University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

In 1175, the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia was established in the towns of Modena and Reggio Emilia in the province of Emilia-Romagna, Italy. It is one of the oldest institutions in the country, with a student population of over 20,000 people.

It was estimated that by 1338, the mediaeval university had vanished, and it had been replaced by "three public lectureships" that did not confer degrees and were eventually closed in the 1590s "for lack of funds." When the Institution of Modena was restored in 1680, it did not get an imperial charter until 1685, making it the oldest university in the country.

The University has produced a number of notable alumni, including Ludovico Antonio Muratori, a noted Italian historian and scholar who graduated in 1694, playwright Carlo Goldoni in the 17th century, and Sandro Pertini, who rose to the position of President of the Italian Republic during the twentieth century.