A year in Milan, Italy by Paula

Why did you choose to go to Milan, Italy?

I wanted to go to Italy no matter what, and it was one of the available options. I chose it because I live in a small city, and I wanted to know what it was like to live in a trendy city. I don't regret it at all, however, I must admit that life is expensive there. I also chose it because I had already been to other Italian cities, like Rome, Florence, Pisa... but I had never been to Milan and I wanted to discover a new city.

How long does the grant last? How much financial aid do you receive?

The grant was for 10 months. I received help from the Ministry and Regional Government of Andalucia. I got around 3000 euros.

What's the student life like in Milan?

Milan is a big city with lots of universities, so there is a wide range of student events and "cheap" parties. There's a good student atmosphere in Le Colonne because lots of university students go here to have a few beers with friends sitting in the square.

Would you recommend the city and Milan university to other students?

I would recommend it without a doubt, as it's a city that has something for everyone. I would also recommend the university because the study program is the same as in Spain regarding the classes and lecturers. In terms of exams, it's a lot better as you have lots of sessions where you can pass an exam, but it's important to not leave them all until the last moment.

When you go to the university, stop by at the ESN office. There you will get to know some really cool people and with the card you can take part in trips and activities that they prepare for you.

What's the food like?

If you don't like pasta it's complicated haha. Pasta is eaten more than pizza in northern Italy, but there are lots of different types of food and it's all really good.

In the Navigli area they have some crepes which are delicious.

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Milan?

Not at all, because I already had the idea to stay in halls of residence and the university there has an accommodation service in two halls, one located on the university campus and the other on the outskirts (the latter is where I stayed and would recommend it 100%).

At the Bicocca university there are two halls of residence.

I stayed at the Parco U22 halls, located further away from the university. To get there you need to take a bus (the cursed 53, you will learn the reason why). This halls has a great atmosphere. There are lots of Spanish and Italian people. There I made some great friends and had some great parties.

The Erasmus rooms are shared. They have two beds, a large desk, two wardrobes, a shelf and two chairs. There is also a kitchen unit in the bedroom, a fridge with a freezer and a microwave. The bathroom is also shared but only with the person you share the room with.

In terms of price, it was €300 a month but you don't have to pay any extra expenses, your rooms are cleaned once a week and you are able to change the sheets and towels (that are provided) each week. There is a laundry area with a washing machine and tumble dryer that you can use providing you make a reservation of course. They both cost €1.

There is also a study room, a seating area, a library and a gym. They are all free.

I didn't visit the other halls, U12, but I know people who did.

As far as I know the bedrooms are also shared and the kitchen is also shared with everyone on your floor. There is a gym but you have to pay.

Source

How much does it cost to live in Milan?

The cost of living in Italy is expensive in general, let's not kid ourselves, and Milan is no exception. I spent around €700 a month (including accommodation) that varied depending on the activities I did each month. When it comes to food shopping, you need to be able to search and go from one supermarket to the next if you want to save money. As for me, I did a monthly shop in Lidl because it was cheaper although we had to take a bus to get there, but for light shopping I went to a Carrefour which was just next to my halls.

How did you get on with the language? Did you go to any classes at the university?

When I got there, the only thing I knew how to say in Italian was "Ciao" but over time I have got to the stage where I can have a normal conversation. Italian is an easy language to understand and to learn.

At my university we were given the opportunity to go to classes. We did a language level test to separate us into groups. I was put into the A2 group, the intermediate level, and I made the mistake of moving to the basic group because I didn't know anything. This is advisable because although it's difficult to be in the intermediate level classes at the beginning because the classes are with Polish, German and French students, the pace is slow. My group had such a slow pace that the majority of the Spanish students stopped going because it was too repetitive and boring. In my opinion I learnt more Italian speaking to the Italians in my halls than during the language classes, but this shouldn't put you off going.

Which places would you recommend for a night out in Milan?

Without a doubt I would recommend Alcatraz. I got my ESN card (Erasmus student society) and thanks to this and the International Week it's a lot cheaper to go out and the atmosphere is totally Erasmus. With this card you have the option to pay €10 for two drinks or €1 without a drink for any club associated with Internation Week. You can also go to Italian clubs but the entry price is €20 with a drink.

My favourite places for a night out are:

• Alcatraz: this is the biggest club. There are 3 different rooms with very different music in each of them. You can drink at the entrance.
• The Beach: it's the alternative to Alcatraz when the weather's nice because there's a terrace. It's quite far out but it's worth it.
• The Club: It's small but the music is varied. You can drink at the entrance.

The drink that I would recommend trying when you go out is the strawberry flavoured Invisible. It's a mixture of tequila, white rum, vodka and ginger with strawberry syrup. Although it doesn't seem like it, it's really good.

With the ESNcard you can go to Evento Nazionale. It's a party that every Erasmus student goes to and happens once a year in May, something that you have to save up for haha. The year I was in Italy it was in the Calabria region and I would do it over and over again.

What about eating in Milan? Can you give us your favourite places?

I would recommend pizza from Spontini and Panzerotti de Luini (both located near the Piazza del Duomo) because they're traditional pizzas from Milan. The aperitifs are another Italian tradition too. With the ESN card you can go to the aperitif Old Fashion for free. In the Navigli area there are some really good aperitif places where you pay around €10 and you can have a drink and all the food you want.

And what about any cultural visits?

Milan is not well known for its monuments but it has its charm. You just have to know where to look to find the spots and get around the city. The Duomo is incredible. I recommend visiting the Parco Sempione, Navigli, Quadrilatero della Moda, Le Colonne and the Brera neighbourhood, among many others.

Any advice that you would like to give to future students coming to Milan?

Just make the most of it, as it's a unique and incredible experience. Travel as much as you can, go and see lots of events and don't stay inside because later on you will regret what you could have done and didn't do because you were lazy (I'm speaking from my own experience).

¡Enjoy!