Kerrey Brennan

by Kerrey Brennan

Don’t let the small-town exterior fool you. When nighttime comes, there is plenty to do in Paderno del Grappa, Italy.

In between travel days and group projects, a student studying at the Consortium International University may need a night of relaxation. Past and present students have revealed their favorite spots.

"I was pleasantly surprised at how much there was to do," said Laura Sarno, University of Kansas junior.

There are two local hotspots in the heart of Paderno. First is the Orchidea, a pizzeria owned by a local family, a five-minute walk from the campus.

"I like to go there and just relax and mingle with my fellow classmates," said Jacob Hammans, Iowa State University junior. "It’s the perfect hangout."

Hammans’ favorite aspect about the Orchidea is its employees. He said they are energetic and accepting of American culture. Hammans just recently made friends with Stephani, an Orchidea employee, and ended up dancing with her half the night.

"Those will be some pictures I’ll cherish forever," said Hammans.

Jay Wortmann, University of Lincoln in Nebraska senior, likes the Orchidea for other reasons.

"I just can’t get enough of that pizza," said Wortmann.

After trying the Pizzaca, a pizza topped with spiced ham and cream cheese, Wortmann was hooked. If that doesn’t sound appealing, don’t worry. Orchidea has more than 40 types of pizza to choose from.

The second hotspot in Paderno is La Piazza, a local café located next door to Banca Intessa (the nearby bank). Tim Davey, University of Kansas junior, said one of the most appealing things about the café is the distance, right across the street from the campus. Davey said he likes trying to speak Italian with the locals. When language failed, Davey said, they were always able to act it out.

"Half the fun is when you try to communicate," said Davey. "It takes a lot of gestures sometimes, but, in the end, it’s just a good laugh."

If you’re ready to dance, you can visit Cassanova, a dance club in Venice, only an hour's train ride from Paderno. Gina Perotti, West Virginia University senior, said it was just what she needed. The floor was packed, and the music was loud and upbeat. The Cassanova is open from 11 p.m. to six in the morning.

"We stayed up all night dancing and then just took the 6 a.m. train home," said Perotti. "It was like a really loud hostel."

If you are an aspiring salsa dancer, Giuseppe Verdi Pub, in Crespano, offers salsa lessons every Wednesday night, starting at 10 p.m. Bridget Eldridge, Virginia Tech junior, said it was the most fun she has had since she has been to Paderno.

"You just stand in a big cluster, the man on the stage will do a step, and you just do what he does," said Eldridge.

Eldridge found out about the bar at www.landnet.it. This is a Web site created by Alberto, CIU’s daytime gate attendant. The Web site is intended to provide assistance to guests of Paderno del Grappa. It is packed with other exciting things to do while studying at the university.

As much as they love a night on the town, all of the students agreed that a quiet movie night at the dorms was ideal every once in a while.