Erasmus Experience in Pavia, Italy by Marta

Why did you choose to go to Pavia, Italy?

I chose to go to Pavia because it is a beautiful city, not too big and good to meet a lot of Italian people who with I could improve my language skills. It's also well-situated.

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

The scholarship is about 3-6 months long. When it comes to money, you can receive 500 euros for each month.

What is the student lifestyle like in Pavia?

You can go to some clubs, bars, restaurants. You can meet a lot of people from all over the world, so you can improve your language skills (mostly English). The Italian weather is really good so you can spend a lot of time by the river, near the Ponte Coperto, where there are lots of people every day just relaxing.

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

I think so.

What is the food like?

It's the typical Italian food, like spaghetti, lasagne, pizza... An ice cream is really good in La Romana. And, of course, aperitivo is the good one to spend an evening with friends.

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Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Pavia?

Of course. It was realy stressful situation to find my accomodation. It's good to find it before the arrival, because you can go directly to you apartment afterwards. Finding an apartment takes lots of time, so think about it.

How much does it cost to live in Pavia?

It's hard to say. It depends on the person, on how much you can spend, if you want to travel a lot, eat a lot, have a lot of parties...

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

For me it's not so difficult because I'm studying Italian. Of course, there are lots of language courses from A1 to C1 levels.

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

It depends on the person. If you like traveling by plane, it's not so expensive, but you have to buy tickets earlier. You can also travel by bus, which is longer, but you can see other countries, like Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Germany, etc.

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

Bella Napoli, Made in Sicily(pizza), Corso 62, La Romana (ice-creams), Pozzo American Bar (aperitivo), BIBLOS Ristorante Libanese (lebanese food), etc. Im still discovering new places.

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

Carpe diem and go to Pavia. The city is good situated, in north Italy, from which you can travel by train to Turin, Genoa, Milan, Bologne, etc. Enjoy your life, travel a lot, visit also other Italian cities, because Italy is the most beautiful country in the world.