University of Bologna - the oldest university in Europe and one of the oldest in the world. Can compete with him, perhaps, the University of Al-Karaouine in the Moroccan city of Fez. Among the most famous graduates of the University of Bologna - Torquato Tasso, Nicolaus Copernicus, Carlo Goldoni, Albrecht Durer and others.

The exact date of the founding of the University of Bologna is unknown, but is well established that in the XI century in Bologna there was a school of "liberal arts", which taught rhetoric and Roman law. The first was a law professor Irnerius - his lectures he read in 1088 at the request of the Countess Matilda, the former owner of Tuscany and part of Lombardy.

Two centuries later, Law School in Bologna won European fame, including, thanks to the patronage of the German Emperor Frederick I .  When it all the students of Roman law, could travel freely across the continent under the protection of the imperial authority, and they could only judge the professor or bishop .  In those years, these benefits have been a great help to increase the flow of students .  In addition, people from northern Europe attracted by the mild climate of the city and its overall development and Livability .  Students become not only young people, but also respectable fathers of families, including scions of royal families .  A unique feature of the University was his openness to women .  This was required for admission to confirm their knowledge of and intent to learn - belonging to a noble family shall not be considered .  Student Association chooses himself leaders who obeyed and professors .  In the XIV century the university already existed three separate departments - legal, theological and medical .  But then it began a period of decline that lasted until the XIX century - the reason for this was the emergence of universities in many other cities in Italy and Europe .  Seriously affected the university and during the Napoleonic wars - then even the furniture was burned warlike French!

Today, the University of Bologna are no longer among the top ten leading universities, but remains one of the top in Europe. It maintains contacts with many academic institutions on all continents and participates in a number of exchange programs.

The real property of the University of Bologna is its library, which was founded in 1605. It contains over 250,000 books and 1,300 periodicals. Also pay attention to the Botanical Garden of the University - «Orto Botanico». It was founded in 1568 and today is considered one of the oldest in Europe. In an area of ​​2 hectares it accommodates about 5000 plants belonging to 1,200 species. Here you can see the plants, succulents, imported from Central and South America, Africa, the Canary Islands and Madagascar. In the tropical garden grow bromeliads and orchids, coffee and palm trees, and a variety of herbs. Throughout the garden planted with trees typical for areas of Central and Southern Europe, and in addition there are plants, predators and typical alpine flora.