in organising conferences in Prato, Italy. ASA has run a number of exclusive pre-conference cultural tours such as ‘The Italian Riviera, the Cinque Terre & Lucchesia’, and ‘Lombardy & the Italian Lakes’ for delegates to these conferences. ASA’s pre-conference tours, led by the artist and art historian David Henderson, explore European ‘cultural landscapes’ in all their richness, variety and intricacy. David has lived and painted in Italy for many years, is a fluent Italian speaker, and has much experience in leading ASA tours.

To complement the Children and the Law Conference, ASA proposes a short pre-conference cultural tour for delegates and their partners (maximum of 30 participants). The tour will explore ‘cultural landscapes’ through experiences as diverse as excursions to important cities, great monuments and beautiful gardens; exploration of local landscapes and the markets that sell their produce and visits to local vintners and specialist producers (olives, ham, cheese, etc.)

ASA pre-conference tours (7- 10 days) usually end in Prato the day before your conference begins. The tour cost on a twin share basis would be approximately $3900 to $4500 per person, depending on the duration and inclusions.

If you wish to take part in a pre-tour program prior to the conference, please return an 'expression of interest' email to conferences@asatours.com.au and include the conference name (Children and the Law), your full name and mailing address. NB: This expression of interest does not imply any obligation on your part to join the tour.