★★★★★ 5.0
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Sapienza University of Rome
This campus is only 90 years old, but the university here started in 1303—older than America! Pope Boniface VIII founded it, and ten Nobel Prize winners studied right here on Piazzale Aldo Moro. Look at these courtyards and archways—Marcello Piacentini designed this as a city within a city. Today, 122,000 students wander through 50 libraries holding 2.7 million books. Seven centuries of genius packed into one extraordinary square.
Did You Know?
- Founded in 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII, Sapienza University of Rome is not only one of the oldest universities in the world but was originally established as a Studium to train clergy, making it the first pontifical university—distinct from the more independent universities of Bologna and Padua. Its creation was a direct response to the Pope’s desire for greater ecclesiastical control over higher education, and its early history is intertwined with the political and religious struggles of medieval Europe.
- The university’s name, 'Sapienza' (meaning 'wisdom'), was adopted in the 1650s and is still used today. A fascinating architectural highlight is the Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza church, designed by Francesco Borromini, which sits on the site of the original university palace purchased with funds from a special wine tax instituted by Pope Eugene IV in 1431. This Baroque masterpiece, with its distinctive spiral dome, is considered one of Rome’s hidden architectural gems and is a must-see for families interested in art and history.
- Sapienza is home to the Alessandrina University Library, built in 1667 by Pope Alexander VII, which houses an extraordinary collection of 1.5 million volumes—including rare ancient works not found elsewhere. The university also boasts 19 museums and a historic botanical garden on the Janiculum hill, created by Pope Clement XI in 1703, which became one of Europe’s most celebrated gardens thanks to the work of the Trionfetti brothers. These resources make Sapienza a living museum of knowledge, perfect for curious visitors of all ages.