Erasmus Experience in Pisa, Italy by Dorka

Why did you choose to go to Pisa, Italy?

I am doing modern languages and European Studies at my University with Spanish and Italian. We have to work/study in each country atleast 3 months during this academic year, I chose to do work placement. I chose Pisa in Italy because I like small cities and that is where I found a placement that I like.

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

My placement is from January until the end of May. It is not a payed placement, I only get the Erasmus grant.

What is the student lifestyle like in Pisa?

ESN Pisa is very active, they organize a lot of events and trips around Italy. There are a lot of university students.

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

I would definitely recommend Pisa to other students, it is relatively easy to find accommodation because there are a lot of student houses. Moving around is easy too considering the fact that it is a small town, everything is close. Having a bike is enough, using public transport is not necessary.

What is the food like?

Food is amazing like in all Italy. There are loads of nice coffee places, very good pizzerias. The prices are not very high as it is a small town.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Pisa?

There are a lot of groups on social sites where people are advertising houses and rooms. I could manage to organize my accommodation even if I was in Madrid doing my other placement. It might take a long time to find the right room/house but it is not impossible.

How much does it cost to live in Pisa?

Basic living cost with accommodation and food/going out would be around 400-450 euros.

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

In order to practice my Italian, I moved in a house with all Italian girls. Italian language is not the most difficult so I would recommend it to other students to try and learn as much as they can while staying here. I don't have any information about the courses on the University as I am working.

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

Biking/walking :)

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Pisa?

Going out in Pisa is really nice, the streets and squares are always full of young people.

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

In Italy they do a thing called 'apericena' which means that in a bar you have to buy atleast one drink, which is a little bit more expensive than usual but than there is an open bufet with free food, definitely one of the best things in Italian bars. The best pizzeria is 'La Scuderia', where people can order a 1 meter long pizza with different tastes, it is amazing.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Pisa is all about the culture, apart from the Tower and the Cathedral, there are some museums that are free for students.

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

Be careful with the housing, definitely worth looking for a lot of houses and choose the best option, so start to look in time, do not leave it for the last minute.