# University of Florence

> university in Italy

**Wikidata**: [Q820887](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q820887)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Florence)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/university-of-florence

## Summary
The University of Florence is a public university located in Florence, Italy, with a history dating back to 1321. It is one of Italy's oldest academic institutions and offers higher education across multiple disciplines.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1321 (inception: 1321), making it one of Italy's oldest universities
- Located in Florence, Italy (coordinates: 43.77777, 11.25951)
- Rector: Luigi Dei
- Has approximately 18,000 employees and 40,000 students
- Ranks among the top 400-460 universities globally according to QS World University Rankings (various years from 2014-2025)
- Official website: https://www.unifi.it/
- Member of European University Association and other academic networks
- Affiliated with ORCID and ELIXIR Italy

## FAQs
### Q: When was the University of Florence founded?
A: The University of Florence was founded in 1321, making it one of Italy's oldest academic institutions.

### Q: Where is the University of Florence located?
A: The University of Florence is located in Florence, Italy, with its headquarters and main facilities in the city.

### Q: Who is the current rector of the university?
A: The current rector of the University of Florence is Luigi Dei.

### Q: How many students attend the University of Florence?
A: The university has approximately 40,000 students enrolled across its various faculties and departments.

## Why It Matters
The University of Florence holds significant historical and academic importance as one of Italy's oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning. Founded in 1321, it has played a crucial role in shaping Italian intellectual and cultural heritage over the centuries. Today, it serves as a major center for research and education, contributing to advancements in various fields including computer science, biology, and social sciences. The university's long-standing tradition of academic excellence and its role in educating generations of scholars make it a vital institution in both Italian and international academic communities.

## Notable For
- One of Italy's oldest universities, with continuous operation since 1321
- Home to numerous research centers and specialized libraries across different disciplines
- Affiliated with major international academic networks including ORCID and ELIXIR Italy
- Recognized for its contributions to computer science and computational biology through its faculty and research programs
- Maintains historical buildings and facilities including the Rettorato (rectory) and various academic departments

## Body
### History and Foundation
The University of Florence has its origins in the medieval period, with its formal establishment dating back to 1321. It evolved from earlier educational institutions such as the Istituto di Studi Superiori di Firenze, which was founded in 1859 during the Kingdom of Italy period.

### Academic Structure
The university operates through multiple faculties and departments, including:
- Faculty of Economics
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Political Sciences
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

These faculties are organized across different campuses and centers throughout Florence and its surrounding areas.

### Research and Facilities
The university maintains extensive research facilities and specialized libraries, including:
- The Istituto Papirologico "Girolamo Vitelli" (papyrology institute)
- The Polo delle Scienze Sociali di Novoli (social sciences center in the Novoli district)
- Multiple specialized libraries covering humanities, sciences, and technology

### International Affiliations
The University of Florence is affiliated with several international academic organizations:
- European University Association (EUA)
- ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID)
- ELIXIR Italy (European Life Science Infrastructure)
- Netval Research Universities Network
- Agence universitaire de la Francophonie

### Campus and Infrastructure
The university's main campus is located in Florence, with additional facilities and research centers throughout the city and region. Key buildings include the Rettorato (rectory) and various academic departments housed in historic and modern structures.

### Faculty and Research
The university is known for its strong programs in computer science, computational biology, and other technical fields, with numerous faculty members and researchers contributing to international academic publications and collaborations.

### Student Life and Services
The university provides comprehensive support services to its approximately 40,000 students, including academic advising, career services, and various student organizations and clubs.

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## References

1. SIUSA
2. GRID Release 2017-01-10
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. Japan Search
5. BnF authorities
6. CiNii Research
7. Anagrafe delle biblioteche italiane
8. [Source](http://www.elixir-europe.org/about-us/who-we-are/nodes/italy)
9. [Source](https://orcid.org/members/001G000001qlQMAIA2-universita-degli-studi-di-firenze)
10. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20231020113811/https://orcid.org/members)
11. [Source](https://eua.eu/about/member-directory.html)
12. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20220805081904/https://netval.it/chi-siamo/soci-netval/)
13. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20221123144401/https://www.auf.org/les_membres/nos-membres/)
14. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20231109092552/https://coara.eu/coalition/membership/)
15. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
16. [Source](https://www.unifi.it/vp-3259-urp.html)
17. [Source](https://www.unifi.it/en/university/who-we-are)
18. [Source](https://www.qschina.cn/en/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2022)
19. [Source](https://www.qschina.cn/en/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2024)
20. [Source](https://www.qschina.cn/en/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2023)
21. [Source](https://www.qschina.cn/en/universities/university-florence)
22. [Source](https://www.unifi.it/index.php)
23. [Source](https://www.waitaly.net/en/university-of-florence/)
24. GRID Release 2015-12-14
25. GRID Release 2016-12-06
26. Quora
27. [Source](https://apps.db.ripe.net/search/lookup.html?source=ripe&key=2001:760:2c05::/48&type=inet6num)
28. [Source](https://orcid.org/signin)
29. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
30. HAL
31. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/University_of_Florence-JEGV6)
32. HMML Authority File