My Erasmus Experience in Bologna, Italy. By Adriana

Why did you choose to go to Bologna, Italy?

I chose Bologna because it's famous for being somewhere with history, culture, landscapes, good food and because I wanted to learn a bit of Italian.

How long does the grant last? How much money do you get for help?

80% of the grant is given during your stay and only after you've got there. It's supposedly given in November, but it's December now and I still haven't got any money for help with my spendings, which are high. The remaining 20% is given after you get back home and after you've got all the necessary documents, stamped and signed by the receiving institution.

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We get around 300 euros per month. But as I said before, it's not given every month.

How's the student environment in Bologna?

Students are all very different, in Bologna there are lots of students and it's a city that welcomes many students from all over, although the universities aren't prepared for this.

The atmosphere amongst students is good and they focus a lot on their studies and on classes.

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

No.

I would definitely recommend the city, I'm not getting sick of living here, going out every day to discover a new secret of Bologna (there are a lot), the roads are buzzing, there is a young spirit but at the same time it's full of history and culture. Each corner you pass, each wall you see, there's history.

Everything has its own, unique meaning, the architecture is fantastic. During the weekend the central roads close and the city becomes colourful and lively. Music on the street, statues following you with their eyes, there's everything. Bologna comes alive.

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However, the University of Bologna is the complete opposite. They're not organised, there isn't a limited number of places for each unit, for example. That's to say, I can't attend some classes because the room is full and there's nowhere for me to sit, not even on the floor.

As for the teachers, they are also not equipped for Erasmus students, especially for those who don't know Italian. They don't make it easy. I've been here for two months and I still don't know which books I have to read for a particular unit.

Of course it depends on the teacher, but in general they give good marks, which is the best part.

How is the country's food?

The food is good, of course. It's all based on pizzas, pastas, gelatos and crepes. The pizzas are excellent and I've never seen so many pizza shops (literally shops and not restaurants) on the same road like here.

The gelatos are the best as well. But of course, none of this food is very healthy, despite being good.

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How easily did you find accommodation in Bologna?

Not at all.

Ease of finding accommodation: zero. Those coming to Bologna should find a house before getting here! That's the best advice. It's very difficult finding a nice and reasonably-priced house, that's also central, and in my case, only for a 5 month rental period.

It took me months of looking, and I only found one the week before coming, and so for the first week I had to stay in a hostel so that the other person could move out.

In this hostel I met a girl who had already been there a month and hadn't found a house. So do some research before you come. There's always the student residences but you don't get privacy there and they end up being more expensive.

On average, how much did you spend living in Bologna?

For the supermarket, travel pass and other costs I spent around 200 euros per month. This was only for the essentials. Here products in the supermarket are very expensive, like ham, tuna... basic things.

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How is the language? Did you attend a course at the university?

I tried, but when I got there they were already full. (Of course).

The language is beautiful, it's not difficult to learn, as it comes from latin and so the words and expressions are quite similar to those in Portugal. However, no one speaks English in Bologna. The language barrier is a problem nowadays.

What's the cheapest way to get to Bologna from your city?

I live in Bologna itself, but I take a 15 minute bus to get to the centre.

There is also a travel pass that you can use in all of the centre of the city and only costs 27 euros for under 25s, unless I'm mistaken.

Where would you recommend for a night out in Bologna?

There's not much of a night-life in Bologna. The night ends early. They eat at around 7pm with their famous aperitifs, and then the night begins. Lots of nightclubs close around 3am. But in the centre there are nightclubs, like for example Cubo and others on the Zamboni road.

And eating out in Bologna? Can you name your favourite places?

The gelatos from the Two Towers (Due Torri); the Il Saraceno restaurant, in one of the main roads, Ugo Bassi: and Bombom Crepe in a hidden road where they make the best sweet and savoury crepes that everyone has eaten at least once! It's also close to the Zamboni road, but I don't know it by heart.

And in terms of cultural visits?

In the first week I managed to get to know the whole of Bologna. Go into all of the basilicas, all of the narrow streets. It's here that all the charm lives.

Go to San Michele in Bosco to visit the whole city or walk to San Luca and see the sunset (if you're very very brave).

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Do you have any advice you'd like to give future students in Bologna?

The only thing I can say is enjoy your experience as much as you can, get to know everything, try to learn the language, and don't just stay in Bologna, go to Verona, Venice, Florence, Milan, Rome... Everything is worth a visit.

Every cent that you spend is worth it, those spent on trips and on knowledge.

Good luck to all the future Erasmus students.