Erasmus Experience in Pisa, Italy by Jorrit

Why did you choose to go to Pisa, Italy?

Because I am interested in surgical robotics. My professor suggested the BioRobotics Institute which is part of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, located in Pontedera. This place is located within a distance around 20-25 km from Pisa. So I decided to go to Pisa.

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

I requested the TMF (Twente Mobility Fund) at my home university (University of Twente)for a scholarship. My intern period took 3 months for which I received 150 EUR a month. For an intern/study period 3 months you can also request an Erasmus scholarship, which is somewhat higher than the scholarship I received from my University.

What is the student lifestyle like in Pisa?

I found the student life in Pisa relax. Time schedules are comparable to other institutions where I did an internship, but the lifestyle is different. The weather was very nice during my intern period (June-August). So most people live outside during the day/evening, because it is also to hot too stay inside. I really liked this way of living; very relax.

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

Ye, definitely. Pisa is a real student city. More than half of the city population is a student.

What is the food like?

Very good!

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Pisa?

I arranged a student room via the university of Pisa. They have student rooms that are specifically for international students. Search on google for 'student accommodation pisa'.

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How much does it cost to live in Pisa?

Prices of basic needs are comparable to other European countries that also have the euro. Prices in restaurant/bar/cafe are cheaper. You can have breakfast in one of the many cafes in Pisa from 1. 50 EUR. The average price for an normal lunch is between 3-5 EUR. You can eat outside in one of the three Mensas in Pisa (student canteens; prices around 3-5 EUR) or in one of the many restaurants in Pisa. Public travel is fairly cheap. I paid around 45 EUR for a monthly subscription between Pisa and Pontedera.

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

In daily life it is useful to speak some words Italian. You can attend language courses at the university of Pisa. I could not attend in one of these courses, because the last course started in May while I arrived in June. I learned some basic Italian language by myself with memrise. The langauge might be difficult if you don't have any experience with learning a language. For me it was quite easy since there are some similarities with French.

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

By plane. Ryanair is by far the most cheapest way to get there. I travelled from Düsseldorf Weeze to Pisa for only 9 EUR (excl. taxes and suitcase, so in total +- 50 EUR).

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

I prefer to go to a bar/cafe and have a drink/talk when a go out. There are a lot of bars/cafes in Pisa. I liked Orzo Bruno most since they have there own home-brewed beers. Bazeel which is located at the Piazza di Garibaldi is also nice. They have very good aperetivo (you buy a drink and can have some pasta, salad, bread, pizza for free). between 18-21 pm. Furthermore ArnoVivo (near the riverside) is nice to chillout during the evening. You won't find any disco or club in Pisa. Therefore you have to go to Viareggio (+- 20 min by train) or Gents (a club near Pontedera which you can only reach by car).

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

Bazeel; good value for price and a nice atmosphere

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Pisa is not the most beautiful city to visit in Tuscany. The Piazza dei Miracoli is nice to see, but there are a lot of other great cities to visit in Tuscany like Lucca, Firenze, Siena, Volterra and San Gimignano. Also Rome can be reached within 4 hours (regionale).

Is there any other advice that you could give to future students who are going to Pisa?

Stay away during August. It is too hot and the city is very quiet, since all students go on holiday.

Enjoy Tuscany!

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