Convents & Monasteries – Assisi

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.

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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.

Basilica of St. Francis - enveloped in morning mist. Assisi, Italy.
Basilica of St. Francis – enveloped in morning mist. Assisi, Italy.

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:
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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.

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St. Anthony’s Guest House (Casa de Accoglienza Sant’Antonio)

Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: The entrance to St. Anthony's Guest House.
Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: The entrance to St. Anthony’s Guest House.

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!

Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: The reception area of St. Anthony's Guest House.
Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: The reception area of St. Anthony’s Guest House.

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.

Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: Basilica di Santa Chiara at sunrise. It is a stone's throw from St. Anthony's Guest House.
Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: Basilica di Santa Chiara at sunrise. It is a stone’s throw from St. Anthony’s Guest House.

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.

Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: The sitting room with a view of Basilica di Santa Chiara at St. Anthony's Guest House.
Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: The sitting room with a view of Basilica di Santa Chiara at St. Anthony’s Guest House.
Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: The library at St. Anthony's Guest House.
Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: The library at St. Anthony’s Guest House.
Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: This sitting area in St. Anthony's Guest House is furnished with characterful period pieces.
Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: This sitting area in St. Anthony’s Guest House is furnished with characterful period pieces.
Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: La Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore (foreground, left) viewed from the sitting room of St. Anthony's Guest House.
Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: La Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore (foreground, left) viewed from the sitting room of St. Anthony’s Guest House.

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).

Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: A simple single room at St. Anthony's Guest House.
Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: A simple single room at St. Anthony’s Guest House.

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.

Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: An even more spectacular sunrise on my 2nd day at St. Anthony's Guest House.
Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: An even more spectacular sunrise on my 2nd day at St. Anthony’s Guest House.
Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: The Assisi skyline at sunset viewed from St. Anthony's Guest House.
Convents & Monasteries in Assisi: The Assisi skyline at sunset viewed from St. Anthony’s Guest House.

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):

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For a complete list of sources and resources used on this webpage, please see the References page.


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