Angela's Erasmus experience in Zaragoza, Spain

Why did you choose to go to Zaragoza, Spain?

The first time I went to Zaragoza, as an Erasmus student, I chose it because I wanted to study at a good university and not be in a massive city like Barcelona or Madrid. I also wanted a city that was well-connected with other parts of the country. Then I discovered that the city was charming, welcoming and is one of the best places for a peaceful stay and a good time. It has a lot of cultural opportunities, Sports, parties, friendships. So I decided to go back there when I received a work grant

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How long is the scholarship?

How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

The scholarship lasts 3-6 months, but I could only go for 3 months because of my work here in Italy. My grant was more or less 700 euros a month.

What is the student lifestyle like in Zaragoza?

The university has good students and good teachers, the students know how to have a good work/life balance, so I would say it has a great atmosphere. .

Would you recommend the city and university of Zaragoza to other students?

I would recommend Zaragoza to every student who wants to learn new things, enjoy themselves, get to know the country, learn the language and make new European friends.

What is the food like?

The food is tasty and varied, like it is in Italy. Also, I think that people in Zaragoza are quite attentive to the quality of their food. There is plenty to choose from, there're all kinds of fruits and vegetables, meat, delicious sausages, cheese, fish, rice, desserts... Generally, people want to taste what they eat, so food is often tasty and homemade.

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Was it hard to find accommodation in Zaragoza?

It was simple the first time and even simpler the second time, because I already knew the city. There are a lot of web pages where you can find a flat share, a room with other students, or a room in a rented property. I advise you to search for a flat close to the university. This is a modern neighbourhood with a lot of bars, cafés, cheap restaurants, bars with music in the afternoons and early evenings, a big park, swimming pools, gyms, a concert hall, and a multiroom cinema. Zaragoza is big, it has about 750 thousand inhabitants I think. In the outskirts are residential neighbourhoods, but also other neighbourhoods where there aren't many amenities. This is worth knowing, even though it's a very quiet city.

How much does it cost to live in Zaragoza?

Renting a room costs between 150-200 euros per month; eating at the university or in the bars around it, which offer a variety of food, about 5-7 euros per meal. Supermarkets are a little cheaper than they are in Italy, you pay like 10/20% less depending on the chain. Going out costs a lot less, in comparison to Italy. I think that with 700 euros a month you would live well for a period of time.

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

I learnt the language by speaking it. I didn't have time for courses although the university did offer them at a reasonable price for Erasmus students. There weren't any problems when it comes to being understood and understanding the language, but you have to practice a lot to speak it correctly. It's a language with a lot of grammar, like Italian.

What's the cheapest way of getting to Zaragoza from your city?

From Cagliari, there are cheap flights to Madrid and Girona-Barcelona. The Girona-Barcelona flight is cheapest. Then the bus journey is about 350 kilometres to Zaragoza from either one of these two cities. The bus takes 3 1/2 hours, with only one stop. There's a motorway and the buses are very comfortable.

What places to recommend for a night out in Zaragoza?

In the old town there's an area filled with bars and clubs that hold parties every night. There are a lot of bars with music around the university for those who prefer going out with friends and having a quieter night out.

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And eating out in Zaragoza?

What are some of your favourite places to go to?

Without naming any names, because they're all good, I ate very well in the restaurants and cafés around the university. The bars and restaurants here serve a variety of homemade foods at a really reasonable price. In the evenings, everyone goes out in Zaragoza to eat super tasty tapas in casco histórico, or the tapas that is just as tasty but a lot cheaper in Puerta de Carmen and the university, as well as vegetable, meat and fish dishes. But you don't have to go out and choose where to eat, ask one of your friends, they'll happily take you somewhere to discover the tastes of the city.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

You discover Zaragoza bit by bit, there are a lot of tours which are tailored towards differents time periods and styles. Although Zaragoza was brought to its knees by all the invaders who passed through, it was always reborn from the ashes and now, it views its history with pride. There is a Roman tour, where you can see a river port, a roman wall, hot springs, and what remains of a large arena. There's a medievil tour, where you can see churches, gorgeous towers built in an arabic style. More modern palaces of exhibitions which are worth a visit for their exhibitions as well as for their architecture are La Lonja, el Patio de la Infanta... and many more. There's a museum which displays the paintings of Goya... And around the city their are green parks for those who like nature.

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

The advice I was given when I arrived in the city for the first time was "don't worry, everything will be fine". I got used to the city where the people worked hard and partied hard, and they did it all in no rush, they took their time with everything. Less haste, more speed.