General Information

• Accommodation
  A number of hotel rooms will be blocked to guarantee accommodation for 9ECM participants. Special care will be taken in selecting hotels with an easy reach of the venue.

• How to Get There
  Andalusia is easily accessible through its two main international airports and excellent high-speed train connections. [Read More]

  HOW TO GET THERE

  BY AIR

  
  The airport is ten kilometres north of the city, close to the A-4 motorway. Its facilities were designed by the prestigious Spanish architect Rafael Moneo. Almost five million passengers currently use this airport each year, mainly arriving from other Spanish cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia, but also making numerous connections to European cities such as London, Paris, Rome, Milan and so on.
  
  When going from the airport to the city centre, visitors can opt for a taxi or take a special bus service, connecting the Plaza de Armas in the centre of the city with the airport, stopping off at places such as the Santa Justa train and AVE station. The journey takes approximately 35 minutes.
  
  

  More information:
  Airport Seville
  Public transport company TUSSAM: +34 955010010. https://www.tussam.es/en

  
  

  BY TRAIN

  
  Seville has been served by the high-speed train since 1992. These trains offer some twenty daily services (in each direction) between Seville and Madrid, with a maximum journey time of around two and a half hours. The AVE also connects with Barcelona, by way of Zaragoza, in around five and a half hours, and with Valencia in a little less than four hours. Santa Justa Station is located on Avenida de Kansas City, just a few minutes' walk from the old town. Seville also has of a long-distance railway lines. There are also regional services connecting Seville with the other provincial capitals in Andalusia, and with numerous towns and villages.
  
  Renfe Spain Pass
  This pass offers the chance to travel around Spain for all non-residents. This system is very practical, as it can be used on all AVE long-distance and mid-distance high-speed trains. The Renfe Spain Pass is valid for one month from the first trip and comes in two formats (Business/Club and Tourist). It can be purchased up to six months in advance
  
  

  More information:
  Sevilla Santa Justa Railway Station
  Renfe Spain Pass

  
  

  BY CAR

  
  A good way to get to Seville is by road as there is a good road network with several motorways (toll and free). The most important are the A-4, which connects Andalusia and Madrid, and the A-66 which goes to Mérida and connects with the A-5, which also goes on to Madrid. Granada and the Costa del Sol are linked with Seville by the A-92 motorway. Travel to Portugal is on the A-49 motorway. Finally, Seville and Cadiz are linked by both the A-4 and the E-5 roads. All access to motorways and main roads is from the SE-30 ring road around Seville, with numerous points of access into the city centre.
  
  

  BY BUS

  
  There are two bus stations in the city. The main one is in the Plaza de Armas, and operates daily national and international services. The Prado de San Sebastián bus station operates scheduled regional services.
  

  More information:
  Plaza de Armas Bus Station
  Prado de San Sebastian Bus Station

• Spain, the Country
  Spain (or the Kingdom of Spain) is the second largest country in Western Europe and the European Union after France, and covers an area of 504,030 km². [Read More]

  SPAIN, THE COUNTRY

  Spain (or the Kingdom of Spain) is the second largest country in Western Europe and the European Union after France, and covers an area of 504,030 km². It is a country of autonomous regions and its territory (mainly located at the Iberian Peninsula) also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, off the African coast, and two autonomous cities in North Africa, Ceuta and Melilla, that border Morocco.
  
  

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  Spain is a democracy organised in the form of a parliamentary government under a constitutional monarchy. It is a developed country member of the United Nations, European Union, NATO, OECD, and WTO. For further information, please, follow this link.

  Visiting Spain is not only about sun, great cuisine and a warm welcome, but also its rich monumental heritage and dazzling natural environment. There is a perfect destination for everyone... Choose yours through the following links.

  AVE (High Speed Train) conections in Spain

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• Foreign Visitors
  The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation establishes some requirements for entry into Spain for a stay not exceeding ninety days in any six month period according to: ...[Read More]

  FOREIGN VISITORS

  The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation establishes some requirements for entry into Spain for a stay not exceeding ninety days in any six month period according to:
  

  • Art. 5 of the Schengen Borders Code
  • Art. 25 of the Aliens Act
  • Arts. 4 ff. of the Aliens Regulation

  These requirements can be summarized as:
  

  • Possess a valid travel document allowing him or her to cross borders.
  • Possess a Visa when required.
  • Show documents justifying the purpose and conditions of the planned stay and have sufficient means to support themselves, both during the period of their planned stay and for their return to their country of origin or passage to a third State where their admittance is guaranteed, or they must be in conditions such that they can legally obtain such means.
  • Not be banned from entering into Spain or any other country in the Schengen Space.
  • Not represent a threat to Spain's public order, national security, or international relations, or to those of any other member country of the Schengen Space.

  Further information regarding these requirements and as well as the Visa issues can be found through this link and/or directly through the Spanish Embassies or Consulates whose addresses can be found through this link.
  
  Visa arrangements should be handled by the participants at their own responsibility. The Technical Secretariat will issued an official congress letter signed by the President of the Committee to those participants who require it to present it at the Spanish embassy/ consulate. This letter will indicate that the participant is registered to attend the congress, but all expenses associated with travel, registration and accommodation will be borne by the participants.

• Seville, The City
  Situated on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, Seville has a rich Moorish heritage, and used to be a prosperous port that carried out trade with the Americas. [Read More]

  SEVILLE, THE CITY

  Situated on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, Seville has a rich Moorish heritage, and used to be a prosperous port that carried out trade with the Americas.
  
  The streets and squares in the historic quarter of the capital of Andalusia are lively and busy. They treasure many constructions that have the World Heritage designation, and many districts are full of traditional culture, like Triana and La Macarena.
  
  Seville is a prominent business and service centre in the south of Spain and has many hotels distributed all over the city which enable visitors to discover endless attractions. Museums and art centres, theme parks, cinemas, theatres and clubs are some of the many leisure options that a great city like Seville holds. Without forgetting, of course, the numerous terraces, inns and bars where visitors can practise one of the most deeply-rooted and tasty traditions in the city: "Going out for tapas".
  
  Another good excuse to come to the Sevillian capital are the festivals. The celebrations of Easter Week and Feria de Abril (the April Fair), which have been declared of National Tourist Interest, reflect the devotion and folklore of the people of Seville, always open and friendly to visitors. But Seville's appeal does not end there, as the city is also the starting point for the many cultural routes the province offers, such as the Roman Bética Route or the Washington Irving Route.
  
  The visitor will also discover the immense natural wealth of this region, which sits halfway between two continents, in natural treasures such as the Doñana Nature Reserve, declared a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, and the Sierra Norte Nature Reserve. They will be the ideal setting for practising outdoor sports, including hiking, horse riding, and cycling routes. If, on the other hand, golf is your sport of choice, then you will be glad to know that Seville has four excellent golf courses in its vicinity.
  
  

  See all the information on the destination at www.visitasevilla.es/en

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• Useful Information
  Most shops open between 09.30 and 13.30h in the morning and 17.00 to 20.00h in the afternoon on weekdays. During the summer months... [Read More]

  USEFUL INFORMATION

  BUSINESS HOURS & SHOPS

  
  Most shops open between 09.30 and 13.30h in the morning and 17.00 to 20.00h in the afternoon on weekdays. During the summer months, many establishments will stay open much later in the evening. On Saturday opening hours are restricted to the morning shift and Sunday is literally the day of rest. However there are some department stores that remain open all day long until 22:00h.
  
  

  ELECTRICITY

  
  Spain's standard electricity supply is 220 Volts (V), 50 Hertz (Hz) AC. The plugs are round two pin, European standard.
  
  

  CURRENCY AND BANKS

  
  The national currency of Spain is the European euro (€). Exchange facilities are available at Barajas airport, most banks and also along central streets. Many visitors to Spain have commented on the advantage of bringing debit cards rather than credit cards, since the exchange rate is generally much better and commissions lower. However, it would be prudent to check this with your bank before travelling.
  
  

  TIPPING AND CONSUMER TAX

  
  At almost all restaurants, service is included, but it is common practice to leave a tip or around 5%, as it is with taxi drivers (depending on how you liked the driving!).
  
  Tipping is not obligatory anywhere, but much less in bars or cafeterias. However, if you leave a small tip it shows your appreciation of the service - a good rule of thumb here is 10 to 20 cents per round of drinks. Never leave tips in pubs or discotheques. A tip of 1 euro may be used in many other occasions, such as with hotel porters.
  
  There are two different tax rates in Spain, 10% and 21%. You will pay 10% tax on your hotel and restaurant bills, as well as other items considered "essential". This tax is not refundable. Most physical items purchased in shops will be taxed at the 21% rate.

• Emergency & Medical Care
  Emergency phone: 112. No medical assistance is covered by the Organization. We strongly recommend to bring your own insurance.