My Erasmus Experience in Padova, Italy. By Caio Angelo

Why did you choose to go to Padova, Italy?

I chose the city of Padova firstly because it's located in the north of Italy and so it's easy to travel to other European countries. Secondly I chose it because I know some Italian people, and they told me that it was quite a cheap a university city and that it had one of the oldest and best universities in Italy.

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

When I signed up to the Erasmus programme with the Lusiada University of Lisbon I planned to spend 6 months abroad, but as soon as I arrived in the city I decided to prolong it for the year. The grant was a little more than €2000, half in December and the other half at the end of the programme.

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What's the student environment like in Padova?

It's really good, the city is full on the students, so it has various libraries and rooms for studying throughout the whole city.

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

Without doubt, I would! I'm sure that people who come here will adapt really well, beyond being able to study in a highly-regarded university where people such as Nicholas Copernicus and Galileo Galilei have studied.

What's the country's food like?

Living in Italy, it can only be one way, pizza and pasta almost every day, it becomes a habit, and you can save a lot of money. Another quick option are kebab shops, which after midnight are the only places open...

How easily did you find accommodation in Padova?

Even before setting off to Padova I had signed up to Sassa, which is an office that organises where Erasmus students stay. They do the selections and choice of accommodations, you can only choose between a single or a shared room.

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

It's not a city where you spend much, but it varies if you want to buy a lot or go out every night. On average with the accommodation of €250 plus expenses with food, you end of spending €400 to €450 per month.

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

I arrived here speaking English and Portuguese, but I had some difficulty because the large majority of Italians don't speak any language other than Italian. I learnt little by little, attending classes and in the first 2 months doing a course of beginner's Italian which the university offered me.

What's the most economical way of getting to Padova from your city?

As I live in Lisbon, the cheapest way was with the airplane companies Easyjet and Ryanair which offer flights to Venice, from there there is a coach (€8) which drops you off at the Stazione di Padova. Tip: the flights are cheap but you have to pay attention to the cost of suitcases, which can cost more than the flight itself!

Where would you recommend for a night out in Padova?

There are so many places! Here in Padova we have the "mercoledì (Wednesday) universitario" where everyone goes out to chat and have a drink before going to the clubs. The choice of the place depends on the type of place you want to go, what type of music you like. More well-known night-clubs are the Factory, and the Fishmarket which play mainstream music and have themed-parties and nationality-themed parties (Spanish parties, Portuguese parties, German parties). For those who prefer alternative places, there is C. S. O PEDRO (http://www.sherwood.it/luoghi/5/cso-pedro) amongst others...

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

One of the best pizzerias in Padova is Pizza and Love on Via Portello, close to the University of Psychology, as well as the Brazilian restaurant Bom Boi on Via Veneza, which serves all the typical types of Brazilian food as well as the best barbecue in Padova. Other options are the Road House, the Murialdo Restaurant, which is attached to the university.

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And in terms of cultural visits?

There are loads of places to visit, palaces, museums, botanical gardens, churches... The Church of the Santo Antonio de Padova (some say he is from Portugal) is a touristic point of reference.

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

Whoever wants an opportunity to come to Padova, come! It's a special city, where everyone goes by bike, has fun, and learns a lot! Remember to bring warm clothes since from November to April the temperature falls a lot, reaching less than 0.