If you are on Erasmus (or another mobility experience) in Perugia, there is a time of the year when the city completely changes: the streets and squares of the historic centre fill with the smell of cocoa, stands, installations and people arriving from all over Italy and half of Europe.

This is Eurochocolate, the International Chocolate Festival, which in 2025 returns to the heart of Perugia from 14 to 23 November with the theme “La Festa tra le Nuvole” (“The Party in the Clouds”). Entry is free and the festival takes place between Piazza Italia, Corso Vannucci, Piazza della Repubblica, Via Mazzini and the surrounding streets in the city centre.

For ESN Perugia, this is one of those events every international student should highlight in their calendar.

Why international students should go to Eurochocolate

1. It’s the best way to feel Perugia as “home”, not just “the place where your university is”

During Eurochocolate, Perugia shows one of its strongest identities: that of a chocolate city, known all over the world for Baci Perugina and for this very festival. The squares you walk through every day to go to class become the stage for one of the most anticipated events of the year.

Experiencing it in person means truly stepping into the cultural life of the city, not staying an external spectator.

2. It’s an intercultural experience… with a taste of cocoa

Eurochocolate brings to Perugia:

  • chocolate producers from different Italian regions and various countries;

  • stands dedicated to countries in the equatorial area, where cocoa is grown;

  • events and activities on sustainability, cocoa supply chains, and chocolate-related traditions around the world.

For an international student it’s a living lab of interculturality: you can talk to people from different backgrounds, discover stories and products you’ve never tried before, and compare how chocolate is experienced in different countries.

3. It’s perfect for making new friends (even outside ESN)

The festival attracts a huge number of visitors: students, families, tourists, locals. Queues at the stands, tastings and installations in the squares become natural opportunities to:

  • chat with other international students,

  • get to know Italian students better,

  • grow your network of contacts in an organic way.

If you’re a bit shy or struggle to enter groups, Eurochocolate is the ideal environment: you always have something to talk about (“have you tried this?”, “where are you from?”, “do you have anything similar in your country?”).

4. It’s full immersion in the Italian language and habits

You walk among the stands, read signs, listen to music, hear people talking: Italian is everywhere, but in a relaxed and enjoyable context.

You can:

  • train your listening skills,

  • try ordering in Italian,

  • learn expressions related to food and everyday life,

  • observe how Italians experience a big public event.

It’s a much more fun way than a frontal lesson to improve your language skills and better understand the culture.

5. It becomes part of your Erasmus memories

When you go back home and talk about your time in Perugia, Eurochocolate will probably be one of the first memories you mention:

  • photos with chocolate installations,

  • the crowds on Corso Vannucci,

  • the “weird” things you tasted for the first time,

  • the laughter with people you might have met only a few days earlier.

These are identity-building moments: they make you feel part of the city, not just a temporary guest.

And what about the event itself? Some practical info on Eurochocolate 2025

To give you a bit of context, here’s what you should know about this year’s edition:

  • Dates: from 14 to 23 November 2025 (10 days of festival).

  • Theme: “La Festa tra le Nuvole” (“The Party in the Clouds”), with installations and activities inspired by the world of clouds… made of chocolate, of course.

  • Where: in the historic centre of Perugia (Piazza Italia, Corso Vannucci, Piazza della Repubblica, Via Mazzini and nearby streets).

  • Entrance: free, there is no ticket needed to access the festival areas.

In the official programme you will find:

  • the Chocolate Show with dozens of stands and producers;

  • workshops and guided tastings (Choco Lab, Cerimonia del Cacao, etc.);

  • spaces like Eurochocolate World, dedicated to cocoa-producing countries;

  • entertainment moments, talks, and activities for both adults and children.

How this fits into your Erasmus journey

Even though Eurochocolate is not an event organised by ESN, for us it remains:

  • a fixed point in the city calendar,

  • something we always recommend to anyone coming to Perugia for a study period,

  • a perfect moment to enjoy with the friends you met at ESN events.

The suggestion is simple:

use Eurochocolate as an opportunity to put into practice everything you’ve been building so far with your Erasmus
– relationships, language skills, curiosity – and to feel even more part of the Perugian community.

Keep an eye on ESN Perugia’s channels: in the months leading up to the festival we’ll share tips, useful info and some local hacks to help you enjoy Eurochocolate 2025 to the fullest. In the meantime, one thing is certain:

If you’re in Perugia in November, Eurochocolate is not an “if I have time”, it’s a “can’t miss it”.