Barbara's Erasmus experience in Pisa, Italy

Do you like Pisa for living? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

To be honest, I'm not from Pisa, I come from a small village that is one hour and fifteen minutes far from Pisa by train. According to those friends of mine who are on Erasmus in Pisa and to my roommates from Pisa, it's nice to live in Pisa . Although Pisa is a small city , there are quite many things to do and it's more lively at weekends.

How is the student life in Pisa?

My faculty, known as "Lingue e Letterature Straniere" (Modern Languages), is very close to the centre, it's 5 minutes far from the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Piazza dei Cavalieri, where the famous university Scuola Normale is (although everything is normal actually). However, this a tourist area where you will find many bars for having a drink or for having lunch at a decent price. There are ofter discounts for students . You can have coffee there with some friends during the break.

How much does it cost to live in Pisa?

As far as I know, it costs around €300/350 per month to rent a flat in Pisa. It may be that you find a cheaper flat but when this happens it is generally because the flat is on the outskirts of the city and you need to take a bus or a lam to get to the city centre or to your University. I think that to live in Pisa is not very expensive because it's a student city which means that student know well where to go to find cheaper prices.

What is the gastronomy like? Which are your favourite dishes?

Tuscan food is actually delicious . You can try typical food such as castagnaccio (a cake made with chestnuts and chocolate), cantuccini (almond biscuits) to be eaten with vino santo (very sweet wine), bistecca alla fiorentina, cacciucco (different varieties of fish with fish broth), torta della nonna (literally "granny's cake", it is made with almonds and custard) and pane unto (bread with oil). There are many options to drink and eat but I can't think of more right now, I'm sorry about that. Anyways, we're also well-known for our wines and our oil, so let's get started tasting! Buon appetito!

Which places would you recommend to visit?

• the Tower of Pisa, known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
• Piazza dei Miracoli.
• Piazza dei Cavalieri.
• Palazzo Blu (http://www.palazzoblu.it/ Many important exhibitions are held in this square, for example, currently there's an exhibition on Andy Warhol's works).
• Pisa botanical gardens.
• Corso Italia (a street full of shops, there's another a shops called "La feltrinelli", a bookshop with lots of books in foreign langauges).
• Borgo stretto (another street with bars and shops).

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h3>Which places would you recommend for a night out in Pisa?

• Bazeel (it's a pub / disco where Erasmus parties are celebrated. Besides, there are good discounts for students).
• Akua cheta (it's a disco).
• Borderline (it's a pub where rock concerts take place).

Is there any piece of advice you would like to give to future students of Pisa

Please bear this saying in mind: "Meglio un morto in casa che un pisano all'uscio" ( which translates into 'It's better a dead body at home than a Pisan at the door'. Do not trust Pisan people too much'.

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