The Thirteen Congress of the International Society for the Disease of the Esophagus will be held in Venice from 15 to 17 October 2012. In 1995, the ISDE meeting was in Milan, chaired by Professor Peracchia and after 17 years returns now in Italy. During these years, the clinical and basic studies on esophageal diseases have progressed enormously: the Italian groups of Padova and Milan, who are still among the frontrunners in esophagology, with all others Italian Colleagues, are more than eager to welcome again all the international scholars and scientists who will gather in Venice to present and exchange their more recent researches and studies on esophageal diseases. The Congress Venue, Venice, does not need any presentation: her magnificent stones rising from waters will also welcome you in an unforgettable embrace. Venice has been for centuries the “Gate for the East” : from her harbour the merchants sailed to the near East and one of her citizen, Marco Polo, was the first western to contact and describe China. We hope that the spirit of Venice will attract many colleagues from Middle and Far East, among them Japan, Korea, China and India.
As usual, the scientific program will be of the highest quality, including oral and poster presentations of the most recent researches, symposia and lectures by outstanding scholars on both neoplastic and benign disease of the esophagus. A special meeting, however, is made also of social events and Venice and her Lagoon will help us to render this a unique event for all of you.

Ermanno Ancona, Giovanni Zaninotto, Francesco Di Mario

I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs;
A palace and a prison on each hand:
I saw from out the wave her structures rise
As from the stroke of the enchanter’s wand.
---GG Byron, Childe Harold pilgrimage, Canto IV