Erasmus Experience in Turin, Italy by Jessica

Why did you choose to go to Turin, Italy?

I chose Turin as I wanted to be in a bigger city, and having only been to the south of Italy before I wanted to experience the north.

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

I'm studying in Turin for 9 months, and get a grant of around £1500 from the EU and a loan of £4000 from the UK.

What is the student lifestyle like in Turin?

There are quite a lot of students in the city so it's easy to find other students on nights out, and plenty of bars that are good for students.

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

I'd definitely recommend the city, there's good shopping, markets, bars, restaurants, and even though it's part of the 'industrial' north it's a very pretty city. I would recommend the university, but, being used to the British system, it can be a bit of a shock at how disorganised things are and how difficult it is to get some things done. But once you're used to the Italian way, it's fine!

What is the food like?

The food is delicious, but maybe not quite as good as in the south of Italy. Make sure to try gianduja, a hazelnut chocolate from Turin, and bicerin, a traditional chocolate coffee drink.

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Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Turin?

It didn't cost but it is very difficult to find a single room, so start looking early! There are lots of Facebook groups advertising accommodation, and try websites like Bakeca, Sportello casa and Housing Anywhere.

How much does it cost to live in Turin?

For a single room near the centre, rent is around €300/€350 a month.

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

The university offers all foreign students a 10-week language course at beginner, immediate or advanced level. Try live with or make friends with Italians, because Erasmus students tend to speak in English to each other so if you're not regularly speaking to Italians it can be quite hard to improve.

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

It's quite a difficult city to fly to, from Manchester there are very few direct flights so the best choices are to get the cheapest connecting flight or fly from London.

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

San Salvario is an area near the train station with lots of good bars, and the main square, largo saluzzo, is always full of students. By the river, there's a few bars and clubs, and there's a botellon every few weeks in one of the piazzas.

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

Definitely make the trip to Eataly, a supermarket/restaurant in Lingotto. You have to get the metro but it's worth the trip, the pasta and pizza are amazing and not too expensive. There are nice, cheap restaurants in San Salvario, and plenty of nice bakeries around the city centre to grab a slice of pizza or focaccia.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The Mole is one of the main attractions in the city. Inside there is a cinema museum, and a lift that goes up to the top of the building where you can see out over the city. There are plenty of other museums around, including the Egyptian museum which I'd recommend. There are a castle and some old royal palaces, and the shroud of Turin is in the cathedral, although you can't see the actual thing.

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

Search for accommodation early, and try to get somewhere before you arrive because it is so difficult to find a nice single room near or in the centre, and you don't want the stress of being homeless in your first weeks of Erasmus! Although it's Italy, in winter it gets freezing so bring your winter clothes. And if you need more clothes, go to il balon market, you'll find plenty of vintage/ second-hand clothes for very good prices! Other than that, enjoy Turin!