Erasmus Experience in Torino, Italy by Irina

Why did you choose to go to Torino, Italy?

I wanted to study art in Italy and Torino seemed to have a good Academy and a wide range of high quality museums and galleries.

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

4 months. I received 2000 Euros in total.

What is the student lifestyle like in Torino?

Extremely vivid. Torino is a universitary city, so you will meet a lot of students. The city provides various entertainment, in terms of bars, clubs (some with really good music), even improvised clubs in deserted buildings, coffee-shops, flea-markets and really cool places a student must see in his/her life, like the Museum of Cinema. In the winter you can go skiing to a very near slope. Also the parks and river sides are nice places for taking walks or studying. It is also a bike-friendly city (you can rent bikes, aslo).

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There is a problem though: except for some young people, almost nobody (including teachers) understands English.

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

I would definitely recommend it.

What is the food like?

Ice-cream is the best! and some Piemonte wines and chocolate, also.

I didn't eat much specialties, because of the high prices.

But there is something called "apericena", a all-you-can eat dinner for 5-6 Euros with a drink included, serving classic Italian food. I tried it once and it was delicious.

Other supermarkets except Lidl were a bit expensive for my pocket, so I recommend Lidl.

There are a lot of minority shops where you can find exotic food.

Also, there are huge markets where you can find fresh vegetables, near any point of the city.

And anyone who goes there must try the Ice-cream!

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Torino?

I stayed at a student residence, a bit expensive (around 300 EUROS/month), but which offered very good conditions.

How much does it cost to live in Torino?

I can't really estimate. But I will tell you:

• Pasta, rice and alcohol from Lidl are very cheap.
• Drinking in a bar/ club is more expensive than my country (drinks from 3 Euros up).
• Trains are somewhat expensive (50 euros from Torino to Rome), but you can catch special offers which are almost half the price.
• Museum tickets are somewhat expensive (around 6 Euros), but worth it.
• Take-out food is fairly expensive in the center (a Piadina is at least 3. 5 Euros).

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

There are free courses available for foreign students. I find the language easy to learn, and I managed to communicate without taking any course.

But English-speaking people are very few, so you need to make a bit of effort to communicate.

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

It is easiest to travel from Cluj by plane because the bus takes more that one day. On the other hand, if your luggage is heavier than allowed in the plane, it is more economical to travel by bus (coach).

For example, I went by plane and returned by bus because I bought a lot of things there and needed to transport them home.

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

• Astoria is probably the best club I've ever been to, excellent music and people, especially Saturdays.
• El Paso on Via Verdi organizes parties every Thursday in an abandoned building. Very freeing atmosphere and occasionally good music.
• The Rat is a small and cozy coffee shop where two incredible musicians improvise with experimental music. They sometimes organize film projections and in the winter they host an ice-skating place. It's the kind of place that makes you feel like home.
• See the city from the cathedral hill, over the river Po.
• "Apericena"s = cheap dinners at restaurants/ bars that organize them.
• I've also heard good thinks about a place called Velvet in my last days, but didn't have time to go.

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

I haven't eaten in restaurants, except for an "apericena" dinner. I've eaten pizza in a fast-food and I liked it.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

a lot: the great surrounding views, the museum of cinema (mandatory!, it is very interactive), a lot of contemporary art galleries, near small cities whith historical and cultural value like Vercelli and Cherasco, the mountains, wine-producind small cities from Piemonte. famous car factories.

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

Don't sit at home: there is a lot to see. I myself didn't see the whole Torino, and I've stayed 4 entire months there.