Discover Udine
Education
Discover Udine
Where is Udine?
Lying at the border with Austria and Slovenia, easily accessible from Ronchi dei Legionari Airport of Trieste, as well as from the international airports Antonio Canova (Treviso) and Marco Polo (Venice), and equipped with Friuli Venezia Giulia’s main train station, Udine is an extremely livable, active city with a wealth of cultural initiatives and places of historical and artistic interest. In 2023, it claimed the top spot in the national ranking assessing the quality of life; in other words, Udine is currently the best city to live in Italy!
What is there to see, savour, and enjoy?
The Loggia del Lionello and that of San Giovanni, the famous Castle (which lies on the biggest prehistoric mound in the continent and hosts a series of Museums and Art Galleries, as well as the Hall of the Parliament of the Patria del Friuli, one of the oldest in Europe), the Cathedral, the many historical buildings (those of Monte di Pietà and D’Aronco, for example), the rogge, fountains, parks and large squares (Piazza Libertà, Piazza Matteotti; Piazza Primo Maggio, Piazza XX Settembre) magnify the historic center and host a variety of initiatives throughout the year (festivals, exhibitions, fairs, conferences).
Udine boasts a variety of libraries (civic and university), bookstores and art galleries, and is home to several important theatres, such as Giovanni da Udine, CSS Teatro stabile di innovazione del Friuli Venezia Giulia, San Giorgio. Notable attractions include the famous Gallerie del Tiepolo, along with numerous museums dedicated to the Press, Ancient Art, Photography, Archaeology, and Modern and Contemporary Art. Additionally, Udine offers a vibrant culinary scene with many osterie and restaurants that maintain strong connection to Friuli’s wine and food traditions, facilitating meetings, exchanges and experiences.
And should you ever get tired of city life, with its strolls through the shopping streets, evenings at the cinema, and aperitivi featuring the traditional spritz, it would take you just one hour or two to reach the Adriatic coastline and lagoons to the South, or the Alpine peaks with their lakes and thousand-year old forests to the North, or to explore the natural beauty and the characteristic landscape of the gentle hills of Middle Friuli.
Where exactly is the Department of Humanities and Cultural Heritage located?
Within the University of Udine, founded in 1978, the Department of Humanities and Cultural Heritage (DIUM) has its headquarters in the heart of the historic city centre, namely at vicolo Florio 2/B, in the seventeenth-century Palazzo Caiselli which the University underwent a complex restoration between 2001 and 2004. DIUM is also headed by two other recently renovated historic buildings, namely Casa Solari and Palazzo Falconieri.
What is the academic offering at the University of Udine regarding Humanities?
DIUM promotes:
- 5 three-year degree programs: Cultural Heritage; Humanities; Performing Arts (DAMS); Philosophy and Digital Transformation; Cultural Tourism
- 7 master’s degree programs in partnership with the University of Trieste and other European and non-European universities: Archaeology and Cultures of Antiquity, (ARCA); Philosophy; Cultural and Event Tourism Management; Italian Studies; Audiovisual Heritage and Media Education Sciences, International Master in Cinema Studies (IMACS); History of Art; Historical Studies. From Ancient to the Contemporary Age
- 2 post-graduate schools: Artistic and Historical Heritage; Archaeological Heritage
- 4 Ph.D. programs: Ancient Heritage Studies; Language and Literary Studies; History of Societies, Institutions and Thinking. From Medieval to the Contemporary History; Art History, Film Studies, Media Studies, and Music).
It also promotes many third-level educational activities, such as advanced courses, winter and summer schools, and it is open to the initiative of faculty’s members and students.
So, why should I choose to study at Udine?
Due to the high quality of its teaching, research and internationalisation, and thanks to its effective organisation, DIUM has been recognised as a Department of Excellence by the Ministry of University and Research, receiving maximum points.
Teaching, fostered by the excellent number ratio of teachers to learners and by the presence of 17 laboratories and the organisation of various archaeological excavations (including underwater ones) in Italy and abroad, is complemented by intensive scientific research activities.
The 9 research sections and the 6 research centers promote numerous scientific activities under the banner of innovation and enhancement of knowledge and human resources.
There are many reasons to spend a period of study at DIUM in Udine (at least 6!). Take a look to get your bearings!
Further information
- University of Udine – International Students – dedicated page on the University's website, providing everything that might be useful to know for those who wish to come and study in Udine.
- Comune di Udine – official website of the Municipality of Udine, with updates on services and scheduled cultural activities.
- PromoTurismoFVG – Friuli Venezia Giulia official tourism website