The article explores the use of e-learning in Italian universities. The aim is to understand how the university system has faced this problem or opportunity to date and what weaknesses or developing perspectives may result from multimedia technologies applied to academic teaching management. After a brief review of the current position of Italian universities in the field of e-learning, some of the organizational changes are taken into consideration. The focus then shifts to the systems of relationships that characterize such learning environments (distance learning, blended, online); the article concludes with the outcome of a case study carried out through participant observation in a university Master's course. (Contains 4 figures and 2 notes.)