Why the Rome University is Great

1 Study in Europe The University I would like to study in is Sapienza University of Roma—in Rome, Italy. Sapienza University was founded in more than 600 years ago in 1303 (Sapienza University of Rome, 2018). The founder was Pope Boniface VIII. As such, it is one of the very oldest universities in the world today. Sapienza was also the first pontifical university. After more than a century of operation, Pope Eugene IV expanded the curriculum offered at the university so that there was a school of law, medicine, philosophy and theology.

The university did not get its name of Sapienza, which means wisdom until the 1650s (Di Simone, 1980). In 1870, the university ceased to be the papal university and became the University of Rome. Today it is recognized as one of the top universities in Southern Europe (Academic Ranking of World Universities, 2018) and it has over 100,000 enrolled students with more than 350 degree programs (Sapienza University of Rome, 2018). The university is situated squarely within the city of Rome. It is like a small city all of its own because it is so large.

Its Alexandrian Library is gargantuan all itself with over 1 million books and some of the most important and culturally significant manuscripts and documents housed under its roof (Alexandrian University Library, 2018). The Sapienza is a major university with tremendous cultural and historical roots. Some of it famous alumni included Maria Montessori, Federico Fellini, Mario Draghi, Sergio Mattarella, Charles Ponzi (a rather infamous figure, no doubt, like Draghi), and many others from a variety of disciplines. Rome is a city that is full of culture.

From being seat of the ancient civilization of the Roman Empire it became the seat of the Western Church. The architecture in Rome is unlike anything anywhere else: it is stunning, enormous, impressive, and full of grandeur. The churches and cathedrals, the artwork and history, the food and setting all give Rome a special character and quality that make it entirely unique among all the major cities in the world.

It is basically the very heart of Italy and still today retains a great deal of influence as the Pope still resides there in Vatican City which sits inside Rome. Italy itself is a giant peninsula that sticks out of southern Europe into the Mediterranean Sea. Because of its geographical position Rome, Italy has seen a lot of history.

It has been sacked numerous times throughout its history and every time it has bounced back because of the vital energy that runs through its streets and the people who live there. What influenced me to study in this university and country was the city itself. I have always been an admirer of the city of Rome and have enjoyed the many sights and sounds it has to offer. One can spend days just wandering around the city and soaking up the culture.

One can see the Coliseum, which is thousands of years old, or one can visit St. Peter’s and see the work of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel. I have always wanted to see firsthand the great works made by the great Renaissance artists of the past and attending this university would give me the chance to do just that. The social and political conditions in the country are admittedly not the best.

Italy is in a very precarious position politically as its leaders are at odds with the EU and there is still some speculation that Italy could end up leaving the EU (Jefferson, Crawford & Follain, 2018). This puts Italy in a particularly awkward situation. And what with the ongoing debates about immigration (Italy is becoming like Hungary and England in that it does not want to take in more immigrants from the Middle East), there is a lot of tension in the country at this point.

However, the cultural attractions of the country are immense. There is the rich artistic heritage of Florence, the beautiful city of Venice, which is a work of art in and of itself, and there is of course Rome. Up north there is the mountains and beautiful resorts like those at Lake Como. One can vacation on the Adriatic or visit the many different shrines all over the country. Padre Pio is celebrated everywhere in Italy and the country has many numerous ancient sites to visit as well, like the aqueducts.

The country is full of history because it is has been making history for more than 2000 years. There are many academic opportunities for foreign students at the university, which offers a Foundation Year Program that is for foreign students. It allows them to study in English while they learn Italian (Foundation Year, 2018). Economic opportunities available to foreign students can come by way of internships or by taking part in the various programs that are available through the university and through the EU’s regulations.

Summary The college I would like to attend in Europe is Sapienza University of Rome. The college is named “Wisdom” because it has such a long history and is over 600 years old, making it one of the oldest schools in the world. The college is renowned around the world and is one of the top schools in Southern Europe. It is situated in one of the most culturally-significant cities in the Western hemisphere. Rome is full of history, just as Italy is and being a.