LUISS

The problem with Rome is that cheap apartments are very rare, especially near the historical center, although generally they are well kept.

I was in a flat at 20 min from university on foot. Near the metropolitan and main buses. Small flat with double rooms (because of the high prices!). Great experience!

Very few student activities on offer (no good student theatre, music, sport, debating etc. as in the UK). All of Trastevere, the area around Campo dei Fiori and round the back of the Vatican are great for cafés, both night and day. Testaccio is the club area (Metro Piramide). Erasmus students all go to the Baja on the river, though this can get horribly crowded. Ice cream on via del Panteon has the largest selection - mix them with the mousses. LUISS's greatest feature is its terrace café, which in the sun is a delight. It serves excellent hot chocolate. It's very difficult to integrate with the Italians, even if you do buy very big sunglasses! LUISS students are generally friendly in the superficial sense - I waited 7 months to be invited by any Italian there to do anything outside of uni. However, other Erasmus students make up for this. NB It rains a lot in Rome, and when it does there is nothing to do. The university has no common rooms, just silent study rooms. It takes longer to get anywhere in the rain, as people stop using their motorini and take to their cars.