Dear colleague,

We look forward to welcoming you to La Granja for the 34 th IPPA course. We enclose some information about the social program, which we hope that you will find useful.

The first planned activity will be visiting the Royal Palace and the Gardens. In 1724 Philip V retired there in the hope of creating a royal residence after the style of the court at Versailles. The palace was used as a summer residence by Philip's successors up to the reign of Alfonso XIII. The visit includes a tour of dazzling rooms, the period decoration of which has been preserved, as well as paintings by Panini and 17th century Flemish works, not to mention beautiful tapestries on show in the museum. The palace is surrounded by magnificent gardens containing a wide variety of plants and adorned with statues and 26 fountains. The activity is completed with the course photograph.

Next day, we will visit one of the most beautiful cities in Spain: Segovia. The old quarter of which, along with its Roman aqueduct, are World Heritage Sites, lies on high ground between the Eresma and Clamores Rivers. In addition to its famous aqueduct, numerous Romanesque churches, the Cathedral and Fortress go to form this magnificent landscape that presides over this part of Castilla.

The last visit will be Pedraza. Declared to be a Historic-Artistic Site in 1951, this village has one of the most beautiful main squares in Castilla y León. Its cobbled streets and emblazoned houses form a medieval urban setting where every corner must be seen, from the Puerta de la Villa (town gate) to the far end of the village, crowned by a castle, in whose tower, currently a museum, the painter Zuloaga had a studio. Also of interest are the medieval prison and the church of San Juan.

Finally, the gala dinner will take place at Casa Candido, one of the most famous Segovian restaurants, where we will savour the city's most traditional dish: roast suckling pig. For those not wishing to eat pork, a lot of alternative dishes will be also available.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

We look forward to seeing you in La Granja next 15th September.

Kind regards,

Isabel Colmenero Fernando Casco

COURSE DIRECTOR:

PD Dr. Elizabeth Bruder

LOCAL ORGANISERS:

Prof. Isabel Colmenero
Prof. Fernando G Casco