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Religious Stay in Italy - has anyone tried booking through this site?

My daughter and I are doing a Rick Steves Heart of Italy tour in June. We've never been to Italy and are so excited. We are flying in and out of Rome and have a few days before and after the tour. We are on a budget and are looking at trying to stay at some Monasteries/Convents in Rome, Venice and possibly Assisi, etc. We are open to any suggestions for locations :-).
I have looked at Monastery Stays website and read some on this forum. It sounds like it is a good way to go. I also have looked at the Religious Stay in Italy site that looks a little more "figure it out on your own."
Any thoughts or suggestions on how to book these places and where to venture off to from Rome for a first-time trip would be so appreciated! I am so thankful that most of the time we'll be on the tour!

Thank you!

Posted by
3961 posts

I am not familiar with Monasteries/Convents in Rome, but we have booked a stay at Hotel Due Torri. It's a former "palace" where Cardinals lived. It has 26 rooms, centrally located, quiet and steps from Piazza Navona and other major sites. Not knowing your budget we felt the pricing is reasonable for Rome. In the past we paid at least $75 more a night in the Termini area. We wanted to be centrally located this time. Great reviews on this Forum and Booking.com. We booked directly with the hotel website for a better price.

I have heard of a "former Monastery" in Venice that RS tours have stayed. The name escapes me right now. Maybe someone will chime in?

Hope you can find what you are looking for. ;)

Posted by
11294 posts

I'm not sure if you're looking at convents for religious reasons, budgetary reasons, or both.

If you're looking for less expensive accommodations in Rome that don't have to be convents, here's a good list from EuroCheapo. Note that not all of their listings are "cheap." https://www.eurocheapo.com/rome/

The Casa di Santa Brigida is indeed nice, but it's extremely popular and has been for many years, so yesterday is not too soon to try get a room there!

Posted by
98 posts

This is a fabulous "convent/Guest house" in Assisi. The nuns are US/Canadian and speak English. The rooms are well appointed and if you can get a room on the west side you look out over the Basilica of St Clare and can sit on a balcony, sip wine and watch the sun set over the Umbrian hills. When we were there you could buy a lovely bottle of wine from a cupboard in the general reception area;
You can book through Monastery Stays - UMA 119
Suore Francescane dell'Atonement St. Anthony's Convent American Hospice

Posted by
2618 posts

We stayed only in places we booked thru monasteystays.com. I would not stay anywhere else. Venice and Florence certainly had English speaking people at the desk. I’m not sure about the others because my wife speaks Italian.

We stayed at Istituto Beata Angelina in Assisi - right across from the St. Francis Basilica. Our room looked out on the church - WHAT A VIEW

Rome - Casa Maria Immacolata
Venice - Istituto San Giuseppe - great location between Rialto and San Marco
Florence - Casa per Ferie .... Borga Pinti - cab driver said it was the best location in Florence, a couple of blocks from the Duomo

Posted by
400 posts

I didn't know about this option! Thanks to all for sharing

Posted by
22 posts

Thank you so very much! So helpful! My daughter and I are really looking forward to our trip and going to look into Monastery stays.

Posted by
274 posts

My wife and I stayed at Casa Il Rosario in the Monti district of Rome in Summer 2019, run by Dominican nuns. Close to Colosseum and Roman Forum, and easy walk most places. Bus stop to go to Vatican is a couple of blocks away. We arrived in Rome by train and were able to walk to Il Rosario in 15 minutes. Many nearby restaurants. Peaceful. Large room. Wi-Fi in our room was little weak, but usable. Note that one needs to be back by midnight each night. I booked directly on their web site. http://www.casailrosarioroma.it/index.php/en/