Nurishing Mother

I was excited that our 2015 tour of Italy included a day in the northern city of Bologna, not because it is the home of the sandwich meat (which it is not), but because it is the home of the oldest western university, the Università di Bologna. Established in 1088, it served as a model in the rise of universities across Europe. Many of its structures and practices have carried over into modern universities.

The University of Bologna educated some of the early giants in science, including Copernicus, as well as early popes. Guglielmo Marconi and Enzo Ferrari are among its 20th century graduates. The phrase “Alma Mater” (nourishing mother) also first appeared on the crest of the University of Bologna. Today the university continues to be ranked among the top universities in Europe.

We found the university in the oldest (medieval) section of the city in nondescript buildings with few signs. The heavy concentration of students and their scooters give it away. We clearly knew we were in the right place when we found a bust of Copernicus in a hallway outside a library entrance.