University of Florence

The University of Florence can trace its origins to the Studium Generale, which was established by the Florentine Republic in 1321. Initially were taught, Civil and Canon Law, Literature, and Medicine.The importance of the Studium was fully recognized with a Bull by Pope Clemente VI in 1349; the Bull also established that the first Italian Faculty of Theology would be in Florence. In 1364, with Emperor Carlo VII, the Florentine Studium became an Imperial University. For a period the Studium was moved to Pisa but many teaching activities continued in Florence, and scientific research found substantial support in the various Academies, like the Crusca and the Cimento. In 1859, these separate teaching activities reunited in a suitable system called the Istituto di Studi Pratici e di Perfezionamento; a year later this was recognized as a full fledged university by the Government of Unified Italy. In 1924, with a special Act of Parliament the Istituto was officially denominated a University and was organized into the various faculties: Agriculture, Architecture, Arts, Economics, Education, Law, Mathematics Physical and Natural Sciences, Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy and Political Science. The Faculty of Engineering, was born in 1928 while the Faculty of Psychology in 2002.