PLACE

Ella Büsse - Germany - UniGe Erasmus student Fall 2021

One of my favorite things about Genoa is its geographical position. If the city centre gets too noisy or crowded sometimes, you can easily take one of the funiculars and be on top of the mountain in just 10 minutes, watching the sun set over the Mediterranean Sea. Also I enjoyed many walks along the coast in Nervi or strolling through Boccadasse, the most beautiful part of the city. Genoa felt like a gate to all bigger cities in Northern Italy, since there are good train connections to Milan, Turin, Pisa or even Rome. 

Apart from that, the international community and Erasmus network gave me the opportunity to connect and make friends with fellow students from all over Europe, with whom I travelled and had many after-uni dinners. Despite some challenges and difficulties, I wouldn't want to miss my experience living in Genoa.

Barbara Coppola - FIU student Fall 2019

Living in Genoa for an entire semester was an amazing opportunity to experience Italian culture to its fullest. As part of my last year in school, I spent a lot of time with my studio friends while walking streets full of history and great architecture, learning a different language, trying delicious focaccia and gelato in every corner, and buying gifts from the weekly markets. I also enjoyed how the city was full of other international students, having the chance to meet great friends from different countries! And, since Genoa is in northern Italy, it was easy to travel to cities like Cinque Terre, Nervi, Santa Margherita, Portofino, and Milano! An experience that I will forever treasure in my heart!

Bogdan-Alexandru Loviște - Romania - UniGe Erasmus student Fall 2021

Living in Genova has been great so far (decided to stay another semester). I can see people here live a more peaceful life, they feel more relaxed compared to bigger cities I've visited in Italy. I think this has to do with the close relation with nature. The rich vegetation on the mountains in the back, the endless, calm sea in the front, I think this truly has a positive effect on the people's well-being. I also noticed that people often greet each other on the street with a "Ciao!" and a friendly smile. Whenever I'm in the city, seeing all these people - who at first seem strangers - interact with each other gives me a feeling of close community in a nonetheless pretty big city. The food is great, of course, with great variety and lots of taste....

Sophia Neves - FIU student Fall 2019

I am very grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Genova Study Abroad program in Fall 2019. I was able to live in the lovely city of Genova for four months. Before this, I never had the opportunity to learn another language both in and out of the classroom. Every day, I got up early to walk around as the city slowly began to wake up and start the day. There are so many great places to try different foods at affordable prices, or even try focaccia in 40 different places. My most vivid memory was of a hike to the fortresses on the surrounding mountains. It was a beautiful sight to see. In addition to all that Genova had to offer, we were close to so many other countries!

Kaat Boon - Belgium - UniGe Erasmus student Fall 2021

In my experience, people in Genova are more open towards each other. They greet you when you walk past them and the small streets are always lively. People go out in the streets and go for an aperitivo, meet friends, etcetera. Everything in the centre of Genova is close by and you don't need a car to go around which makes it very pleasant as a student because you are not dependent on a car. Walking around the city you are triggered by different smells of the small vegetable, fish, meat, fruit stands. On Friday evenings and in the weekend the vicoli (alleys) are crowded and noisy with young people. And when it is sunny, streaks of light burst through, even in the vicoli. All in all, all your senses are stimulated in this beautiful city where la vita è bella!