Erasmus Experience in Verona, Italy by Tünde

Why did you choose to go to Verona, Italy?

I probably become an Italian teacher so choosing Italy was quite obvious. However having Verona as my first choice from several cities was not that obvious. I wanted to explore the North of Italy (I've been to the South for longer period) and my professors recommended more the upper side of Italy as far as organization, universities are concerned. And personally I wanted to live in a smaller city (since I am from Budapest which is quite a big one) and travel less, use bicyle instead of public transport.

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

My scholarship started on the 14th of February and it will last until the 31st of July. For this period I got 2730 Euros (I am paid per day).

What is the student lifestyle like in Verona?

There's a district of Verona which is called Veronetta, this is basically the university district (near to the riverbank). The majority of the students live here in apartments near to the Uni, that's why there are a few bars, places to eat. This area is always full of people between 10 am and 5 pm, there's a small but nice park (field) inside the uni to sit down, there's a canteen, bar there, so all in all it's very nice.

About the entertainment: there are these bars where you can go almost every day to have an "apperitivo" with spritz (very typical) and hang out with friends, but Verona is not the city where you always find a party. There are no party places in the city, and parties are organized officially 1-2 times a month. For Erasmus students they organize a lot of events, but always in the same place, which is "Just a bar" in Veronetta. Students always go for a caffe or spritz during a day, many people study in the main library.

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

Yes, but just if they are concerned about going to a small city. It's a very cute, nice city with a breathtaking views of the river and the bridges but you cannot expect a place for going to clubs all the time.

What is the food like?

The food is typical Italian. There are good restaurants and also cheaper bars with fast food in Italian style (piadina, panzerotto, pizza), and there are Indian, Turkish places owned by immigrants as well.

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Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Verona?

Yes it did. I sent a lot of emails on 3 different websites asking more information about the apartment. It was a quite long process, because mostly the owners do not cancel the ads of the apartments rented out already which means that you never know whether it's an active/valid ad or not. Without Italian language knowledge I think it's almost impossible to find accommodations alone and I would recommend to start looking for accommodation 2-3 months before the arrival.

How much does it cost to live in Verona?

It depends on the lifestyle. Renting a single room costs around 300-400-500 euros depending on the location. I think if you choose a medium apartment and you mostly cook for yourself, you go out a lot the cost of living should be around 600 euros and you can travel as well a bit.

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

When I arrived I had a C1 level in Italian so I cannot give relevant response. And yes, for each Erasmus student taking one course is for free.

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

Going by bus which takes 12 hours, but it's very cheap.

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

There are some nice clubs for ex. Dorian Gray, Berfis.

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

There is a nice street called "Sottoriva" (first parallel street of the river) and there are some cute and very very nice places because it's possible to sit "out" so that you can enjoy the view and there's no other street in front of you.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Arena, Juliet's house, Piazza Signori, Piazza Dante, Piazza Erbe, Chiesa San Fermo, the river.. all the historical center of Verona actually.

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

Well, this is a difficult task. Verona is small, don't expect too much nightlife, organized social life, though I love this city a lot and everything depends on how you live your experience, if you have good company I think everything can be enjoyable!