Élite of Byzantine studies gather in Venice for 24th International Congress

The 24th International Congress of Byzantine Studies has officially begun. The inaugural event took place on Monday, 22 August at "La Fenice" Theatre in Venice.
The Congress, which will continue until 27 August, is organised by the National Association of Byzantine Studies and by the International Association of Byzantine Studies, with the support and collaboration of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and the University of Padua.

The Congress is unique for the quantity and quality of the world-renowned scholars involved. There will be representatives from Harvard, Oxford, Princeton, La Sorbonne — universities which host important centres on Byzantine Studies. The Congress was first held in 1924 and takes place every five years. So far, it has only been held twice in Italy (in Rome in 1936 and in Palermo in 1951).

Venice has been described as “Quasi alterum Byzantium”. It is historically related to the Byzantine Empire and was the “door” of the Greeks in the West. Thus, the decision to hold the Congress in Venice is also an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the city and its historical past. 

The Congress will be held in the San Giobbe Campus of Economics (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice), and in Complesso del Beato Pellegrino and Palazzo Liviano (University of Padua) on 25 August 2022. 

All information is available on the 24th International Congress of Byzantine Studies website.