The Most Beautiful University and College Campuses in the World
University of Bologna
The University of Bologna, in Bologna, Italy, is widely considered the oldest university in the Western world. It was originally founded in 1088, as a school to teach aristocratic students the foundations of grammar, rhetoric, and logic. Former students and teachers include Thomas Becket, Nicolaus Copernicus, and the legendary Italian poet Dante Alighieri. It also holds the potential record for earliest female university professor — in the 12th century, a female scholar named Bettisia Gozzadini regularly attracted huge crowds to her university lectures.
The most spectacular buildings on campus are also their oldest — the Archiginnasio was the university’s original building, until the Palazzo Poggi took over that function in 1803. The majority of the university buildings are located along the historic Via Zamboni which retains its marble floors and graceful arches to this day.
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