Traveler, Rest Thy Body in an Italian Convent or Monastery

Table of Contents

• Convents & Monasteries – Simple Hospitality for Travelers
• Why Stay in an Italian Convent or Monastery?
• Disadvantages of Staying in a Monastery or Convent?
• Some FAQs
• My Convent Booking Checklist?
• Where Have I Stayed?
• Related Posts

Convents & Monasteries – Simple Hospitality for Travelers

During my solo visits to Italy, I sometimes choose to stay in convents or monasteries that are run by religious orders. They offer safe, economical, and peaceful lodgings, often in unique settings.

These days, the terms convent and monastery have become synonymous in modern conversation.

Convents are more common within the Italian cities and they are run by religious orders of sisters or nuns – suore [SWO-reh] in Italian – or priests or friars – sacerdoti [sa-cher-DO-ti], frati [FRA-ti].

Traditionally, a monastery is a place where monks or nuns lived in seclusion as part of their monastic vows. Normally then, you would find monasteries in more remote locations – unless, a city grew around them over the centuries, of course! They are operated by nuns – monache [MO-na-keh] – or monks – monaci [MO-na-chi].

As part of their mission to serve others, the religious societies offer hospitality to pilgrims and travelers. Therefore many Italian convents and monasteries have guesthouses – casa per ferie [KA-sa per fer-yeh] in Italian – that provide simple board and lodging to local and international travelers.

Note that there are some Italian convents or monasteries that have been converted into hotels and are run by private hospitality businesses. While they may retain the architecture and placename of their religious predecessor, they are usually more upscale and charge a little more.

Also note, that certain convents and monasteries open their doors specifically for retreats or spiritual pursuits of religious individuals – who then participate in the daily activities and the work of the monastery or convent.

In this series of blog posts, however, I will focus on the casa per ferie (holiday or vacation lodging) type of accommodations offered in convents or monasteries.

Why Stay in an Italian Convent or Monastery?

Guesthouses run by religious orders offer many advantages:

• It’s more peaceful. At my age, I’d like to avoid the noise of loud music and loud gatherings at night when I’m either trying to concentrate on my writing or trying to sleep.

• They are – often – centrally located or in a walkable central location: a short walk or a longer but scenic one to key attractions.

• They are – often – cheaper than most other accommodations in the same location.

• Religious guesthouses have gardens, even in the middle of the city. This makes them a real refuge – a peaceful place for contemplation or reflection. And during the spring and summer, when the flowers are blooming they help you relax and forget about your aching feet after a long day of sightseeing.

• I feel safe. When traveling solo, I take a lot of precautions and this is one of them. The gates are locked, you have to be buzzed in, and strangers can’t just walk in. 

• They are full of character. They may occupy a historic building, have architectural quirks, and may also be furnished according to those days long gone by. I consider these as part of the unique Italian experience – a momentary escape from our modern century.

Disadvantages of Staying in a Monastery or Convent?

Disadvantages? Well, there are some, but it all depends on what you are willing to sacrifice for the price, location, and peace of mind.

• It’s not the lap of luxury. For a single that goes for €30-60 per night, don’t expect the trappings of a starred hotel. It’s spare, but a lot better than a regular hostel or other B&Bs. Typically, you’ll get a small clean room, a single bed, clean beddings, an adequate wardrobe, a private bathroom with a hairdryer, a desk and a chair, heating or cooling, and a simple breakfast. No room decor except perhaps a crucifix or other religious framed art on the wall.

• Most monasteries or convents have a curfew. If you like staying out late, this could put a crimp in your nightlife. It’s usually 11:00 or 11:30 pm, but I’ve heard of a 10:00 pm curfew in one. Remember that you have to be buzzed in? Well, there will be no one at the reception to buzz you in at the gate after the curfew, so be prepared to sleep elsewhere. 

• Breakfast can be repetitive and/or limited. This is the case with many B&Bs in Italy anyway. The breakfast offerings in the convents or monasteries I’ve stayed in were consistent and could include some or all of the following: coffee, juice, milk, bread, jam, cereals, perhaps some yogurt, and fresh fruit like apples, bananas, or oranges. Rarely will there be any eggs or meat – but this is true of most Italian breakfasts.

• Wi-fi could be limited, flaky or non-existent. While there are some religious guesthouses that do offer good wi-fi, many have not seen fit to keep up with the technology. They either have weak wi-fi coverage, or only have it in the common areas (not in the bedrooms), or don’t have it at all. Since I’m a blogger, good wi-fi is essential. So I usually come prepared to avoid the issue altogether.

• Some only take cash. Many do accept credit cards and some don’t. Make sure to inquire what form of payment they accept when you book your accommodation.

Some FAQs

My Convent Booking Checklist?

When I inquire about a room at a religious guesthouse, I have a different expectation about amenities. Keep in mind: these places will be spare, so I focus on the following items:

• What’s the nightly bed & breakfast rate? (Check if there is an optional rate for without breakfast so you can get your breakfast elsewhere in case you really need protein to start your day, or you need daily variety in what you eat). Also, see NOTE about city taxes below.
• Is a deposit required?
• Access to public transportation, and distance from the city center or main attractions.
• Curfew time in addition to check-in and check-out time.
• Breakfast offering?
• Is there Wi-fi coverage in the room?
• Does the room have a private ensuite bathroom?
• Is there a desk and chair inside the room?
• Is there a wardrobe or clothes drawer?
• Will they store my luggage if I arrive before check-in time or depart after check-out time?
• Are there laundry facilities in or near the guest house?
• Is there an elevator?

NOTE: Italian cities impose a tourist “city tax” on top of the nightly rate, and it varies by city and type of accommodation (ranges from €0.50-€4.00 per person per night) – including religious guesthouses. Usually, the city tax is collected separately, and you could be asked to pay it in cash. Some places I have stayed in, include it in their rate – while others don’t. Double-check your booking details to ensure you don’t pay it twice.

Where Have I Stayed?

In this series of posts, I will share information about the Italian convents and monasteries where I have personally stayed.

Check out my posts on places I’ve stayed in Assisi, Cortona, Firenze, and Urbino. I will update this list with additional places as I experience them in the future.

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