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The University of Catania

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The University of Catania is the oldest university in Sicily. It was founded on the 19^th of October 1434 by a charter from King Alfonso D'Aragona: Decimo quod placeat providere privilegium concedere quod Studium generale fiat in civitate Cathanie, cum sit ad hoc aptissima et fertilis. Placet.

At that time only a few universities could be found in the whole of Europe. It was thanks to two proud citizens of Catania, Adamo Asmundo and Battista Platamone that the royal charter was obtained.

But it was only in 1445, following a Papal Bull from Eugenio IV confirming the royal charter, that the University could begin its academic life, gaining the privilege of conferring baccalaureates and degrees. Four main schools were founded: theology, law, medicine and literary studies

Its first location was just in front of the city cathedral until, in 1559, all the buildings in that area were brought down to create an open space where nowadays stands the 'Piazza Duomo'.

Deprived of a fixed location, it was first housed in the Palace of the Marquis of Francofonte; then in the mansion of Don Pietro Colle, one of the lecturers; and in 1600 it was moved to Raimondo Gravina's palace.

It was only in 1684 that the university found a fixed abode in San Marco Hospital's buildings situated in the Piazza della Fiera as it was then called. When the hospital was destroyed in the earthquake of 1693, the construction of the present building was started in the same location. It was mainly designed by the seventeenth century architect Gian Battista Vaccarini from Palermo, was completed in 1778 and still stands in what today is called Piazza Università.