Erasmus Experience in Pisa, Italy by Martin

Why did you choose to go to Pisa, Italy?

I chose it because I always liked Italy. I know the langauge and I wanted to improve in it even more. But this was not the only reason, of course. I have some friends who went to do Erasmus in Italy in the last years and they told me mostly positive stuff.

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

I arrived here at September and I will stay until 31st of July. Our scholarship for Italy is 680 euros, which is quite OK. I am paying my rent by myself, so with around 1k euros a month you can live really well and not think too much about this problem.

What is the student lifestyle like in Pisa?

It is really good. The city is full of young people which i think is really good because there is always something to do out here!

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

The city centre is really good and interesting. It is not big, but you can find enough to do. It is full of little locals and bars. The restaurans are also quite OK, they are not too expensive, for example one pizza can cost at most 7-8 euros. The university is also quite good, I am studying history and political science, so i think that the professors in our faculty are really well prepared.

What is the food like?

I think Italy is famous with it's good food. Pizzas are my favourite stuff here, but also pasta and gnocchi are delicious. The food at the supermarkets doesn't cost a lot, for example if you do a big shopping for 10 days-2 week, you will spend around 70-80 euros.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Pisa?

I am paying 280 euros+60 euros for condominio(the light on the stairs, the elevator, the wage of the cleaning crew here). The appartment is really big, we are only two here, everyone has his own room, and we share a bathroom, kitchen and a big living room. I think almost all of those places cost about 300 euros for a person.

How much does it cost to live in Pisa?

Well, you know, it depends on what you are used to. I can live with about 100-150 euros per week with all included in there - food, parties and bills.

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

There are some courses in Italian, but i can't really say a lot about them because I am not going, I feel well enough prepared.

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

For sure the answear of this question should be "by airplane". You can arrive at the Pisa airport too.

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

There is only one disco here - "Akua Keta", but i don't really like it. It is a small place and it is too expensive. I would reccomend the "Millibar", which is quite good!

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

I can't really remember any names of restaurants right now, but if you go near the leaning tower you will find a lot of them!

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

You should visit the Leaning Tower for sure. The Orto Botanico Gardens are also really nice!

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

If you come to Pisa, prepare for a great time. You will find great people and make true friendships just like I did. The locals are also really friendly so really fast you will start feeling like at home! Pisa is a great place for Erasmus, just come and see!