Ciao!
Here is a guide for Erasmus students to survive during your crazy Erasmus experience in Rome.

First of all check the Official Sapienza university page for Erasmus students since it has got a lot of useful informations about everything you need and especially about the BUREAUCRACY part that obviously is the most annoying in the beginning of your experience in Rome!

This page features:

• An "Official" Erasmus Guide in Rome.
• A Vademecum, that is all the documents and stuff you need to get.
• Application procedures for the a.y. 2008-2009.
• Erasmus contact persons at Faculty level.
• Visa information.
• An ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) Grade Conversion scale, useful to convert your grades to the italian ones
• A general Overview of ALL Courses in the university.
• ECTS informartions
• Instructions, Placement Test Dates and Office Hours about Italian Language Courses.

Then come OUR suggestions, tips and tricks that are influenced by our long experience in many years helping Erasmus! ;)

Here you go!

Find a room

Usually the first concern should be to find a good room in Rome as soon as possible.

If you are still in your country it would always be pretty difficult to find a room from there since you can't see the house you are supposed to stay in for a year and you might have some bad surprise when you see it.

Remember that is always easy to find many good available rooms in july (or august) than in september (or October) when there's a crazy, menthal "war" with thousand of people desperately looking for a room.

Be aware since there are people who rent a room who try to trick foreign students putting the rent higher, so make sure the house is worth of the price you are going to pay in comparison with other ads you found.

Also, beware of SCAM. It is a relatively new phenomenon which is spreading more and more in all Europe where there's people putting FAKE ADS to steal you money. Usually these ads have beautiful photos of the house and possibly of the owner to trick people. They usually ask you to send them money for the rent of the room through Western Union or similar before you have seen the house. If you think you recognized a case of Scam please report it here --> http://www.scamshield.com/ReportScam.asp

When you are looking for a room make sure there's some Night Bus line in the area you're gonna live cause you you would really need them when for example you are coming back after a crazy Roman party night!

If need a place to stay while you are looking for a flat you could check some hostels.

There are many cheap hostels around the Termini station area (even if their quality often is not good, but be optimistic!).

Check these good hostels:

• Hostels Alessandro (Castro Pretorio/Termini). They are 2 good hostels, Alessandro Palace (Castro Pretorio, on the right side of Termini station, which remember is nicer than the left side of the station) and Alessandro Downtown (near via Giolitti, on the left side of Termini station, that is in fact the "worst" side of the station) both in Termini area. http://www.hostelsalessandro.com
• Yellow Hostel (Castro Pretorio). The price is a bit higher than others but is very nice and funny. www.yellowhostel.com
• The Beehive (Castro Pretorio). Stylish and cheap. www.the-beehive.com

Another option would be to check some hospitality websites like www.couchsurfing.com or www.hospitalityclub.org where you can find people giving you a place to sleep for free.

WHEN

As said before, when you are looking for a room, it's strongly suggested to come in Rome as soon as you can, possibly in the summer (June, July or August) when all the students use to leave their old rooms to find a new one in September.

To find a room in September is not impossible but for sure it's going to be much more stressful and chaotic, since thousands of students are in a desperate search for ANY kind of accomodation.

HOW

First thing you should try is to check our PROGETTO CASA page on this website that is our work (as volunteers!) to help Erasmus students to find an house in Rome. Remember that since is just available for Erasmus students, if you want to see it you need to be registered in our association (that means to come in our office at Sapienza university) and then we will unblock your account on our website. We have many announcements of people who wants to rent a room just to Erasmus students (most of the times because they don't want to rent a room for more than an year). If you are still in your country probably you have received from the Internation Relationship Office of Sapienza university a "common account" with a specified username and password to let you access anyway to the PROGETTO CASA page. If not just send an email to Questo indirizzo e-mail è protetto dallo spam bot. Abilita Javascript per vederlo. with your Name, Surname, Country and University in your country.

Then another good way would be to go every day at the Sapienza university campus and check constantly the people who put ads to rent a house up on the boards, usually they are students like you who are looking for a housemate, so talk with them and make an appointment to see the house.

In the meanwhile check every Tuesday and Friday the most famous ads newspaper called "PORTAPORTESE" where you can find hundreds of ads.

Be sure to buy it early in the morning cause that's what all the students do to be the first people to "catch" the house, if you're late it's likely that when you'll call the ads' contacts they will tell you the room is already taken.

Then check these ads websites:

• www.easystanza.it (rate: 8/10)
• www.bakeca.it (rate: 7/10)
• www.wantedinrome.com (in english, rate: 6/10)
• www.portaportese.it (rate: 6/10)
  
• www.affitto.it (rate: 6/10)
  
• www.affittistudenti.it (rate: 6/10)
• www.affittaroma.it (old ads, rate: 6/10)

For long term room swap check these websites:

• www.smilexchange.eu
  
• www.casaswap.com

You don't know well Italian yet and you are not sure of what to write on your house request ad? The following "standard house request ad" could help you:

"Ciao!

Cerco urgentemente una camera singola/doppia nelle zone [THE ZONES YOU PREFER] per 1 anno/6 mesi. Vorrei spendere intorno ai [YOUR BUDGET] euro. Sono uno studente Erasmus dalla [YOUR COUNTRY]. Sono una persona simpatica/socievole/tranquilla/responsabile/fumatore/non fumatore.

Il mio numero di telefono è [YOUR PHONE NUMBER] e la mia email è [YOUR EMAIL].

Grazie per l'attenzione,

[YOUR NAME]"

The translation goes like:

"Hi!

I urgently looking for a single/double room in the zones [THE ZONES YOU PREFER] for 1 year/6months. I'd like to spend around [YOUR BUDGET] euros. I'm an Erasmus student from [YOUR COUNTRY]. I'm a nice/friendly/relaxed/responsible/smoker/non smoker person.

My phone number is [YOUR PHONE NUMBER] and my email is [YOUR EMAIL].

Thanks for you attention,

[YOUR NAME]"

WHERE

Here is a table that shows with prices and rates (in decimals) the different characteristics of the various zones of Rome closest to Sapienza University. Remember that you probably would enjoy more to live in an average student area than just a pretty one!

Here is a brief description of all the most popular student areas in Rome, more or less in order of preference:

Piazza Bologna. Probably the best student area, full of students and quite elegant. Very well connected by metro and buses.
Average Prices: Single Room, 400-500 e.; Bed in a Double Room: 300-350 e.

San Lorenzo. Known as the most "student area", full of pubs and nightlife. Well connected by tram and bus.
Average Prices: Single Room, 400-500 e.; Bed in a Double Room: 300-350 e.

Pigneto. Known as one of the most "typical" roman areas. Well connected by tram.
Average Prices: Single Room, 350-450 e.; Bed in a Double Room: 250-350 e.

Castro Pretorio. It's the zone between Termini station (stazione Termini) and the National Library (Biblioteca Nazionale). Very touristic but quiet. Very well connected to university and city centre by metro and bus.
Average Prices: Single Room, 350-450 e.; Bed in a Double Room: 250-350 e.

Manzoni/Merulana/Cavour/Rione Monti. One of the best areas to live in Rome. In the heart of the city, very well connected with metro and buses and also you can manage to find a not expensive room.
Average Prices: Single Room, 350-450 e.; Bed in a Double Room: 250-350 e.

Trastevere. Probably the most beautiful area in Rome of all. Typical and full of life, tourists and pubs. Close to the city centre though is far away from the Sapienza university.
Average Prices: Single Room, 500-600 e.; Bed in a Double Room: 350-450. e.

Termini/Piazza Vittorio. It's the zone between Termini station and Piazza Vittorio.  It uses to be cheap because there are many immigrants but it's safe and nice. Very well connected to university and city centre by metro and bus.
Average Prices: Single Room, 300-450 e.; Bed in a Double Room: 250-300 e.

San Giovanni/Re di Roma/Furio Camillo/Ponte Lungo. Very busy area, many students but since the area is very big they are a bit spread out. Well connected by metro, tram and bus.Average Prices: Single Room, 350-500 e.; Bed in a Double Room: 250-350 e.

Tiburtina/Casal Albertone (till Blockbuster). Very busy area, lots of shops, well connected by bus but not so close to metro stations (the closest is Tiburtina metro station) and far away from trams.
Average Prices: Single Room, 350-450 e.; Bed in a Double Room: 250-350 e.

Prenestina (till Largo Preneste). A bit far away but cheap since there are quite alot of immigrants. Very big area, well connected by trams.
Average Prices: Single Room, 300-400 e.; Bed in a Double Room: 200-300 e.

Other areas that are a bit far away but possibily cheaper are: Centocelle, the rest of Tiburtina, the rest of Prenestina, Casilina, Furio Camillo, Monti Tiburtini, San Paolo, etc.

Courses

To understand when and where will be your courses of your university in Rome could be the most difficult and fun experience of your life!

First of all GO BUY THE "GUIDA DELLO STUDENTE"!

It's a book published each year with all the main infos about all the courses of the Sapienza university. Together with the Guida dello Studente you'll receive the GAS (Guida Agenda degli Studenti) that is another book with all the expiry dates, suggestions, procedures, etc.

You find it at the "Economato", an office inside the campus of Sapienza (close to Viale Regina Elena entrance), open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 till 12 am, and on Tuesday and Thursday from 12 till 2 pm.

Then next step if you still going desperate needs to be C. I. A. O. (Centro Informazioni Accoglienza e Orientamento that is Information Welcome and Orientation Center, to view their webpage in italian CLICK HERE) and most important your R. A. E. F. (see below).

If you still have problems with your courses then you can send an email to Luciano Saso (luciano.saso@uniroma1.it), the Erasmus Institutional coordinator of Sapienza.

Erasmus Office in Your Faculty for SUBSCRIPTION and HELP (R. A. E. F.)

The Erasmus Office in your faculty (called R. A. E. F. that stands for Responsabile Amministrativo Erasmus di Facolta' that is Erasmus Administrator Responsabile of the Faculty) is where you'll find the people who will subscribe the Erasmus students to their relative Sapienza faculty and that will give you a TUTOR that is the persone who'll help you whenever you have a problem about administration and burocracy in your faculty, like exams, courses, credits, etc.

Here is a list of all the R. A. E. F for each faculty of Sapienza university with their addresses, emails phone numbers and names of all the responsibles:

http://www.uniroma1.it/europrog/eng/engraef.htm

Codice fiscale (important to get a "canteen card")

The "Codice Fiscale" is an alphanumeric code of 16 characters.

It is analog to the Social Security Number in USA, the National Insurance number in UK, the INSEE code in France, etc.

Its primary purpose is to identify in a unanmbiguos way for fiscal purposes all the people who are residents in Italy.

For an Erasmus student the Codice Fiscale is necessary to get the "tessera della mensa" that is the card for the Sapienza university canteens and to open any bank account.

In order to do get a Codice Fiscale you need to go to the main "Agenzia delle Entrate" office that is in the Trastevere area.

This office is for all the people who are still not resident in Rome.

Here all the infos for the Agenzia delle Entrate in Trastevere:

HERE you'll find a map to reach it.

You can get there with the tram No. 3, the closest stop to the Sapienza university is from Piazzale del Verano (the big square in fron of the Verano cemetery).

Tessera della mensa (Canteen card)

After you got a Codice Fiscale (see above), next step will be to get a Tessera della Mensa, that will allow you to go to eat for lunch or dinner in all the Sapienza university canteens.

You will get ir going insidethe De Lollis canteen (that is the main one) in via De Lollis 20 where you need to bring:

- your ID;

- your Codice Fiscale;

- the Erasmus document of your university so that you will be put on the first group of fee that is the cheapest of the total four groups so that you'll pay like just 2 euros for any lunch or dinner with:

- a first dish (usually pasta or soup, etc.)

- a second dish (usually meat or cheese, ham, salami, etc.)

- an appetizer dish (usually salad or mozzarella, etc.)

- a fruit or a fruit juice

2 euros for all of them, all included and the quality usually is quite good.

Canteens

There are in total 5 canteens.

The main 2 canteens are close to the Sapienza university and are the most popular between students.

They are the De Lollis (it's where you made your Tessera della Mensa) and the Castro Laurenziano (also known as Mensa di Economia that is the refectory of the Faculty of Economics because it's just beside it). Usually in De Lollis the food is quite good, the atmosphere is quiet but you easily find a long cue, in Mensa di Economia the food is not better than De Lollis but there's more choice of food and the atmosphere is more funnier and loudier.

The other 3 canteens are in other zones of Rome and you probably won't ever go there: the De Dominicis (it's in front of the Casal Albertone student residence), the Via delle Sette Sale (it's where there's the 2nd Faculty of Engineering) and the Via Ministero degli Affari (it's far away where there's the Olimpico stadium and it's mainly for the students of IUSM).

Phone

One of the first thing you need to do is also buy an Italian sim card for your phone so that you are going to save money for your calls sent and received in Italy. We strongly suggest you to buy it from the phone company called "Wind" because it's actually the most convenient and usually what most of the Erasmus students buy so all the calls would be cheaper. The most convenient phone plan is "Super Senza Scatto" all calls 17 cents per minute counted in seconds without connection charges (other companies usually count per minute pay in advance plus connection charge).

When you get your phone card ask the retailer to include the offer called called "NoiWind" that allows you to have 200 minutes of free calls to any other Wind phone with 6 euros/month (The cost of activation of 7 euros is free if you activate when buying the card).

If you need mobile internet access we also suggest that you ask also for the "Wind Campus" option. This gives you 1000 minutes, 1000 SMS free per month to all the other "wind campus" users plus included 50 monthly hours of internet per 6 months (Costs 5 euros per month, activation 7 euros but free if you ask when getting the card). To use the internet access you need a mobile phone (3g) that can be used as a modem and/or a internet key for your computer.

Transport

There are a lot of ways to move in Rome but be aware that you should never trust the public transport!

The transport society of Rome is ATAC (www.atac.roma.it). Their website can be very useful since you can find all they ways to get from your place to any other place in Rome using public transport. Also you can always get the latest on there about any news about transports (for example when they get more potent for a particular event or when a line change its route or when they all are stopped for strikes or protests).

It is www.atac.roma.it, start to get used with it as soon as possible.

Sometimes get a bit complicated to reach a place cause there are just 2 lines of metro (since anytime they try to dig the ground of Rome to built some new lines they find some annoying archeological stuff!) and buses are always unpredictable.

Anyway it's useful to get an Abbonamento Ridotto Mensile (Discounted Monthly Ticket). You find it in any Giornalaio (Newspaper shop) or Tabaccaio (Tobacco shop).

Remember that for most of the students it costs 30 euros, but for Erasmus students the Monthly Ticket is "Discounted" that means it's gonna cost just 18 euros. To use your discounted Abbonamento you need to always carry the Erasmus document of your university which proves you are an Erasmus student with you.

Scooter

We also recommend you strongly to try to find an "alternative" transport in Rome, that is:

GET A SCOOTER!!!

Most of the students in Rome have a scooter cause a scooter is never late like a bus, it's faster and cool!

If you check in the announcement newspaper "Portaportese" you'll find hundreds of announcements of people selling all kinds of scooters, price for an average one are from 300 till 800 euros.

At the beginning you might be a bit scared driving a scooter among the mad traffic and driving but after a while you'll realize that it will not be just very useful but also fun!

Internet for FREE

If you don't have a computer there are many place at University where you can find some workstastions to surf on internet for free. Usually each faculty has got a Internet Point inside a library and you can access them subscribing to the library demonstrating you belong to that faculty.

Also you can find a "common" Internet Point for all faculties at CATTID inside the Faculty of Sthatistics Science, where you can subscribe bringing a photocopy of the university taxes you paid.

If instead you have a computer you can surf on internet for free using the WI-FI of Sapienza spread all over university just putting for username the email you gave to Sapienza, for password the Student Login Code you received to fill up your on-line Application Form. For more info check http://sapienzawireless.uniroma1.it/

Planes

To get by plane from your country to Rome first of all try to check this italian search engine of low-cost flights called www.zingarate.com, it's made by tourists as well so it has got not any business purpose.

Usually of course Ryanair has the most interesting fares, but sometimes you can manage to find a good alternative.

Once you get by plane to Rome, there are two main airports where you can arrive:

- Fiumicino airport (also known as "Leonardo Da Vinci" airport), the biggest one and it is where usually there are main air companies such as Alitalia, Lufthansa, British Airways, etc. and international flights.

Usually the best and cheapest choose is to take the bus. The cheapest bus company is Terravision. It leaves around every 40 minutes and the ticket is 7 euros for a 1 way trip.  It leaves from Termini train station, in the middle of Via Marsala (HERE), around every hour. For a more exact timetable check their website http://www.terravision.eu. You have to buy the ticket directly on the bus cause they fill it as long as there's people coming. It takes around 1 hour. T

Another option would be to get the "Leonardo Express" train, tough is more expensive. It leaves around every 30 minutes from Termini train station, it takes around 30 minutes and the ticket is 11 euros.

You can also take a bus of the many companies outside the airport which sometimes could cost you less.

- Ciampino airport, that is smaller and it is where there usually are all the low-cost air companies such as Ryanair, Easyjet, Vueling, Wizzair, etc.

Here as well, usually the best and cheapest choose is to take the bus. The cheapest bus company is SIT Bus Shuttle (Ciampino Airport-Rome Termini station 4 euros, Rome Termini station-Ciampino 6 euros).  Its stop is in Termini train station, at the beginning of Via Marsala (HERE), around every hour. For a more exact timetable check http://www.togotorome.com/aeroporti/ciampino/bus_shuttle.html. You have to buy the ticket directly on the bus cause they fill it as long as there's people coming. It takes around 40 minutes. The other bus company is Terravision but is more expensive (ticket is around 10 euros) though you can reserve your ticket through internet (http://www.terravision.eu). You could also choose some other cheaper combinations even tough they could be a bit uncomfortable for the change of transport. The first combination is to take first a train from Termini to Ciampino train station (it leaves every 10 minutes, the trip takes around 15 minutes and the ticket is 1 euro) and then a Cotral bus to Ciampino airport (it leaves earound very 30 minutes just in front of Ciampino train station, the trip takes around  5 minutes and ticket is 1 euro). The second combination is to take the metro A to Anagnina and (ticket is 1 euro) then a Cotral bus to Ciampino airport (it leaves around every 40 minutes just in front of Anagnina metro statin the trip takes around 15 minutes and the ticket is 1 euro).

Partying

Rome is the place to get every kind of wild parties!

Depends of the atmosphere or the music you prefer, the choice is very wide. Here is a list of the best discos, clubs and venue in Rome:
Art Cafe' (disco, Villa Borghese): one of the most popular and trendy discos in Rome. The disco is at Villa Borghese (in the summer it's outdoor in the park) and the atmosphere is quite posh so make sure to be quite elegant dressed (for boys no sneakers and no t-shirt). They always have good djs and the music is kind of house, electro and commercial. Usually it's open just on Friday and the entrance is for free, but you need to be put on a list in advance by some p.r. (try to check internet to fime some). Boys also need to be with girls. Best week day: Friday. Rate: 7/10
La Maison (disco, Piazza Navona): it's another of the most trendy discos in the heart of the city, and as in all trendy discos the rules are always the same: dress elegant, boys with girls and be put on the list in advance. Best week day: Friday. Rate: 7/10
Gilda(disco, Piazza di Spagna): again, trendy disco and one of the most frequented by vips. Best week day: Wednesday. Grade: 7/10
Alpheus (disco, Piramide): very big and frequented club, they have parties or concerts most of the days of the week. Best week day: Tuesday with Marte Live venue. Rate: 7/10
Brancaleone(disco, Nomentana): maybe the best electro disco in Rome, many famous international djs play there, go early because it's always very crowded. Entrance usually is around 10 euros. Best week day: Friday.  Grade 7/10
Rialto(disco, Campo De Fiori): big disco founded on a old school, the music is kind of electro in the main dancefloor and rock, reggae, ska in the other small dancefloor. Entrance usually is around 5 euros. Rate: 8/10 (UPDATE TO SEPTEMBER 2009: unluckily the club seems to be shut down for all the following months :(   )
Circolo degli Artisti (club, Porta Maggiore): recognized as the best alternative and indie club in Rome, they play many great concerts during the week (in the last years they had bands like the Kaiser Chiefs, the Kooks, the Horrors, etc.) and one of the best rock night called Screamadelica where they two dancefloors (the big one is mostly mainstream rock and the smaller one is more alternative rock) plus a very big garden where all the people usually chat, a pizzeria and also a pool. Entrance usually is around 5 euros. On Friday they host a gay night. Best week day: Saturday with Screamadelica venue. Rate: 9/10.
Fish 'n' Chips (venue, Termini): it's maybe the best and most popular indie venue in Rome and it usually takes place on Friday in a club called Radiocafe' and people of the kinds of Pete Doherty, Morrisey or the Horrors have been seen partying there. The atmosphere is very british (they have got a dress code so make sure to be stylished-dressed) and the club is in a cool local "interrato". Check out for their tasty free chips! They have a night also on Tuesday at Micca club (one of the nicest club in Rome, just beside Radiocafe') after some indie concert. Entrance usually is around 7 euros. Best week day: Friday at Radiocafe'. Rate: 8/10
Big Bang (club, Testaccio): it's a rock club surrounded by many discos, they have live concerts and different music nights depending on the week day.Entrance usuallly is around 7 euros. Best week day: Saturday. Rate: 7/10.
L-Ektrica(venue, Testaccio): the name says all, it's a venue of pure electro music and good international djs and it use to be at the Akab club in Testaccio. Entrance usually is around 15 euros. Best week day: Friday. Rate: 7/10.
Locanda Atlantide (club, San Lorenzo): very nice rock club in San Lorenzo, they have live concerts (mainly italian bands) and the music usually is kind of indie, rock'n'roll, rockabilly, ska, etc. Entrance usually is around 5 euros. Best week day: Friday. Grade: 7/10.

Goa (disco, Ostiense): one of the most famous disco in Rome, it's in the famous via Libetta where many other discos are located. On Thursday they host a very good electro-night with international djs. Best week day: Thursday. Rate: 7/10.

QUBE (disco, Largo Preneste): one of the biggest clubs in Rome, a big building divided in 3 floors. On Thursday there is a huge student night. There are concerts on each floor till midnight, usually there's a cover band on the last floor and 2 local bands on the others. If you go before midnight entrance is for free, if you go later is like 5 euros. After midnight the music is like 80s/revival on first floor, italian rock on the second and rock/punk on the third floor. Best week day: Thursday. Grade: 7/10.

And here is a list of nice pubs around Rome to have a beer with friends or an "Aperitivo" (in Rome you will get used to this word very soon!)

Tira Bouchon (San Lorenzo), Hera Hora (San Lorenzo), Zeus (Piazza Bologna), San Callisto (Trastevere), Drunken Ship (Campo De' Fiori), Freni e Frizioni (Trastevere), Friends (Trastevere), Ma Che Cce Siete Venuti a Fa' (Trastevere), etc.

Eating

Here is a list of good restaurants in Rome:
Carlo Menta (Ristorante, Trastevere): one of the most popular, in the heart of romantic Trastevere, great rate of quality/price.
Montecarlo(Pizzeria, Campo de Fiori): typical "roman style" pizza, cheap prices.
Sant'Eustachio (Pantheon): best coffee in Rome.
Pompi (San Giovanni): best tiramusù in Rome.
Il Baffetto (Piazza Navona): good food, cheap price.
Formula Uno (Pizzeria, San Lorenzo): good pizza, cheap prices.
La Mucca Bischera (Ristorante-Bisteccheria, San Lorenzo): good meat, average prices.
Popi Popi(Pizzeria, Trastevere): good pizza, average prices.
Navona Notte (Ristorante, Piazza Navona): good food, cheap prices.
Ivo (Ristorante, Trastevere): good food, cheap prices.

Get a Part-Time Job

If you are looking for a part-time job in Rome there are different ways depending of what you'd ike to do.

To find some ads check Portaportese newspaper and some websites like www.wantedinrome.com (in english), www.bakeca.it, www.portaportese.it .

If you wanna work as a waiter the best would be to go to all the pubs and restaurants and ask if they need help saying that you already have experience as a waiter.

In any case the best areas would be San Lorenzo, Piazza Navona, Campo De' Fiori, Trastevere, Pantheon, etc. because full of tourist who leave good tips ;)

Remember that it will be easier for you in the more touristic areas as usually they are looking for English-speaker people and most of the times they don't mind if you don't speak italian.

If you wanna work as a baby sitter or giving lessons of your own language, etc. the best would be to buy the most popular Roman ads newspaper "Portaportese" and look for any ads you'd like.

IN PROGRESS!

This guide is by Danilo Conti ( Questo indirizzo e-mail è protetto dallo spam bot. Abilita Javascript per vederlo. ).

If you want to publish this article in your website please ask me first. Please send me suggestions or error notifications about this guide.