Acre, in northern Israel, has always been a crossroads and landing place for peoples. Here landed, among others, St. Francis in 1219. The Franciscan presence has been linked to this city ever since. Br. EUGENIO ALLIATA, ofm Archaeologist - Studium Biblicum Franciscanum "The Franciscans were present in Acre with a large convent that was the center of the province of the Holy Land. With the fall of the city, some friars were killed, others took refuge in Cyprus, and the island of Cyprus became the seat of the province. However, there was always in the Franciscans a desire to return." The "citadel" is the symbolic site of Acre, an imposing testimony to Crusader history. A maze of corridors winds through the underground city: streets, stores, the chapel, the knights' halls. These walls, last Sept. 6 and 7, hosted the first "Symposium of Italian Archaeological Missions in Israel," sponsored by the Embassy of Italy in Israel, in collaboration with the Italian Chamber of Commerce and the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). Scholars from different disciplines gathered in Tel Aviv and Acre for a time of sharing achievements and opening new perspectives and future collaborations. Doing the honors was Italian Ambassador to Israel Sergio Barbanti. SERGIO BARBANTI Ambassador of Italy to Israel "It seemed to us that this was the moment to put together everything that has been done and think about what more can be done for the future. Not only common projects but also common strategies, possibilities for exchanges of researchers and scholars. After all, this is the Holy Land for us as well, so there is much to say and much to do together." Archaeologists, historians, architects, and engineers took turns at the speakers' table, showing the variety of applications to archaeological research. FRANCO CARDINI Historian "In scientific work there is never an end. We have heard fellow archaeologists, young archaeologists doing incredible things: underwater archaeology, chemistry or even nuclear medicine applied to the history of archaeology. These things are now the new horizons." The Custody of the Holy Land, which is entrusted with the care of Christian Holy Places, has always been a point of reference for archaeology. Br. EUGENIO ALLIATA, ofm Archaeologist - Studium Biblicum Franciscanum "One must always try to be of what is knowledge, which is constantly evolving. That is why it is important to be prepared, it is important to follow the most developed schools and seek the collaboration of specialists as well. Today is the time of teams: everyone brings his or her specialization and together we arrive at a result."