Experience in Rome, Italy by Aurora

Source

How is living in Rome? Would you recommend it? How is the city in general terms?

Rome is a wonderful city to spend a short time there. Is so easy to fall in love with Rome, to get lost and find incredible things. I enjoyed a lot my time there, I learnt a lot of stuff and for sure I will repeat it without doubt. Something you need to know about Rome is that, at some point, you will miss the quietness. It's a very dynamic, chaotic, loud and dirty city...

Depending on what someone could be seeking in Rome, this place would be more or less adequate but anyways you are going to enjoy it. Always being aware that time won't last forever.

How is the student lifestyle in Rome?

Rome is the capital of Italy, that's why it's so crowded. There are a lot of students from the south of Italy who come to study to the capital and also there are a lot of Erasmus students. I don't know if it's the best place for studying but if you are an extrovert person and you like to move in different environments you will have the opportunity to meet a huge cultural variety of people and connect with them. In other hand, because it's a big city, there is a risk to not socialize and just hang out with the "Erasmus people", which is a pity because you won't enjoy the cultural variety this city could offer to you.

In addition, studying is complicated when professors ignore you, libraries seem like they don't exist or they have really weird rules, at night parties make you don't want to move the next morning o maybe just the subjects are so stupid you don't even know where to start. also the exams are oral...

How much does it costs to live in Rome?

Living in Rome is in general very expensive.

A "stanza" (the ugliest and smallest you can find) always costs around 400€. In addition, you also have these weird landlords and their curious rules such as: you can't invite someone over at your place and if you do, your host have to pay the landlord each day spent at the house like if that was a hotel, if anything is broken (a light, the fridge, etc.. ) you have to pay it, internet is not included, if you need a door, a a wardrobe, anything, you have to pay it or maybe fight for it during a long time, etc... But, if you are lucky and you find nice "counquilini" everything is funnier and you will take it as part of the experience.

The "spesa" is not cheaper either, but if you know how to deal with that (like a lot of us did) is possible. You will learn how to live just with the necessary, how to walk 15 minutes to go to the cheapest supermarket, to buy in different supermarkets depending on their relation between quality and price, to share the expenses with your roommates and a lot of tricks.

It's better not to talk about transport but as I say, everything is surmountable.

Living in Rome is a survival experience. You better see life with humor and patience, a lot of patience, and just enjoy each detail because the bad stuff is always surrounded of fantastic stuff.

Was it difficult to find an accommodation in Rome? Can you give any advice?

Personally my accommodation research was an odyssey. The objective was to find a place in one week (which seemed that was enough time). To be honest, that cost me at least 3 weeks.

The first week you have to lose your fear of calling by phone and to be rejected for being Erasmus, to visit different places, and to live more than the place you wanted to live at the beginning... (I know San Giovanni is perfect, also San Lorenzo and Trastevere but... did you look for the prices? ). You will always find people who found a place with a really cheap price and you will think, how I couldn't find the same? But the reality is that the huge majority pass through a hard selection process. The further, the cheaper and that's essential for some people, in my case that was a necessity. Paying 500€ for a room or living with the landlord's mother wasn't on my plans.

After being extremely desperate a really nice lady told me a room was for rent and she took me. That seemed ideal but... after three days it was a really different situation and I ran far from there.

Luckily I met another Erasmus students who found a flat which rented all of their rooms, and because I was done looking for places I didn't think twice and I accept. The only problem was, I just could move there after 5 days. Some friends took me in their place and I spent that time there.

Looking for a flat in Rome is a big adventure, and you end with the less unpleasant option you can afford. Don't worry, it's part of the experience and after all, of that you see everything with another perspective and just as a part of the long learning process.

How is the national food? Which are you favorite dishes?

Italy = good food, that's the final conclusion.

Anything you could try in this city, you are going to love it. If its true that eating also depends on your culinary virtues, the ingredients are excellent and no doubt you are going to get fat. But it's worth it.

You will enjoy pizza in every corner. Enjoy the most simple pasta and ice-cream with real ice-cream flavor, also mozzarella, chocolate, Parmesan cheese. Is really difficult to choose a particular dish, is necessary to learn from every experience, try new things, experiment and eat whatever you want. Rome is the moment.

Source

Source

Which places would you recommend to visit it in Rome?

Visiting Rome is such a sensory experience. Depending if you visit in during day or night, raining or with the sun out, with cold or warm weather, the city changes and you have to enjoy it.

Discover Rome is not just visiting the well-known places, but also walking its streets, its tricks, restaurants and take every opportunity. Know its history and enjoy its smell, know every moment of the city.

I enjoyed every corner, moments, fountains and parks. The Fontana di Trevi alone at the night, the sunset at Celio or above the Vatican dome, free Sunday at the Vatican Museum, the non-catholic () of Pirámide, the Coliseum in Christmas or New Years EVe, the silence of Santa María Mayore, the cold at the catacombs or seeing the 12 Apostles in San Giovanni...

Source

Source

So many little things, but a lot of big experiences.

And for eating? Could you mention your favorite places?

If you want to eat good and cheap in Rome you should get lost in the little streets. Boccateria near to Piazza Spagna, pizza al taglio or dolce notte of San Lorenzo, pizzeria or gelateria in Trastevere, ice-cream shop in San Giovanni, or the Ghetto restaurants.

Any place is a good place.

Where would you recommend to go out in Rome?

Going out in Rome could make your schedule very chaotic. There are parties every day.

Mi personal recommendation is not to go to all the Erasmus parties, look for Celio or Piramide area or maybe in San Lorenzo. There are a lot of interesting places where you can find unique and interesting people.

Any advice you can give to students who will go to Rome in a future?

Boys, girls, next Roman Erasmus people. Enjoy every moment, the good and the bad, because everything is part of the experience and everything is Rome.