The Salesian origins
Collegio Don Bosco was founded in 1965 by the Salesian Congregation of Don Bosco, inside a building designed by architect Ottavio Bonomi in the south-east area of Pavia. From its earliest days, the College took shape as a gathering place for the surrounding neighbourhood too, an important point of reference for students’ personal and educational growth and for exploring the Christian world. During the years of Salesian management, the facility gradually specialised in hosting university students, becoming a landmark for generations of students, true to the motto “Goodness and honesty” that still represents the College today.
Closure and the transition to EDiSU Pavia
The College closed during the pandemic years. In 2023 the University of Pavia purchased the property, an operation made possible by substantial ministerial funding under the PNRR initiatives. The acquisition marked the facility’s entry into the system of Colleges managed by EDiSU Pavia, which oversaw its renovation and reopening in service of university students.
The College today
Today Collegio Don Bosco is a mixed college, with the aim of carrying forward the Salesians’ long-standing educational tradition, applying it with attention to the values of cultural exchange, personal development and higher education open to all deserving students, without forgetting the value of sporting activity. The facility now offers 95 beds, ample common areas and sports facilities available to all students.
