The birth of the university tradition
Unlike other medieval schools founded by rulers or the Church, the University of Bologna was founded from below - as a community of students and teachers. They decided to create a place where they could study and discuss freely.
At first, it focused mainly on law - Bologna soon became a centre of legal scholarship, attracting students from all over Europe. The concept of 'universitas' as a community of teachers and students was also developed here - a model later adopted by universities in Paris, Oxford and Salamanca.
Famous students and scholars
Thousands of eminent personalities have passed through the University over the centuries. For example: dante Alighieri - poet and author of the Divine Comedy, Francesco Petrarca - Renaissance humanist, Niccolò Copernicus - guglielmo Marconi - inventor of the wireless telegraph and Nobel Prize winner.
The University of Bologna was thus not only a school, but also a place where world-changing ideas were born.
The Archiginnasio and other treasures of the university
The University of Bologna (Alma Mater Studiorum, founded in 1088) is indeed considered the oldest continuously operating university in Europe. But that doesn't mean that students have been sitting in the same building since the 11th century. Historically, the university has 'moved around' - teaching in different spaces around the city, often in private houses or monasteries.
The Archiginnasio (built in the 16th century) is usually considered the symbolic "first" residence, as it was the first large complex built specifically for university purposes. Today, however, it no longer serves as a university - it houses the city library and the famous Teatro Anatomico (a wooden halll from 1637, where the first anatomical dissections were performed in front of medical students), where dissections were once performed during medical lessons. The corridors are decorated with magnificent frescoes and the coat of arms of more than 6 000 students.
The university currently uses many modern buildings scattered throughout Bologna (and even in other cities of the Emilia-Romagna region). The faculties are therefore dispersed - medicine, law, natural sciences and humanities have their own campuses.
City of students
Thanks to the university, Bologna still has a youthful energy today. Students make up a significant part of the population and give the city a cosmopolitan atmosphere. The streets around Via Zamboni are full of cafés, bookshops and bars, where Italian is mixed with dozens of other languages.
It's no coincidence that Bologna is nicknamed La Dotta ("the learned") - for its university, La Rossa ("red") - for the colour of its roofs and its political history, La Grassa ("the fat one") - for its irresistible cuisine.
Why visit the University of Bologna
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Experience the atmosphere of the oldest university in the world that is still functioning.
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You will see the unique Teatro Anatomico - one of the most interesting places in European science.
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You'll walk through a city where medieval architecture mixes with lively student culture.
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And after your visit, head to one of the traditional trattorias for pasta that tastes all the better after a dose of history.
Practical tips
Archiginnasio is located right in the historic centre, just a few steps from Piazza Maggiore. You can buy tickets for the Teatro Anatomico and the library on the spot, but it's better to book in advance. If you have more time, combine a visit to the university with a climb up the Asinelli Tower or a visit to the Basilica of San Petronio.
The University of Bologna is more than just a school - it's a symbol of academic freedom, the birthplace of modern Europe, and a living organism that continues to influence culture and science today.
