It was not until the summer of 1949 that, due to the efforts of Vincenzo Rivera, professor of agricultural science, fellow of the Accademia Italiana, member of the Costituente and several-time member of Parliament, summer courses at university level were started in L'Aquila mainly for the benefit of Abruzzi students enrolled at the University of Rome.
In the academic year 1982-83 the Faculties of Education, Medicine, Engineering and Sciences, which had until that time constituted the free University of L'Aquila (established by a decree of the President of the Republic of 18 August 1964), became state institutions. On 11 October 1458 and again on 9 May 1464, the city of L'Aquila petitioned Seven years later, on 21 August 1814, a school of higher instruction for the whole Abruzzi area, with university level teaching in medicine, was inaugurated in L'Aquila by In 1923 the "University Schools" ceased to exist. The university presents a scientific-technological character with many research groups. It was founded in 1964 (its history begins in 1596) and is organized in nine departments. In 1985 the Faculty of Medicine established the It was also thanks to Rivera that an astronomical observatory was established at Campo Imperatore on the Gran Sasso, at 2200 m above sea level, as well as the observatory and high altitude botanical gardens, the geo-dynamics observatory, the national magnetism observatory and the museum of paleontology.
The creation of an institute of medicine is due to the efforts of Professor Paride Stefanini. The success enjoyed by these courses formed the foundation for a free University of L'Aquila, and, thanks to support from local bodies, on 15 December 1952 teaching was inaugurated at the Istituto Universitario di Magistero.
The University of L'Aquila (Italian: Università degli Studi dell'Aquila) is a public research university located in L'Aquila, central Italy. It is best known for its Engineering, Medicine, Psychology and Science schools.