Assisi, being the home city of Saint Francis, is probably second only to Rome and the Vatican in terms of the density of religious institutions and structures in Italy. Convents & monasteries in Assisi abound to accommodate its pilgrims and visitors.
Featured photo: The view at sunrise on a cool morning from the library of St. Anthony’s Guest House – an Italian convent in Assisi, Italy operated by the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement (Le Suore Americane).
Table of Contents
Convents & Monasteries Series
This is part of a series of ongoing blog posts about Italian convents and monasteries where I have stayed. I will update this page as I get to stay in more religious guesthouses in the future.
Check my main article on staying in convents and monasteries: the pros and cons, and what to expect when considering these accommodations.
Assisi
The city of Assisi, built of Umbrian pink and white stone, attracts various kinds of pilgrims. The desire to pay homage to Saint Francis, and the density of religious and spiritual destinations – second only to Rome – attract the Christian pilgrim.
I took this 360-photo of the cloister behind the basilica after a rainy spring morning.
To view this and other Google StreetView 360 photos in this website:
On mobile phones: View the photo in landscape mode.
On tablets or desktops: The square icon on the upper right corner maximizes or minimizes the photo.
Magnify the view: To zoom in or out, use the + or – sign on the lower right corner.
Move/Rotate the photo: Use your mouse/fingers to drag and rotate the view around or upward-downward.
Meanwhile, the historic and artistic pilgrims and seekers of beauty (aka tourists) are captivated by Assisi’s breathtaking sunrise and sunset landscapes, historical hardscapes and the unparalleled lofty art of Giotto and Cimabue.
A 360-photo inside the Upper Basilica (which I took before I was admonished that taking photos was prohibited!) decorated with vibrant (sometimes fading) frescoes by Cimabue, Giotto, and many other Tuscan artists.
Check this gallery post for more images and 360 photos of scenes from Assisi.
Thankfully, there is not a shortage of lodgings for Assisi’s visitors, whether religious pilgrims or tourists. Among these are guest houses in the convents and monasteries run by the numerous religious orders in the city.
St. Anthony’s Guest House (Casa de Accoglienza Sant’Antonio)
St. Anthony’s Guest House, known locally as Casa de Accoglienza Sant’Antonio, opened in 1931 to serve pilgrims and travelers. It is operated by the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement, also known in Assisi as, Le Suore Americane since the religious society was founded in New York.
Highlights
Sisters Sue and Alessandra were warm, friendly and, being le suore Americane, they spoke English!
St. Anthony’s Guest House is within walking distance to most of the points of interest within the walled town of Assisi. You will only need the bus or taxi if you are going to/from the train station or beyond the walled town.
Basilica of Saint Francis (Basilica di San Francesco d’Assisi) – is a 13-minute, 0.7 mile walk from St. Anthony’s Guest House. Follow this Google maps route.
Basilica of Saint Claire (Basilica di Santa Chiara) – is a 3-minute, 0.1 mile walk. Follow this Google maps route.
There are sitting areas and a library where you can relax, meet other travelers, or just gaze out at the amazing scenes from the big picture windows.
A small room with a single bed, overlooking ancient rooftops and a full view of the Basilica di Santa Chiara. That view almost made up for the room’s teeny tiny ensuite bathroom (an old style European wet room).
Breakfast is served in a 12th-century cellar with groin-vaulted ceilings. Outside, a very nice garden with lots of benches entices you to chill – or contemplate the pretty flowers, and the scenic valley and mountainside views.
My favorite part of this convent: the stunning views of the distant blue mountains, the Umbrian valley below, and the medieval Assisi rooftops and towers. The sights are especially breathtaking at sunrise and sunset.
Lodging Summary for Saint Anthony’s Guest House
| Bed & breakfast rate (single): | €50 in 2018 |
| Distance from city center: | ✅✅✅ (walk everywhere) |
| Breakfast: | ✅ (simple but filling) |
| Wi-Fi: | ✅ (reception office only) |
| Check-in: | from 11:30 am |
| Check-out: | by 9:30 am |
| Curfew: | at 11:00 pm |
| Credit cards: | Yes |
| Luggage storage: | Yes |
| Laundry facility: | Yes |
| Onsite parking: | Yes |
| Elevator: | Yes |
| Ensuite bathroom: | Yes -(wet room) |
| Wardrobe/drawers in room: | Yes |
| Desk/chair in room: | Yes |
LEGEND:
Distance from the city center or main attractions
✅ Must drive or take taxi/multiple bus/train ride
✅✅ Within 30-minute walk or short bus/train ride
✅✅✅ Within 15-minute walk
Breakfast offering
❌ No breakfast offered
✅ Basic: coffee, milk, juice, bread, jams, cereal, fruit
✅✅ Basic plus protein: above plus eggs or some meat
✅✅✅ Sumptuous breakfast buffet
Wi-fi coverage
❌ No Wi-fi
✅ Wi-fi only in common areas
✅✅ Room Wi-fi: adequate
✅✅✅ Room Wi-fi: strong
Contact & Address
Write to Sisters Sue or Alessandra
Email: atoneassisi@tiscali.it
Tel.: (39)075-812542
Website: https://graymoor.org/italy
Address: Via Galeazzo Alessi, 10, 06081 Assisi (PG) Italy
How to get there:
➤ Take the train from Rome, or Florence or other points in Italy – to the Assisi-Santa Maria degli Angeli train station.
➤ From the station, the simplest way to get to the convent is by taxi, especially if you have luggage in tow. This is a 15-minute drive from the valley town of Santa Maria degli Angeli, and up the mountain town of Assisi.
The Sisters will also provide you with written directions for public transportation or by car, once you book a room.
How the St. Anthony’s Guest House building and gate look like (No. 4 on the right):
Related Posts
Wander virtually into Assisi, the hometown of Saint Francis. Check out this gallery of Scenes from Assisi.
You don’t have to be Christian or religious to stay at an Italian convent or monastery. Find out if these safe, economical, and peaceful lodgings are right for you.
Check my post on 10 Italian Words and 6 Survival Phrases for non-Italian Speakers
Sampling Italian cuisine should be part of your Italian travel experience. But, are you ready for the Italian menu challenge? Get help from my post on Lunch & Dinner: Navigating the Italian Restaurant Menu.
Visit the Italy page for more stories and travel tips …
BELLA ITALIA
Fascinating ancient stories.
Practical travel tales and tips.
Let’s go! Andiamo! Abeamus! Vamonos! Tayo Na! Ikimashou!
