Meet Salerno

Salerno is my native city, and despite our love-hate relationship, after two Erasmus abroad, I really think it's a great city where you can spend your Erasmus year abroad, because life isn't expensive and it's situated near one of the most breathtaking sceneries of Italy: Amalfitan Coast. Moreover, teachers usually help students, and once there, you'll find AEGEE-Salerno association willing to help you find a room or explaining what to do with visa, documents, etc. There are parties and events almost every week, they also organise trips, workshops, and linguistic tandems. Before arriving or as soon as you are there, I recommend you to contact them here. They are based on Campus, right near the International Office, so when you'll go signing your agreement, you'll find them there.

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The University Campus is situated far away from the city centre, in the neighboring town of Fisciano, with Faculty of Medicine having its own campus in Lancusi, a village near Fisciano. You can reach it with three buses: 17, 27, 7. Line 27 runs on a different route than 7 or 17. Buses aren't Salerno's forte as they sometimes don't respect the time schedule. But things are getting better. I recommend you to buy a monthly ticket in any Tabacchi. This Campus is nice, you can find a bus/coaches terminal, canteen, restaurant, bars, book shops, picnic tables, a bank office, two libraries, a post office, a police station, a pool, a football field and so on.

I recommend choosing the second semester period as the weather become warmer and you can experience a full social life, going sunbathing in Vietri, or Amalfi, visiting Naples, Positano, Ravello, Sorrento, Paestum, Cetara, Palinuro, Pompei, Acciaroli, Marina di Camerota, Castellabate and there's plenty more to be discovered. Usually, AEGEE-Salerno organises many trips to these places. There are events such as fairies and patron saint's festival (I recommend you to check the ones of Cetara and of Praiano during summertime). Anyway, winter is not excessively cold.

In the city, you'll visit the Cathedral, a church full of story and of historic periods succession. You may also visit Piazza Abate Conforti, San Pietro a Corte, Via dei Mercanti and Largo Campo, where the night "Movida" takes place. The Castle watch over the city, and if you know someone with a car you can go upon Mazzo della Signora, a hill where to enjoy Salerno peacefully from on high. Also, AEGEE-Salerno will take you on a funny hiking trip up to Monte San Liberatore, where the view will be breathtaking.

If you love going to theather, Salerno offers events and nights, it has many theaters. You don't have to worry about your nighttime in winter since AEGEE organizes tons of events and parties in many discos or bars for you, or even on the beach during the summer/ autumn term. There is an urban railway that links the center with the suburbs, nice places where to have a walk, go for cheap shopping (easily reachable on feet as well). If you come to Salerno during the Xmas era, you'll find this city glittering and sparkling with the Artits's Lights, an original and lively event that brings every year thousands of people from all over Europe and Italy.

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You'll find many shops along the highway, or in the neighboring towns, such as Pontecagnano, where there's the Maxi Mall and Fratte, with Le Cotoniere. To reach the former you need to take the bus 8 whereas for the latter the 10.

There's also an IKEA store near the university.

And food! What about food?! Pizza, Babà, brioche with ice cream, bakery and many more specialties to try.

For what concerns a room to rent, you should stay near the city center, usually around Carmine zone, near the station, or Piazza Casalbore, where most of Erasmus students live (but also Piazza XXIV maggio, Via Silvio Baratta, etc). The prices range from 200 € to 400 €, depending on the zone, naturally, and your period of stay. Ask AEGEE-Salerno for anything concerning housing! The University, being a campus, offers a room in the halls, sure it's sociable but you'll be far from the city (and most likely from all your friends), and Salerno does not have night buses (a taxi will be too expensive). If you choose accommodation in the halls, you have to apply before the deadline on the ADISU SALERNO website (usually they accept forms from July to September). The studios cost 260 € but other solutions are available (such as two or three rooms apartments).

Besides pros, Salerno has a lot of cons, but you'll find out once you'll be there. You'll never regret it, you'll end up loving it!

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