Bologna Information Page
An ancient Iberian-Ligurian settlement, in the 6th century BC it became an
Etruscan town, with the name of Felsina. In 189 BC the Romans re-baptised it
Bonomia. In the Middle Ages it followed the fortunes of the Ravenna military
and, after various dominations, it became a free Comune around the year 1000 AD. At
the end of the 11th century the celebrated University was founded. This soon
attracted students from all over Europe. Bologna and Paris can in fact call
themselves the cultural capitals of Medieval Europe. "The Studio" (as the
university seat was called), by imperial privilege, constituted in the 12th century
almost a town unto itself, with autonomous rights and independent magistrates.
The complex of 10 000 students was divided in two principal associations: the
university of the "citra-montani," or Italians, and that of the
"oltra-montani" (over the mountains, or foreigners). An idea of the importance of the
Unversity of Bologna can be given by the fact that this was where the re-birth of
Roman law was proclaimed.
Between the 13th and the 14th centuries, the city went through a period of major flourishing and development, followed by long subjection to the Church State, which lasted until the 19th century. After having favorably received Napoleonic dominion, it vainly hoped to revive its independence through the Congress of Vienna. It then became the center of the movement of liberal sects that acted in Romagna, until in 1831 it became the capital of the United Provinces. There was an uprising in 1848, and it pushed out the Austrians at Montagnola.
Bologna has strong musical links, earning the epithet "Italians, salute! Musical Bologna is passing!" Mozart and Rossini both studied in the city and the former was just 14 when he became a member of the city's Accademia Filarmonica, one of Europe's leading musical academies, founded in 1666. Rossini, who hailed from nearby Pesaro, made his operatic debut here in 1814 with Tancredi and The Italian Girl in Algiers. Both works received a cool reception, in marked contrast to the Italian premiere of Wagner's Lohengrin, which delighted the Bolognese audience and ran for a record 18 performances. The rapturous plaudits stunned even the egocentric Wagner, who declared such success was only possible in a city whose motto was Libertas (Freedom). Wagner was later made an honorary citizen of Bologna, adding further lustre to the city's musical reputation.