WOA 2026, the 27th Workshop
From Objects to Agents 

Venue

Salerno is a beautiful city very close to the Amalfi Coast and is easily reachable from Naples by train and form Capodichino Airport by bus. Many hotels are close to the seaside and the center of the city. 

The Workshop will be held in Fondazione Carisal, Via Bastioni, 14.

Salerno at a Glance

Salerno is a vibrant coastal city in southern Italy, located on the Tyrrhenian Sea at the eastern edge of the Amalfi Coast. Its atmosphere blends everyday local life with a distinctly Mediterranean setting, with palm-lined seafront promenades, wide views over the Gulf of Salerno, and a historic center of narrow lanes, small piazzas, and cafés.

The city’s best-known landmark is the Duomo, a medieval complex admired for its bell tower and richly decorated interior. Above the city, the Castello di Arechi offers panoramic viewpoints and a sense of Salerno’s layered history. Along the waterfront, the marina and the Villa Comunale provide pleasant places for a walk, while the port also makes it easy to reach several destinations by ferry.

Salerno is a practical base for exploring the region. From here, you can visit Amalfi Coast towns, the ancient Greek temples of Paestum, and the landscapes of Cilento, often with fewer crowds than the area’s most famous hotspots. The local food scene is another highlight, with classic Campanian flavors such as fresh seafood and mozzarella di bufala, paired with regional wines and a relaxed, welcoming pace of life.

If you would like to visit all the wonderful places around Salerno, we have prepared a list of suggested places!

Amalfi coast

The Amalfi Coast is one of the most enchanting coastlines in Europe, for the spectacular landscape and historic heritage of the place. The vegetable patches and the gardens, are all contained in terraces, where the products, like lemons, are cultivated from centuries. The nature of Amalfi coastline has made very difficult and interesting the construction of the main road (named Statale 163) that connects all the villages of the coast. This incredible road was built around 1840 and completed in 1852, and it wings around the mountains, on cliffs varying from 50ft to 400ft above the sea, offering each corner a breathtaking sea view.

Naples

In the shadow the Vesuvius tourism roots run deep: on the imprints of great greek columns refined aristocrats and Roman emperors built their sumptuous villas and oasis all along the shoreline of the Gulf. It is not a coincidence that at the begining of this third millennium the peculiar magic of this civilisation continues to generate new sources of amazement: the recovery of age old monuments and traditions, folklore, gastronomy, genuine cultivation, that were thought irreparably lost, events and shows worthy of the great international circuit, new fodder for artistic and scientific research.

Naples’ aritistic treasures to visit are countless; the old city centre, world patrimony protected by Unesco; the buildings, the churches, the catacombs and the underground paths, the Archeological Museum; the places of Medieval and Renaissance power around the Castel Nuovo and Palazzo Reale; the unforgettable seafront, from Castel dell’Ovo to Posillipo. The Vomero hill area proposes museum colections among the most important in the world, in restored locations that have been set up in an exemplary way: Capodimonte’s Palazzo Reale and the Certosa of San Martino.

Capri

Luxuriant, extraordinary, and such a mild climate. Capri is a Mediterranean island of calcareous origin that has been visited over the centuries by intellectuals, artists and writers, all enthralled by its magical beauty. A mix of history, nature, worldliness, culture and events that daily blend together and bring the Legend of Capri to life; a legend that sees no comparison anywhere in the world.

Although the majority of holidaymakers staying on Capri wouldn't dream of leaving this paradisiacal island, not even for a minute, those lucky enough to be here for more than a week of two might well be tempted to make the most of its strategic location in the Bay of Naples and to use it as luxurious base from which to visit the tourist attractions on the neighboring islands and on the mainland.

Throughout the year, regular ferry and hydrofoil crossings transport passengers boarding at Capri to the nearby ports of Naples and Sorrento. In the summer months, ferry connections are also available to and from the Amalfi Coast. Those who have always fancied sailing the seas in authentic Capri style, can rent a boat, with or without skipper, in the harbor of Marina Grande.

Ischia

Ischia is a volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian, at the northern end of the Gulfo of Naples. It is almost entirely mountainous, with the highest peak being Mount Epomeo at 788 meters. The island has a population of over 60,000 people.

The community areas in Ischia include ischia Porto (the main Comune of the island), Barano, Casamicciola, Forio, Lacco Ameno and Serrara Fontana.

Thanks to its history, the sea and its special volcanic nature, Ischia is a rare beauty and wellness legacy, an island that celebrates life. 2700 years of history, 103 thermal wellness springs and the largest of the Neapolitan islands, about 30 km from Naples, measuring 10 km from east to west and 7 km from north to south, with 34 km of shoreline. Its highest peak is Mount Epomeo (787 m.). The climate is mild all year round.

Throughout Italy and the rest of the world, The island of Ischia is very high on the list of places for its capacity to accommodate tourist requirements and for its variety of environments and natural beauties whose harmonic complexity has a particular attraction and charm for the tourist, who, nearly always, return to island to recover the strength of their bodies and spirits.

Pompeii

Ancient pagan town, buried by about six meters of ash and lapilli following an eruption of Vesuvius, which took place in August 79 AD. In the sixteenth century it was discovered almost by chance during the construction of an aqueduct and as a proof of this a plaque has been placed near the Door Nocera. Thanks to a particular technique devised by Fiorelli, today we can see the positions in which the Pompeians perished during the eruption. He invented a method to get casts, leaching some liquid plaster into the void left by the now dissolved bodies, these casts are a tragic testimony of the disaster. In addition, countless findings of frescoes, pottery, furniture and various tools help us to understand the habits and customs of ancient Pompeii, but just a visit to archaeological site could give us extraordinary emotions. By decree of 1997 Pompeii was included among the sites that are considered World Heritage by UNESCO. The Committee has decided to enter this area on the basis of cultural criteria considering that the extraordinary findings in the city of Pompeii and neighbouring cities, buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 d. C., constitute a complete and living testimony of society and daily life in a moment of the past and cannot find their equivalent anywhere in the world. 

Paestum

Paestum is an archaeological site and seaside area in southern Italy, in the region of Campania, renowned for some of the best preserved ancient Greek temples in the Mediterranean. Founded by Greek settlers in the sixth century BCE, it later became a Roman city, and its long history is still visible in the layout of the ruins and the atmosphere of the surrounding landscape.

The main attraction is the extraordinary temple complex, where three monumental Doric temples stand on a broad plain bordered by mountains and fields. Walking among them, you can also see parts of the ancient walls, the forum area, and other remains that help reconstruct daily life in antiquity. The nearby Paestum Archaeological Museum adds important context, displaying sculptures, artifacts, and famous painted tomb slabs that illuminate local rituals and beliefs.

Beyond its classical heritage, Paestum is also associated with the food culture of the area, especially mozzarella di bufala produced in the surrounding countryside. With its combination of major historical sites, open spaces, and proximity to the coast, Paestum offers a slower, more immersive experience than many of Italy’s better known destinations.

We look forward to seeing you at the conference!