> Founded in the year 1088, the oldest continuously operating university in Europeis located in which city?And the answer: Bologna, Italy. Located in northern Italy, the University of Bologna is the oldest university inthe Western world that's still in operation. Known in Italy as Alma MaterStudiorum Università di Bologna ("the mother of all universities"), the schoolcounts the poet Dante as one of its alumni. Today it welcomes 85,000 studentsacross five campuses.Photo credit: uceap.universityofcalifornia.eduWhile most every college oruniversity tends to have their own claim to fame, few can proudly boast alongevity quite like that of University of Bologna. In 1088, traditions ofstudying Roman law began to revive, and with it came the Western world's firstuniversity. Yet University of Bologna hardly resembled any conventionalinstitution of higher learning in the beginning – professors taught from home,in rented spaces, and often in city squares. It wasn't until 1154 that the HolyRoman Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa recognized the university as such, giving wayto a more formalized education.Photo credit: public domain.Its longevity isn't the only thing that makes theUniversity of Bologna unique, though. Upon its creation, the school was createdand controlled by the students. Rather than internally-elected professors,lecturers, or rectors, students were in charge of choosing their educators. Intime, the various universitates scholarium (student mutual aid societies)decided to form a larger association, or Studium —thus, the university wascreated.In the 12th century, the University of Bologna began to take the shape of whatwe think of as a university today. Latin and Greek literature, medicine, andphilosophical science were all taught to eager students. Throughout the 13thcentury, the famous professors lectured on philosophy, the liberal arts, andjurisprudence. The University of Bologna continues to thrive today in numbers. Learn more aboutthe Western world's oldest university here[https://www.britannica.com/topic/University-of-Bologna].