Parthenope University of Naples

The Parthenope University of Naples (Italian: Università degli Studi di Napoli "Parthenope") is a university located in Naples, Italy. The “Parthenope” is now one of the fully accredited universities in Naples. It was founded in 1920 as the Regio Istituto Superiore Navale, that is, the Royal Naval Technical Institute, and was further upgraded in the 1930s to the Istituto Universitario Navale. The institution was founded as an institute of “encouragement” —that is, for the promotion of studies having to do with maritime economy and naval technology.It played a strategic role during Fascism as the University experts elaborated and calculated the correct and best air routes for the Oceanic Trips performed by the Royal Italian Sea Planes, La trasvolata Atlantica, where several airplanes leaving their base in Orbetellello arrived to New York and, in a second trip, to south america: a great technological and political success. Few people know that during the 2nd World war at the Istituto Universitario navale some scientist elaborated and designed the first italian radar; unfortunately the political authorities did not understand the importance of such discovery neglecting the possibility to produce such an instrument. With the recent expansion and completion of main facilities and final accreditation as a full university, the current student population is about 15,000. The main premises are directly opposite the passenger port of Naples. Additionally, the “Parthenope” has acquired classroom spaces on the Posillipo coast and the former church of San Giorgio dei Genovesi in the center of town. Additional space is being completed at the new civic center, the Centro Direzionale.