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Università degli Studi di Napoli "L'Orientale" | |
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| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Established | 1732; 293 years ago (1732) |
| Rector | Roberto Tottoli |
| Students | 11,164 (2017) |
| Location | , |
| Sports teams | CUS Napoli |
| Website | www |
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TheUniversity of Naples "L'Orientale" (Italian:Università degli Studi di Napoli "L'Orientale") is a university located inNaples,Italy. Founded in 1732 byMatteo Ripa, it is the oldest school ofSinology andOriental Studies of theEuropean continent. It is organized in three departments, and is the main university in Italy specializing in the study of non-European languages and cultures, with research and studies agreements with universities all over the world. It is one of the top universities in the world regardingAsian cultures and languages.[by whom?]
The name "L'Orientale" is an indication of the origins of the university. In the mid-17th century, theManchus established theQing Empire in China and started a remarkable period of openness towards the west. This included welcoming Christianmissionaries and priests.One such person was the missionaryMatteo Ripa of thePropaganda Fide from theKingdom of Naples, who worked as a painter andcopper engraver at the imperial court of theKangxi Emperor between 1711 and 1723. He returned to Naples from China with four young Chinese Christians, all teachers of their native language; they formed the nucleus of what would become the "Chinese College" (Collegio de' Cinesi) of Naples, sanctioned byPope Clement XII in 1732 to teach Chinese to missionaries and thus advance the propagation of Christianity in China.
The school buildings comprised theComplesso dei Cinesi located at the boundary ofCapodimonte and theRione Sanità. What was formerly a private palace had been converted into amonastery and a church dedicated toSaint Frances of Rome. Under Matteo Ripa, the complex became aseminary for missionaries to China. In addition to being a school for Chinese priests, in some occasions the Chinese College also welcomed Europeans who were interested in learning the Chinese language. This played a crucial role in spreading knowledge about Chinese language and culture in the Western world.[1]
After theunification of Italy in 1861, the institution was transformed into the "Royal Asian College" (Real collegio asiatico) and other languages such as Russian, Hindustani, and Persian were added to the curriculum. The original buildings also were used as a school fororphans in 1897, and in 1910 into the Elena d'Aosta hospital.
The institution then became a secular school for the study of eastern languages in general, and then, over the course of decades, African languages and, indeed, all modern European languages. Today more than 50 languages are taught.
The main entrance to the institute has afrescoedcoat of arms of the institute with a halfbust ofMatteo Ripa sculpted byLeonardo Di Candia.
The domed church of theHoly Family of the Chinese (Sacra Famiglia dei Cinesi) was built in 1732,[2] and refurbished in 1814. The singlenave leads to a main altar with marble cherubs sculpted byAngelo Viva. The mainaltarpiece depicting aHoly Family adored by two of the first Chinese Seminarians (1769) was painted byAntonio Sarnelli.[3] Other paintings were by followers or pupils ofFrancesco De Mura, including his brother Gennaro. Four saints carved in wood were designed byFrancesco Solimena. TheMadonna della Misericordia was painted byStanislao Lista. The sacristy has sculptures byGiuseppe Sammartino.
in 1932 l'Orientale moved into its current headquarters,Palazzo Giusso. However, like most universities in Italy, the IUO lacks a single maincampus and is distributed over the city at a number of different sites. The teaching facilities of L'Orientale include Palazzo Giusso and Palazzo Corigliano in the historic center of Naples, the large converted monastery of Santa Maria Porta Coeli near theNaples Cathedral, and the new Palazzo Mediterraneo on via Marina.
There are three Departments:
Main Library is Maurizio Taddei,Palazzo Corigliano, with over 60.000 ancient volumes.
