The International Workshop on Production of Intense Beams and Highly Charged Ions (PIBHI2025) will be held in Acitrezza, a small fishing village overlooking the Ionian Sea at 10 km from Catania placed at the foot of the Etna Volcano – the highest and most active of Europe.
The workshop will take place in the halls of the Grand Hotel Faraglioni, with several archaeological and cultural attractions situated in the nearby.
The Laboratori Nazionali del Sud of Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN-LNS) is in charge of the organization of this event, aimed to tackle specific issues of Ion Sources Science & Technology able to address the solutions to the request of high-intensity beams and to reinforce the common ground and synergies among the different actors in the field.
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The peculiar landscape of Aci Trezza with its Faraglioni and the proximity to the majestic Mount Etna has nurtured legends and myths over the centuries. The Greek poet Homer, in the IX book of the Odyssey, sets in the Sicilian village the unfortunate encounter between Odysseus and Polyphemus. Another legend that has reached us is the one where the monstrosity of Polyphemus is linked with the Sicilian village, is the myth of Acis and Galatea. Right on the strip of land between Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea lived a beautiful nymph named Galatea, daughter of Neptune. The marvelous creature fell in love with the shepherd Acis, and despite being from different worlds, they fell in love. Polyphemus, who lived in those areas, had also fallen in love with Galatea, and once he learned of their love, blinded by jealousy, uprooted trees and hurled a gigantic rock at poor Acis, smashing his body into pieces. It is said that the nymph shed all her tears, to the point of moving the Gods to pity. So they transformed Acis into a river and the nymph into sea foam, so they could embrace for eternity. |
Greek mythology also inspired the name of the Cyclopean Isles, mighty basalt sea stacks emerging from the sea in its namesake marine protected area. At sunset, their silhouette against the fiery sky makes for a picture-perfect view.
Don’t miss the Baroque-style Church of San Giovanni Battista and the Norman Castle, standing tall above the village. After climbing the steep steps to the castle, you can replenish your energy with a “nivi cunzata”, the typical Sicilian granita, or the fresh fish available at the fish market.
