Università degli Studi di Padova

The best pizzeria was La Medina near the duomo. Best place to casually meet up with friends and acquaintances was the piazza where Spritz was and also during the summer there was always Prato della Valle! Night spots - Fishmarket nightclub had the best Erasmus nights and there was a great Spanish night every Thursday in Tutor Club. The best way to make the most of the Erasmus experience in Padova is to join the ESN the Erasmus Student Network - they organise Erasmus theme nights every week, trips to Firenze, Napoli, Roma, Assisi. They also organise welcome and farewell parties and plenty in between!

The accomodation was very reasonably priced although I thought it unfair that the Erasmus and foreign students had to pay more than the regular students for housing.

I had very little Italian before I went to Padova. The language contained in the legal textbooks was very technical and sometimes difficult to follow but I passed 4 exams and got very good marks. In the first semester the university ran free language classes which were a great help. There was one small problem, these classes started after the academic classes and you were assessed on your arrival which meant by the time they started, my language had greatly improved and I was still in a beginners class.

I would definitely recommend joining the ESN as soon as you arrive in Padova - its situated in the little sidestreet opposite the Bo. Also if you are going to travel a lot then it is worth buying the Carte Verde at the beginning of the year to make significant savings. Also if you get a chance definitely go to see a concert or opera in the arena in Verona. And go to the carnivale in Venezia!

ninguno