The foundation The University of Ferrara is one of the oldest in Italy. It was founded in 1391 by Alberto V, Marquis of Este, and granted by Pope Boniface IX. The origins The earliest courses were in the arts, theology and law and from the very beginning it attracted well-known teachers. These included Bartolomeo of Saliceto, "Prince of the jurists", and Guarino of Verona, who had Enea Silvio Piccolomini (the future Pope Pious II) among his pupils. The 20th century At the beginning of the 20th century, the University of Ferrara had over 500 students, marking it as the most popular of the independent Italian universities. During the Fascist period, in 1934, the school of Pharmacy was upgraded to a Faculty. This added to the three existing faculties of Law, Medicine and Surgery, and Science. Between 1968 and 1969, the Faculty of Education was opened. This was subsequently renamed Literature and Philosophy. Thus we reach a total of five Faculties with thirteen degree courses, to which we must add the two-year engineering course. The most recent expansion took place during the ‘90s, with the opening of three new Faculties: Architecture, Engineering and Economics.