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The
University, one of the oldest in Italy and indeed anywhere in
the world, was founded at about the middle of the twelfth century.
Through the various upheavals which  have
marked Modena's history, the institution of the University has
always represented for the city a symbol of liberty and cultural
independence to be defended at all costs.
Initially the only subject taught was Law, then in the fourteenth
century Medicine was added, followed by many other subjects in
the next few centuries.
The University of Modena, that was also giving lectures in the
near town of Reggio Emilia, has now become University of Modena
and Reggio Emilia.
Today the faculties are: Law; Medicine and Surgery; Mathematical,
Physical and Natural Science; Pharmacy; Economics; Engineering;
Letter and Philosophy, Communication Science and Agronomy. Each
faculty is devided into specialization branches that provide for
about 40 first level degrees and as much second level specialistic
degrees. (visit the University Web Site at www.unimo.it
for any further information).
In recent years, more and more attention is being paid to the
demands of the job market, largely thanks to a fruitful dialogue
between the university faculties and the business world. From
this point of view the degrees in Materials Engineering, Computer
Science Engineering, Economics and International Marketing represent
one of the most advanced features of the ltalian university system.
Modena and Reggio Emilia University also houses an extremely valuable
historical and scientific patrimony, and many of the institutes
keep permanent displays of important exhibits.
The Anatomy Museum, set up in 1775, has a splendid anatomical
theatre and a wide and varied collection of ethnographic and anthropological
objects.
The Animal Biology Department Museum, founded towards the end
of the eighteenth century, houses a vast natural history collection,
including a series of stuffed  vertebrates
and a display of Modenese avifauna kept in a room which still
follows the original nineteenth century layout.
The Mineralogy Museum, founded in 1786, houses a collection of
minerals of the region along with a fascinating stone and mineral
display. This includes some very rare items, such as the meteorite
which fell to earth near Modena in 1765 and a collection of zeolites
which is unique anywhere in the world.
The Palaeontological Museum, also founded towards the end of the
eighteenth century, houses an important display of fossil fish
and palms, along with three perfectly preserved dinosaur specimens,
an Allosaurus, a Camptosaurus and a Stenopterygius crassicostatus
from the Jurassic period.
Next door to what are now the Public Gardens are to be found the
Botanical Gardens, founded in 1758. With greenhouses, flower beds
and tanks for aquatic plants, the Botanical Gardens can boast
a wide variety of specimens from all over the world.
Lastly, mention should be made of the Geophysical Observatory
and the Astronomy and Geophysics Museum, housed in the east tower
of the Palazzo Ducale (now the Accademia Militare) since 1826.
The museum provides an excellent insight into scientific study
in the period between 1820 and 1920, including a large display
of instruments for astronomical observation and standards of measurement.
On the top of the tower there is a meteorological terrace which
is still used today for observing climatic variations.
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