a student’s introduction to the CITTÀ DELL’AMORE

Welcome to Verona! This guide is given to you as a little help at the beginning of your adventure in Verona. It is all about the life outside the Conservatorio as you are certainly going to know the school very well.

ACCOMMODATION: how do I get a place to stay?
Verona offers a quite big private rental market, and access channels are well developed. Single or shared bedrooms are equally common. Single rooms are the best value-for-money although you pay less for a shared room.

Millennium Residence (Viale Venezia close to Porta Vescovo).
Very social international students residence 20 minutes on foot to the Conservatorio.
Approximately 160 Euros/month in a shared bedroom. Single rooms are also available. You should contact the residence for more price information as their pricelist on internet refers to shorter stays.
http://www.residencemillennium.com/

www.easystanza.it
Create your own profile with your personal preferences and wishes. Matching profiles will contact you and you will also get informed about profiles matching your own. Very easy and efficient.

www.bachecaunivr.it
Webpage for the University of Verona. New announcements are added daily. You could post your own announcement.

You will also see a lot of real estate/renting agencies offering rental apartments. An agency will provide you with an apartment within a day or two, but be aware of their fees. They usually charge you one month of rent.
Most of the ads in the local newspapers lead to real estate/renting agencies

Which area to choose?

Centro storico - Historical centre
If you want to live out the “romantic Italian dream” with busy streets, shopping, restaurants, great architecture, lively piazzas, Italian ice-cream, balconies (Juliet’s balcony) etc, the Centro Storico is YOUR choice. Living in the Centro Storico you are close to everything and independent on public transport which is a huge advantage, especially if you wish to have a break at home during the day. You save both time and money living in the centre although the housing prices are higher.

Borgo Trento
Just across Ponte Garibaldi or Ponte Vittoria from Centro Storico you enter Borgo Trento. Borgo Trento is maybe the most wealthy and safe neighbourhood in Verona. Less traffic and a lot of trees in spacious streets makes this area very attractive and comfortable. In Borgo Trento you find all you need, cafes, wine-shops, supermarkets, hair-dressers, training centres etc. The area is populated by many old people and young families and is definitely not Verona’s student hub, though it is recommended due to its closeness to the city centre and its true comfort..

Veronetta, Zona Università, Piazza Isolo and Via XX Settembre area
You find this area crossing Ponte Navi or Ponte Nuovo. This area is widely populated by students because the university is also situated here. It is characterized by this, and it has a good and active night life. The area is more chaotic, but has a lively atmosphere with its large population of immigrants.

Borgo Milano
This area is beyond Borgo Trento, 30 minutes by foot to the Conservatory. Borgo Milano is part of the more industrial Verona. There are many big shops and supermarkets. Heavy traffic during the whole day.

Borgo Venezia
Situated near Porta Vescovo, Borgo Venezia is a young, cosy and lively neighbourhood. To go to the conservatory a bike or taking the bus is convenient.

Borgo Roma
Maybe the most distant part of Verona, but you can find really cheap accommodation. Here you will get the true suburb feeling finding a mix of immigrants and working class people.

Map of Verona: http://www.italy-map.net/maps/map_verona.php

Getting an Italian mobile phone number
The biggest companies on the market are VODAFONE, WIND and TIM.
Prepaid refill cards are by far the most common way to pay for mobile phoning and it creates less bureaucratic work than getting a contract.
Prices are changing continuously so it is impossible to say anything about the current situation. The differences between the companies shouldn’t be big.
Refill cards are sold in tobacco shops, Tabaccheria, and in mobile phone shops. After closing time you can buy credit at the self service tobacco dispensers outside certain tobacco shops.

Bank account
If you don’t have special needs I don’t recommend getting an Italian bank account. Italian banks are very expensive and they have extremely restrictive card policies. As a student your credibility is low in an Italian bank.

Lago di Garda
Living only 25 kilometres from Italy’s biggest lake you will have great opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. The lake can be reached by train, by bus, by car or by bike. Lake Garda offers a huge amount of activities varying within the seasons. One can only encourage all visiting students to go there and discover for themselves.

Outdoors
As you will notice after a while Verona is actually situated at the foot of the Dolomites which further on lead into the Alps. The hills (Torricelle) inside the city mark in fact the end of the Po plain. North of Verona (Valpolicella, Lessinia) you will find some of the most beautiful nature in the world. It is easy to get out there by bike.

Skiing in the Alps
With the Dolomites only a two hours ride from Verona the possibility to ski at 3000m above sea level should not be missed. You will never forget a hot and sunny day in the Italian mountains.
There is a snowboard shop at the beginning of Via Mameli, just across Ponte Garibaldi, called DETOUR. They arrange ski trips to various ski-resorts every Sunday from November through March departing 06:30 in the morning taking you directly to the ski lift.
Prices: Bus transport with refreshments -1 trip 20 Euros, or 4 trips for 60 Euros.
Ski pass - 25 or 30 Euros.
The shop offers ski rental.

NB! Book your seat before Saturday or even earlier because the bus fills up quite fast.

Getting around in Verona
Buses: Verona’s public transport system, buses, is scarce but OK. Buses run neither often nor during late/early hours and they are often not on time.
Taxis: Verona is equipped with few taxies and few taxi spots. Taxi are also quite expensive, especially during weekends and late/early hours. A ten-minute ride costs around 9-15 Euros. You book a taxi when you need it by calling 045 532666
Bikes: Going around by bicycle is without question the best way but beware of crazy Italian drivers. Bike robberies are unfortunately very common in Verona. Get yourself a potent lock and don’t leave your bike outside during the night.

Getting around in Italy
Train tickets in Italy are among the cheapest in Europe, and from Verona you can reach many cities in just few hours. Verona has a very strategically good position for tourism in the region only 2 hours from Milano and 2 hours in the other direction to Venezia
Prices vary a lot depending on what kind of train you choose to take. Here is an example of Verona- Venezia: Eurostar: 14 Euro; Intercity: 13.50 Euro; Eurocity: 11.50; (Inter)Regionale: 6.15 Euro.
Find train times at: www.trenitalia.it

Some Italian airline companies
www.meridiana.it
www.alpieagles.it
www.volawindjet.it
www.alitalia.it
www.myair.com

Concerts
The most important venues in Verona are Teatro Filarmonico, Teatro Nuovo, Sala Maffeiana and The Arena during summer. There are some concert series and other concerts in too. At the Teatro Filarmonico they arrange every September a festival with prominent guests and orchestras. Tickets are quite cheap and you could also buy subscription.
Have your eyes open! Many good concerts aren’t well promoted. Other cities near to Verona (Padova, Mantova Modena etc) offer a lot of good concerts.
Two useful websites: http://www.amicidellamusicaverona.it; http://www.accademiafilarmonica.org/.

Good tips
- Zecchini – a big music shop on Corso Porta Nuova. As a student at the Conservatorio you should get discounts.
- Fa-re Musica – shop for sheet music and accessories on Vicolo Miracoli (near Via Roma)
- Ristorante Ponte Navi – very good and cheap restaurant literally on Ponte Navi
- The “Mensa” at the University. Get your ESU card and buy lunch for 2-3 euros.
- Zanchi bici – good bicycle shop on Corso Cavour
- La boutique del gelato – Verona’s best ice cream! Via Carlo Ederle near Piazza Vittorio Veneto in Borgo Trento. Don’t leave Verona without a taste of this ice cream!
- Torricelle – There are some hiking possibilities on the hills above Verona.
- There is a public swimming pool on Viale Colonello Galliano; and another in Via Santini

Important emergency numbers
Police 112
Fire brigade 115
Ambulance 118

And above all…. ENJOY YOUR STAY!