Colleges were founded in the chief cities of the peninsula, where they not only taught gratis, but used methods superior to those previously in vogue.
Rome, however, remained the stronghold of the Company.

Here Ignatius founded its first house in 1550.

This was the Collegium Romanum; and in 1555, some hundred pupils, who had followed a course of studies in Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and theology, issued from its walls.

In 1557 he purchased the palace Salviati, on the site of which now stands the vast establishment of the Gesu.

In 1552 he started a separate institution, Collegium Germanicum, for the special training of young Germans.