Erasmus Experience in Perugia, Italy by Joséphine

Why did you choose to go to Perugia, Italy?

I wanted to do my Erasmus in Italy and had the choice between Roma or Perugia. The thing is that i needed a place "familiar", cosy and quiet. Also, the fact is that Perugia is a student city has helped me to choose : it's easy to meet students and to find entertainments specially organized for students.

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

Depends!

If you're someone who needs to live in a big city, with many people, many shops and stores and so on, Perugia wouldn't be the best city for you.

All is concentrated in the historical center of the town, then you quickly examine the city and all its possibilities from all sides... I would say that the most important in Perugia is your relationships and the little places you get used to go. For me it's perfect, there's no need to be in a big city to have fun!

What is the food like?

Pizza, pasta, risotto, and the famous APERITIVI!

For me, the italian food had been a little deception... At the beginning, it's a real pleasure to try those delicious pizza and plates of pasta (also very cheap). Nevertheless, it ended up boring me a bit. It is, actually, very often the same thing and you have to fight if you want to eat something a bit different when you go to the restaurant.

Also a point very important for me (i guess it's not for most of the students but still) : the ORGANIC food. In my humble opinion, Perugia isn't enough "developed" yet on that point. I personally find difficult to get good, fresh and organic products in the supermarkets. Or even if you find some, the prices are exorbitant! Good luck if you're vegan...

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Perugia?

Not at all. I've been very lucky and it's also because it's so easy to find an accommodation here. As I said, Perugia is a student city, then you find everywhere people who rent flats, classified advertisement on the walls of the University. Also, the city is quite small, then the contacts and relationships are easy to make and then to find a place to live.

How much does it cost to live in Perugia?

Depends, again. Personally (and i repeat, i've been very lucky), i pay 210€ per month in a flat with 3 roommates. But speaking with other people living in Perugia, the rent turns most of the time around 250 and 350€. If you make the choice to live with other people, you won't have the best confort ever, but at least you won't pay so much. Living alone? For this I have no idea on the prices...

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

Depends what is your native language. For me, no problem. I'm French, which is a language very similar with the italian. I made an intensive course during the month of September, which helped me a lot to familiarise me with the italian, before starting University. There are a lot of intensive courses proposed by the "University for foreigners", which are, for me, the best way to improve faster.

But I heard that for german, chinese or other students speaking a language very different with the italian, it wasn't so easy to "get to grips with"...

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The good thing is that you can travel a bit around Perugia. In the area, you can visit Assisi (if you like the churches, you'll find 31 there!), Cità di Castello, Firenze (wonderful museums), Roma.. All at less than 3 hours by train. There is also other places like the Lake Trasimeno, to see when it's still a bit warm.

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There's no "cultural sites" that I would recommend specifically, but going around the city is for me one of the best thing to do.