Erasmus Experience in Venice, Italy by Gemma

Why did you choose to go to Venice, Italy?

I went to Venice as an intern for the Peggy Guggenheim collection through my university in Liverpool. I chose Venice for it's history and liked the idea of spending more time there.

Source

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

I received about £800 per month, which just about covered living in Venice. I went a little over

What is the student lifestyle like in Venice?

The student lifestyle is different to other places. Campo Santa Margherita was really popular with students though and spritz is quite cheap! My experience in Venice was really international, and I met some lovely and fantastic people.

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

I would recommend Venice if you love art or are looking for a slightly different student experience.

What is the food like?

The food is very nice, but a little expensive if your planning to eat out. It's easiest to shop for yourself, there is quite a large supermarket near Zattere. There is a really nice ice cream place called Nico's and the area around the University has some nice bars.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Venice?

My accommodation was difficult to find and the place I eventually chose had some issues. I recommend staying on Giudecca though, as its a bit cheaper that other venetian islands, but more central than Mestre. Its quite quiet there.

How much does it cost to live in Venice?

It is not cheap to live in Venice, I would say £200 a week, if you are being really careful.

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

The language was tricky, I wasn't really in Venice long enough to sign up for classes. My Italian did improve during my time in Venice though.

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

I flew to Venice from England. Once there, I used the Vaporetto, or buses if I wanted to go to Mestre.

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

Campo Santa Margherita and Cannaregio has some nice bars.

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

Although I was in Venice for over a month, I tended to cook at home more.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

San Giorgio is really interesting.

I recommend Torcello if you want to get away from the crowds.

Punta Della Dogana is a stunning gallery.

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

Make sure you get a long term vaporetto pass from Rialto or San Marco if you want to travel about easily. There's about a 40 or 50 pounds registration fee and then £30 a month. It was quite reasonable, and they do student discounts.