University of Bologna, Public university in Bologna, Italy.
The University of Bologna is a public university in Bologna that operates several locations across the Emilia-Romagna region. The main buildings sit in the center of the city, including Palazzo Poggi and the Archiginnasio, where historical lecture halls and anatomical theaters are still preserved.
Established in 1088, the institution grew out of medieval schools where Irnerius taught Roman law. Over the centuries, it became a destination for scholars and laid the groundwork for the European university system.
Students move through the courtyards and halls that still serve as learning spaces, while tourists visit the old lecture rooms to see where Europe began university life. On warm days, young people gather on the steps and small squares, where academic life mixes with the everyday rhythm of the city.
Some of the historical rooms are open to visitors, while others remain in use for active teaching. Those interested in the libraries or the anatomical theater at the Archiginnasio should check in advance if guided tours are available.
Bettisia Gozzadini and Laura Bassi received their academic degrees here and later taught on the faculty, making them the first women to teach at a European university. The anatomical theater displayed in the Archiginnasio was once used for public dissections, where students stood around a central dissecting table.
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