Before the days of Princeton and Oxford, University of Bologna was the university to go to. Why? Because it’s been around for over one-thousand years! The school was founded as a “stadium” for students in Northern Italy, and it is for this reason that Universita di Bologna, as locals call it, is considered the oldest college of the Western world.

In the 11th and 12th centuries, scholars from all over would come to study law and literature. The 14th century brought about concentrations like theology, astronomy, and medicine, while the 15th century introduced Hebrew and Greek studies. When the Industrial Revolution took place in the 18th century, University of Bologna started focusing more on technological and scientific topics.

Although it has been in existence since 1008, the school didn’t take its modern form until the late 1800s and early 1900s. The university now serves over 50,000 students each year and offers programs ranging from History and Cultures to Veterinary Medical Sciences. Throughout their long existence, they have produced alumni ranging from popes to members of European Parliament, to winners of singing competition shows.