Words and photos by Anika Woelffer, our Jetsetter Journalist who is studying abroad in Sorrento, Italy, during Spring semester 2024.
When studying abroad, it's super important to consider what housing option is best for you. In Sorrento, at Sant’Anna Institute, they offer three choices of places to live. They have dorms, apartments, and homestays. I am in the dorms and I love it, but there are pros and cons to all of the options!
For starters, Sant’Anna offers single, double, and triple dorm rooms. There’s space for roughly 75 people to live in the dorms. It is conveniently located in the same building as the classrooms and there's a common kitchen, study rooms, and laundry. Living in the dorms is a great option if you don't mind sharing a room, plus you can just walk downstairs to your classes. You are also steps from Marina Grande, which is one of the marinas in Sorrento. It offers a beautiful view of the ocean and the action of the local fisherman. The dorms also have a garden with lots of lemon and orange trees plus a library and gym area.
I love living in the dorms because everything I need is just steps away from my bed! Not to mention, living in the dorms allows you to meet so many people! It's easy to make friends when cooking dinner or sitting on the balcony. Besides it being a great location for going to class, it’s also a great location in Sorrento. I’m surrounded by many restaurants and bars, and it’s not even a 10-minute walk from the main strip.
Even though there are many pros to living in the dorms, there are also some cons. For starters, the shared areas can get super messy, especially the kitchen. It's your responsibility to do the dishes and a lot of the time people won't do them. This can get frustrating when trying to keep a clean and hygienic space.
I highly recommend living in the dorms if you prefer convenience when it comes to classes and easily meeting a bunch of people.
Apartments are also a great option if you don't mind walking 10-15 minutes to class every day and you might get lucky and get your room. There are many different apartment options in Sorrento, but the placement is random, so each option is unique! While the dorms are single, double, or triple occupancy, the apartments could be anywhere from 4-6 people. Apartments may have families living in them or other students, but it's a much quieter environment compared to the dorms. You will also have your own kitchen and living space which will be easier to keep clean and you won't have to share with 75+ people like in the dorms. Living in the apartments will give you a more independent feel of what life is like living in Sorrento and it's definitely a cool experience! Not to mention they are all conveniently located around the center of Sorrento, so it's quicker to get to the grocery stores, markets, pharmacies, and restaurants.
Lastly, you can choose a homestay! I don't know much about the homestay option, but from what I've heard it's an incredible experience. You are placed with a family who lives in Sorrento and you get a single room. There's also the option to have roommates so not only will you get your room, but someone who goes to Sant’Anna with you! The host family provides breakfast for you as well as laundry. This is a great option if you want to fully immerse yourself while living abroad because you'll be living with locals! You'll also learn a lot about Italy including the language and the true culture of what it's like living in Southern Italy, which is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Depending on the host family, you might learn how to make different dishes, know the best spots to go to, and find a deeper appreciation of the culture.
To conclude, all living options are an incredible experience and you will learn so much about Sorrento no matter where you stay. It truly is a personal choice based on your needs and, although I'm a little biased since I live in the dorms, take what I say with a grain of salt! Everyone I've talked to has loved their experience in all three places and in the end, it's about what you value personally!
Above are some images of the dorms so you can get a better idea of what they are like, but you can also visit https://www.santannainstitute.com/housing/ to find more information on all three options!