‘Nobility is the ‘antiquity, splendour, and illustriousness of families, coats of arms, titles, dignities,’ Scipione Ammirato wrote in defence of the autonomies of Neapolitan feudal barons in 1580.’
‘I don’t know how many of the 3,000 or so prospective students are from rural roots, but I know many of those who were from small towns would have left in awe at the illustriousness and size of the university.’