Erasmus Experience in Padua, Italy. By Rita

Why did you choose to go to Padua, Italy?

I chose to go to Padua without being totally sure where it would take me. There weren't many Erasmus options in my university in Portugal but Italy was without doubt a country which attracted me and I had always wanted to visit! Taking into account that Padua has the best teaching in my course in the whole of Italy, the choice wasn't very difficult.

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

The grant lasts a maximum of 10 months but in reality it was only enough for half of my spendings! Padua is quite an expensive city in comparison to my country and I only got about €200 per month.

What's the student environment like in Padua?

Padua is a university city! You see students everywhere and there are parties almost every day, especially for Erasmus. However the nights here start and end quite early! In Portugal we are used to going out much later for parties, but stay here a little while and you'll get used to the Italian timetable!

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

The city is very beautiful and quite safe. You can feel at ease and safe all night! As for the university, it depends a bit on the courses. As a student of veterinary sciences I think that it's not the best place for those who want lots of practical classes, since here they practically don't exist. But it's worth it for lots of other things!

How's the country's food?

Italian food is globally famous! Therefore I think that you don't need much explanation about what it consists of: pasta and pizza! It's amazing, obviously!

Here in the north of Italy it's normal to eat horse meat, a sensitive subject for some people, but it's part of the tradition in the region of Veneto. For me personally, it's not a delicacy that attracts me much and I don't feel hard done by without eating it...

How easily did you find accommodation in Padua?

I thought that it would be easier finding accommodation in a city that I knew to be studenty! But in reality it wasn't so easy! There's the custom of renting shared rooms and it's not easy to find an individual room for a reasonable price. It took me a while to find out which the best areas for students were, but I soon learnt which area you should avoid: the area north of Padua, close to the train station, people rarely go there

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

On average I spent easily around €600 per month. The accommodation is half of the budget, since an individual room is about €300/month. As for the other spendings, restaurants are very expensive and so we never went out and we preferred to eat at friend's houses. The supermarkets aren't very expensive, except meat and fish which is excessive, whatever the type!

Regarding transport, the majority of students go by bike which is the fastest, cheapest and most ecological way to get around! Invest in a bike (around €30) and a lock which costs almost the same, because it's quite common for bikes to be stolen and then sold on the "black market".

What's the language like? Did you attend a language course at the university?

The language isn't as easy as it seems! Although I speak a romance language, I had some difficulties in communicating at the start. The problem is that here no one speaks English and people unfortunately don't bother making an effort to understand us...

I attended an Italian course offered by the university, which is free, but the timetable is a big problem! The times coincide with university classes and so you don't always get the chance to attend the Italian classes.

I would advise that you do an Italian class before getting here, or at least read some books on basic Italian.

What is the cheapest way to get to Padua from your city?

There are flights with low-cost airlines to Venice, which is quite close to Padua (about 50km). From Venice airport there are direct buses to Padua which cost around €8. Another option is going to the Venice train station and taking a train to Padua which costs around €4. But, in fact, I don't think it's the best option because it's not easy to get to the train station with suitcases.

Where would you recommend for a night out in Padua?

The best and most famous place for starting the night is the Piazza del Signori. It's a square with cafés and bars where all the students and young people meet to start their night. Normally you take your own drinks because the prices in the bars are really expensive.

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There are some bars with Erasmus discounts and so these are the most popular.

Some examples are: Sfizio bar, Fly, Fish Market, Factory, amongst others.

And in terms of cultural visits?

Padua is a very ancient city and therefore has lots of culture to see.

The most famous place is the Basilica of Saint Anthony where entry is free, but there are other museums and places to visit too. The Erasmus association here is quite pro-active and organises visits for students at a rather reasonable price.

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

My main advice would be to learn some of the language before you get there! It can be a bit frustrating at the beginning, not being able to communicate with local people, especially when you're worried about finding accommodation and dealing with a thousand and one bureaucracies (another very typical aspect of Italy) which is already complicated enough without having to speak a foreign language.

Beyond this, be open-minded and enjoy what is going to be one of the best years of your life!