Brief History of Bologna and the Dardi School Bologna Established during Etruscan times ~650 BC. Capital of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. University of Bologna was established 1088 AD, and is one of the 3 premier European universities of the Middle Ages. Bologna has a long fencing tradition. The Masters Of The Bolognese School Lippo … Continue reading Bolognese Swordsmanship Overview