A half-day excursion to Plovdiv will be organised (included in the conference fee). Plovdiv is one of the oldest European towns contemporary with Troya and Mickena. The Thracians founded there in 10th century BC an ancient settlement. Later the town was conquered by Philip II the Macedonian in 4th centure BC and fell under Roman rule in 1st century AC (see the ancient amphitheatre, II century). Plovdiv is the economic, cultural and political centre of Thracia province in Byzance, Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria. Today the old town on three granite hills combines the Bulgarian revival architecture with monuments from Thracian, Roman and medieval times.