Erasmus Experience in Modena, Italy by Celia

Why did you choose to go to Modena, Italy?

Actually, it wasn't my first choice, but it seemed to be in a very good location for travelling, since it's in the centre of Italy and pretty much all of the important cities are around two hours away and it's very close to Bologna.

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

It depends on your regional government, for me, being from Andalusia, I got €300 from the government (as I was going to Italy) and the Andulsian council gives us €198. My Erasmus was for 10 months, but the grant only lasted 7 or 8, I would recommend saving some money before you come.

What is the student lifestyle like in Modena?

Modena isn't a student city, it's not Bologna, but since there are a lot of Erasmus students here, some way or another, there's always something to do, although it's not as spectacular as other student cities, like Bologna.

Would you recommend the city and the university of Modena to other students?

Absolutely, I wouldn't change this city for any other, the city is beautiful, it's true that there isn't much partying and that it's very expensive, but the people are super nice. Everyone smiles at you or helps you out whenever they can, it's all a question of knowing how to go about things there. And as for the university, I suppose it will depend on which university you go to, for me, I studied law (Giruisprudenza), and I was pretty happy.

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What is the food like there?

It's delicious, it's Italy! You'll find the most kinds of pasta, piadina, pizza, ice creams there, wherever you go. Apart from Italian products (you can get an ice cream for €2 all over or a pizza for €8, like in Spain), the downside is the price of everything else, it's all pretty expensive, even at the supermarkets, but it's like anywhere else, there are some supermarkets that are more expensive than others.

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Modena?

My flatmates and I got really lucky, because we were able to get our accommodation while we were still in Granada via Facebook (we took a bit of a gamble, because we didn't know our future flatmate until we go to Modena), now he's like our big brother. People had a lot of trouble finding flats or residences in Modena, I would recommend coming beforehand (in August) and if no, you can start looking on Facebook (there are pages for renting accommodation in Modena) and you'll have to take a bit of a risk, since you won't be able to see the flat until you get here. You'll be grateful for the roof over your head and if it doesn't turn out alright, you can look for somewhere else to stay, but at least you have something secured initially. Looking for accommodation here isn't easy if you're an Erasmus student on top of being Spanish.

How much does it cost to live in Modena?

It depends... I shared a room with my other flatmate (it sounds weird but it's pretty normal to share a room in Italy), the prices here aren't the same as the prices in Spain, nor is the price of rent. I had everything included in the price of my rent (water, light, wifi) and I paid €200 and as for the rest of the people here, well it varies flat to flat and on whether or not you share a room or not. I know that people pay from €200 to €360. The residences here (some of them) are affordable, but it's very difficult to get a place. You get discounts in some of the clubs with the ESN card, and the price of food varies between the different supermarkets.

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

I would recommend doing an intensive Italian course in Spain, Italian may seem easy but it isn't. The university offers courses, but only if you get a B1 level in the exam you take when you arrive.

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

For me, I'm from Granada, I took a flight from Malaga to Bologna, when I got to Bologna, I took a bus to the train station (€6), and from there I got a train from Bologna to Modena. My flat from next to the train station, so it was very easy to get to it. The train from Bologna to Modena costs €4. There's also a bus that goes directly from Bologna airport to Modena, I think it costs €15.

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Where would you recommend for a night out in Modena?

• Thursday go to Tube (when you first go there, get the card for €5, it'll get you in free every Thursday, drinks there cost €5 with the ESN card)
• Friday, go out partying in Bologna if you can.
• Saturday Baloardo.

Remember that you're in Italy, pre-drinking starts at 10 p. m. and you'll go to the club at 12 a. m. at the very latest, because everywhere closes at 3 a. m.

And to eat in Modena? What are some of your favourite places to go?

La gustosa, a pizzeria in Pomposa (an area with a lot of bars and pubs).

Juta, for a few drinks.

Bar Stille Libero

The ice cream place la Romana (The best ice cream I've ever tasted and it's a lot cheaper then in Spain)

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Modena is beautiful, you have the Enzo Ferrari museum, there's Maranello only a few kilometres away (the best Ferrari city), the Ducale Palace, and there's a beautiful theatre (the Luciano Pavarotti). If you like ballet, the theatre or the opera, take advantage of it, because there are discounts for young people and it's much cheaper than it is in Spain. You can get to any other city in Italy in three hours maximum (Verona, Mantova, Florence, Venice, etc. ). Every first Sunday of the month, it's free to get into museums in Italy, take advantage of that.

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Do you have any advice for students coming to Modena in the future?

Find a flat before you come here, so you don't have to go through the rigmarole that everyone else goes through. Learn some Italian beforehand (look for intensive courses at language academies), and save a bit of money up, too. But, above all, enjoy every minute here, because time flies. It's going to be one of the best experiences you will ever have in your life, enjoy it!