University of Messina

Established in 1548 by Pope Paul III, the University of Messina (Università degli Studi di Messina or UniME) holds the distinction of being the world’s first Jesuit college, now standing as one of Italy’s most venerable institutions of higher learning. Situated in Messina, renowned as the gateway to Sicily and a prominent cruise ship port, the university embodies a rich history intertwined with the cultural fabric of the region. Despite enduring the catastrophic earthquake of 1908, which claimed the lives of 14 faculty members and devastated its libraries and scientific infrastructure, UniME resiliently reopened in phases between 1909 and 1915. Today, the state university encompasses four primary campuses dispersed throughout the city, offering a diverse array of academic disciplines across 12 departments. With approximately 1,000 professors and 24,000 enrolled students, including a growing cohort of international scholars, UniME prides itself on its global reach and cultural diversity. Notably, the university hosts eight degree programs delivered in English, catering to the needs of an increasingly interconnected world. Facilities abound, from student residences and a comprehensive sports center to well-appointed libraries and the esteemed Orto Botanico di Messina, a historic botanical garden established in 1638 by the renowned Italian physician and botanist Pietro Castelli.