Erasmus Experience in Bologna, Italy by Anca

Source

Why did you choose to go to Bologna, Italy?

I went there for a legal internship and there was a legal office I've heard about. Also, I'd been to Italy before but not in the north and I wanted to have the chance to live there, to get to know some culture and traditions. And was a great idea: I loved Bologna.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

The scholarship was for 2 months. I received it before the departure. It was 1000 euros and this amount was enough but with some restrictions.

What is the student lifestyle like in Bologna?

There are a lot of students, therefore there are a lot of places where students can party, hang out and have fun. They party a lot but I appreciated the fact that they respect their breakfast, lunch and dinner time.

Source

Would you recommend the city and the University of Bologna to other students?

I would definitely recommend this city because it has everything for everyone. Personally, I was satisfied in every way and form with what this city had to offer.

What is the food like?

The best food I have ever ate. I loved the sweets and the ice-cream. It was simply great food!

Source

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Bologna?

No, I've searched from home and I was lucky to find it pretty easily by talking directly to the owner. So it did not cost me to find accommodation.

How much does it cost to live in Bologna?

Even though it's a student city, Bologna is pretty expensive. I did not need transportation, so I didn't pay for that because I walked everywhere as it's a small city. Museums are free for students and are also a lot of free and fun activities (free movie night outside, for example). To eat out in an inexpensive restaurant it will cost between 10-20 euros. The rent was expensive, I stayed in a shared room for which I was paying 200 euros plus bills. Nights out are expensive but the pizza is cheap.

Source

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

My native language is also Latin so for me it wasn't hard to understand and later even to talk. For English speakers might be a little bit difficult, but not impossible. By the way, be aware of the fact that you will hardly find any Italians who speak English.

I did not study at the university so I don't know about the language courses. I studied alone by playing on the Duolingo app and by reading books in Italian. It is much easier if you live there and you talk with locals.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Bologna from your city?

I traveled by plane. It was easy and I had a direct flight which wasn't expensive.

Source

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Bologna?

• For dancing I would recommend Giardino Nove, it's an open club with good music.
• For an aperitivo (you will know what it means when you get there) I would recommend Zamboni pub.
• For the best wine I recommend Mercato Delle Erbe which is a very nice place.
• For the best ice cream - Gelateria Gianni.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Bologna?

In Bologna you have a lot of traditional food. Good places to eat are on the hills. It's not easy to get there - you need a car but the food is great. Il Nono is a great restaurant over there and you can eat delicious tigelle there which is a traditional Bolognese dish.

Source

Also, in the city you have Il Ristorante dei Portici, a fine restaurant with great food. For some sweets you have to try cornetti from Cornetteria del Pratello on Via Pratello, Gelateria Gianni and Islanda for ice cream.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

There are a lot of museums as Bologna has a lot of history. You better find someone who knows it and who is willing to show you because there are a lot of awesome places full of history that are not known by the tourists.

Bologna is a city with a lot of secrets and it's wonderful to discover. There's good music, a lot of live bands, theaters and churches.

Source

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Bologna in the future?

Just go there and enjoy every moment. It's something for everyone so you'll find your place over there.

PS. Eat with caution, you might get fat.