During an intensive four-day program (September 30 to October 4, 2003), a total of 14 U.S. AIA architects visited a marble quarry and stone-processing facilities, studied the use of stone in important buildings such as Benetton's headquarters in Treviso, Italy, enjoyed guided architectural tours of Verona and Venice, and spent more than a day at Marmomacc.

Veronafiere, an American Institute for Architects continuing education provider, accepts each year a limited number of American architects to participate in the program. Architects compete for scholarships that cover tuition, meals, hotel accommodations and local transportation.

Veronfiere plans to offer the course to U.S. architects again this year, during Marmomacc 2004 (October 7 to 10). For more information on the next course, you can visit Veronafiere's stand (Booth #1821) at the AIA convention to be held in Chicago from June 10 to June 12, 2004, or contact Melissa Petersen at The Consultants International Group, 1616 H Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC, 20006; E-mail: info@cig-dc.com; Phone 202-783-7000; Fax: 202-393-4655.