Erasmus Experience in Cartagena, Spain by Valentina

Why did you choose to go to Cartagena, Spain?

I am completing a 10 month Erasmus in Cartagena, my destination chosen partly for the weather, which is always sunny (from March you can already go to the beach), partly because it is a small city but it has the sea a few steps away and last but not least, it is a cheap city (Spain itself is already not expensive, obviously in comparison to Italy) and you can live well with 400/450 euros a month including rent. The south of Spain is more or less all like this: it's cheap and you can live well in every sense!

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

The scholarship lasts for 10 months with a total amount of 230 euros per month, obviously it doesn't cover everything but it does add another 200/250 euros if you live well :)

What is the student lifestyle like in Cartagena?

It's not a proper university city in itself, as Murcia can be (which you can get to within an hour by bus. There aren't many "fiestas" but the fact that it is quite cheap allows you to travel around almost the whole country, or at least that is what I am doing!;)

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

It depends on the kind of Erasmus you want to have: if you come here with the idea of having a party every day and every night, I wouldn't advise you to come here because, as I've said, there isn't much of a university atmosphere here. But, it should be said that we are talking about the "winter" situation, and considering that summer arrives early here, the situation changes for the better starting in March, if you think that here you can already go to the beach in spring!

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What is the food like in the country?

The food is great, obviously if you love Spanish cuisine. I hear many Italians complaining, but obviously, if you want to eat Italian food, there isn't much choice and/ or quality of Italian products even in the supermarkets.

But there are things that should be tried here and some that are very typical of Cartagena, such as "Asiático" coffee, "caldero" (a dish similar to paella) and then I am sure that you won't be able to go without trying tapas!

Was it difficult finding accommodation in Cartagena?

Absolutely not! , through the internet and especially through various Facebook groups about the place it was relatively easy and above all, as I have already told you, the prices were really cheap!

How much does it cost to live in Cartagena?

With an average of 400/ 450 euros per month including rent, you can live well... To think that then with 600 euros per month you could really live the good life!

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

The university offers free language courses for Erasmus. Furthermore, for us Italians, it isn't difficult to learn the language quickly because of similar assonance and words, bearing in mind that grammar patterns are the same. Obviously, you have to go out with locals from the area to see surprising improvements in this regard.

What's the most economical way to travel to Cartagena from your city?

The cheapest way to get to Cartagena, departing from my city, which is Foggia, is by this route: Foggia - Rome by bus, Rome - Alicante by aeroplane, Alicante - Cartagena by bus but you have to change in Murcia to take the Murcia - Cartagena connection. It's the cheapest way, but it's also the least energy-efficient; it's an entire day of travelling!

Alternatively, I also took this route: Cartagena - Madrid by bus, Madrid - Milan Bergamo by aeroplane, Milan Bergamo - Bari by aeroplane, Bari - Foggia by train, but it is a shorter route. The price of this journey increases a little, but it really is much more comfortable, especially because you spend less hours waiting!

There are many other routes, but obviously the prices can increase a lot... Such as: Cartagena - Valencia by train, Valencia - Bari by aeroplane. Or Cartagena - Madrid, Madrid - Napoli.

The choice is yours!

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

The most frequented places are found in the historical centre of Cartagena, or along the port.

Calle Del Aire is full of locals, bars/ pubs that are very busy on Fridays and Saturdays. Obviously, during the week there aren't many people, also because being an Erasmus girl I would go out with all the other Erasmus people to spend an evening together in somebody's house!

The situation in spring/ summer I believe changes, because of the heat that doesn't allow for you to just stay indoors... and I will keep you updated about this!

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

My favourite place is La Uva Jumillana, where you can entertain yourself and you can try all kinds of local tapas accompanies with a glass of beer at an amazing price!

And then there is a restaurant along the port, where everybody recommends you go to, which is called Techos Bajos, where they mainly serve fish... and the quality / price ratio is excellent! With 20 euros you can an impressive, hearty and great quality meal of fish!

And what places would you recommend visiting?

The Roman Theatre, the Punic Wall of Cartagena, the Naval Museum, the Museo Arqueológico Municipal, Calle Mayor, Cala Cortina beach... they are all places full of history, art and culture!

Being Cartagena, one of the most ancient cities in Spain (it was founded by the Carthaginian general, Asdrubale in the year 227 B. C. ) it has a myriad of things to visit.

I recommend, especially for those who study architecture and/ or engineering, to do an Erasmus here because it is full of initiatives and, furthermore, these two faculties in the Polytechnic University of Cartagena are among the most renowned nationally!

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

It is an unforgettable experience, living abroad for a year, regardless of where you go to.

Don't be impressed by the city area, especially the centre, which seems neglected because in reality this is actually a real characteristic! You will find buildings consisting of only the outside face, and are empty inside. They wanted to leave the front of the buildings, renovating them because it really creates an artistic heritage for the city.

It's a very touristic city, and has been for quite some years now, and therefore in summer it really gets very crowded! (Every day a cruise ship full of tourists docks at the port).

Going to the sea, there are wonderful beaches such as La Manga, and there are quite a lot of parties to go to and coves to see, the closest being the Cala Cortina!

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I recommend it because it allows you to have a fully-rounded experience!