Erasmus Experience in Turin, Italy, by Katarzyna

Why did you choose to go to Turin, Italy?

Because Politecnico di Torino was and still seems one of the best engineering school in Italy. Also because is close to the mountains and south France.

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

Ricevo 270 euro per month. It is for ten month and later there is a cash compensation after returning to my country.

What is the student lifestyle like in Turin?

There is a lot of places to see, museums, art galleries, palaces, parks... Also a lot of parties of course, good food and restaurants, and beautiful views around. But still you need to study at the university, so you are not bored with that also.

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

Of course, I heard a lot that Torino is really industrial city. In fact I didn't see it as much, the center is totally beautiful and large, with the old style, thin streets, nice squares... When the weather is good there is beautiful view to the mountains from every streets, because the ways are situated perpendicular to each other towards them. The university is great, mostly renovated, with studying rooms and canteens. one department is in the palace situated inside the park along the river with huge library!

What is the food like?

Pasta, pasta, pizza, pasta... Sometimes kebab. It is not as expensive and really tasty. But of course you can try the sea food, chinese restaurant close to Porta Nuova is really nice! There is also Texas club, where you have really cheap prices if you will say that you are Erasmus student. And aperitivo, is the best what is there! You receive one drink and food in the evening, usually till 9 pm, but is better to book a table before or come there earlier, before the time starts. It's also nice to try different cuisine from Mexico, India ect. Good pizzas are at San Salvario.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Turin?

I found an apartment with some friends which I found by the internet before coming to Torino and which I met at the party, almost all from different countries. We needed to pay each 200 euro to the company which found as this apartment and prepared for us and 400 euro for the deposit. And than each month 200 più expenses, around 30-50 euro. But it was big flat in the center. Actually it's not bad bad price.

Just people need to remember that the heating in Italy is quite expensive, so we were using this for 4-6 hours per day in the winter. I heard about people who had paid colossal amount of money when they were using it all the time at high temperature.

How much does it cost to live in Turin?

I think around 550-600 euro is enough.

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

There are courses, basic ones or intermediate. Italian is not as hard, but actually most of the people speak with each other in english.

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

Ryanair on the way to Milan, and then by train, because to Torino there are just a few flights by Ryanair to different places than my country.

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

To the Piazza Vittorio, or corso Vittorio Emanuele II, or to parco Valentino.

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

Of course, ice cream! Grom is a base, but there are also good in Cafe Roma at the Piazza Carlo Felice, also this yoghurt ones at Piazza Castello are amazing.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The Mole, Porta Susa is really new train station, there is also museum of the factory of Fiat I think. The medieval city, from the Monte Cappucini hill there is great view for the city (in the wintertime, because of absence of leafes) or Villa della Regina. There is also nice castle in Moncalieri (there are busses to there, and this is cheaper and easier than by train) or Venaria Reale. If someone have a strength, can go to Superga, or more further to Sacra di San Michele, or Avigliana, at the lake (attenzione, a lot of mosquitoes!). There are also movies in english in the pub at the via Principe Tomaso.

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

It's totally nice to go somewhere by bike, because is not so far everywhere, wherever you live. So I recoomend to buy it, because you can spend for it even 30-50 euro. The problem is, that you need to buy really good lock, because of robbers, which are everywhere. If you will lost your bike you can go to Porta Palazzo to find it on saturday.

It's better to go at the party without a bag, wallet and so on. There are a lot of accident in the night or evening, where people just lose everything. Almost every second week there was of course on friday srike, so it's good to check the buses or the time of strikes every week, before going at the party or somewhere by bus. Sometimes non of them works. The numbers on the timetables means the time between each bus of the same line. And the monthly ticket is also for the student with 50 percent of the discount, but it works till the finish of present month, so if you want to buy it on 22nd you will have tshis ticket just till 30/31st.

Good luck!

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