Hi from Australia, we are interested in staying in a convent for 2 nights in June 2001. We don't mind the curfews, but I am having difficulty booking/finding any on the net. I did find a site, www.italyguide.it, which does have convent bookings, but I have received no answers. <BR>Can anyone recommend a convent in Rome. <BR>Cheers.

Hi Kimerley, <BR>My sister and I tried that on our last trip. It's a pain! I can't remember how we got a list of convents - I recommend going to Barnes & Noble and sitting down and leafing through books like "Rick Steves Travels in Italy/Rome" or his "Cheap Sleeps in Italy," There are also some articles on the web about it, try searching under "Rome convents tourism" or something. Anyway, some have fax numbers, most you have to call. We had someone who spoke Italian call about 8 for us over a period of about 2 weeks - and we faxed about 4 - and they were all booked. (This was a good 6 months in advance.) I got a "letter template" for requesting a room in Italian off a website - I think it was www.initaly.com" and typed up these great letters, and faxed it to everyone. Anyway, it sounds like a great experience, but I think it's a some extra work. Good luck! Hope you can find some!

Kimerley, check out the book "The Guide to Lodging in Italy's Monasteries" by Eileen Barish - it list 12 sites for accomodations in Rome. They also have a website www.monasteriesofitaly.com which is really just chapters of the book. Also, call your local Ctholic diocese - they may be able to help you get some addresses for orders of sisters with houses in Italy. Good luck!

Kimberley: <BR> <BR>I just called Fraterna Domus this morning and made reservations for myself, adult daughter and two granddaughters for March 2001. The first call I made was answered by a sister who had difficulty with English and she asked that I call back later when an English speaking sister could help me. <BR>The rooms, (double) which do have a bathroom, cost 110,000 lira per night, with curfew at 11 PM. The also have dinner, which cost around $12. USD. <BR>My husband and I stayed there last March for 3 nights and found the location perfect and our accomodations were excellent. <BR>Telephone number is: 06/68802727 <BR>If you need more info, read Lodging in Italy's Monoasteries by Eileen Barish. <BR> <BR> <BR>

Many thanks for your help. We will keep trying!

On a recent episode of Getaway, Catriona Rowntree stayed at a convent in Rome. Look the story up on their website, you can find it via www.ninemsn.com.au <BR>Kay

Yes, just a few weeks ago I was in Rome and spent four great nights with the Sisters of Santa Brigida, at their second location in Rome, on Via della Isola. It is about two miles further up from Termini (look for the Villa Pagnini on your map), but once you figure out the buses, it's a total breeze. The phone number is listed in Cheap Sleeps in Italy, but if you have trouble finding it, e mail me and I can bring the info for you from home. We wanted to stay in their #1 location, which is right in the Campo di Fiori area, but they were booked. If you call now for next summer, you should have no trouble getting that preferred location. It is a little hard to arrange for, but if you go with the Isola location, call at 9 am local Rome time, and ask for Sister Patricia--she speaks beautiful English. The rooms were small but immaculate, the sisters so dear, and the only "bad" thing is that they have a bell that rings at 7 a.m. to call the sisters to mass, but we were up everyday by then anyway. The best part? It is only like $80 US per room, so it was a great bargain. I totally loved it and would do it again. P.S. I love Oz too. No worries, mate, you will have a great time in Roma.

Also, Santa Brigida had no curfew--you get a key to the big gate, and you come and go as you please.

Thanks all. Santa Brigida is booked out already for July 2001! <BR>Kay, have attempted three times to contact the convent shown on Getaway, no luck. Have resorted to finding an italian speaking person who will ring them! <BR>P.S The Paralympic games were fantastic <BR>Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi!!

Success!!! I have booked for 2 nights at the Casa Beata Margherita Caiani for June 2001. A triple room with private bathroom for 140.000 lire a night. They are situated close to the Vatican. <BR>You can find others on www.romeguide.it under religious institutes or email a query to [email protected] <BR>thank you once again for your help. <BR>Kimerley

Santa Brigida e mail is [email protected]

Me again... I am getting my Santa Brigida's mixed up. Casa Santa Brigida, piazza Farnese, Rome is allegedly available but for the cost of 1000.000 lire a night for a triple room! The Cooperativa Il Sogno emailed me re it's availability.I have emailed them to clarify the price! I had received an email from the convent to say they were booked out! <BR>Which Santa Brigida is the email address for please? <BR>Pawrona, above has kindly given me the phone number for Suore di Santa Brigida, via della Isola, 34 Rome. <BR>Thanks for your help. <BR>

to the top.

We stayed at Casa Beata M. last summer, and enjoy it very much. It certainly was in walking distance to the Vatican. The sisters were very sweet. Only one could speak English. They made a mistake with our reservation,and they were so sweet in trying to fix the problem. The rooms were exceptionally clean with modern baths. However, they did have a little bit of an appearance of a hospital room or orphanage with our four single beds lined up in a row. We did enjoy it and the price was right. If you walk a couple blocks towards the Vatican, and turn right for a block, there is a great indoor fruit, vegetable, bread, and pastry market where the locals shop. And two or three blocks to the right of the convent, there is a nice shopping district with reasonable prices for local souvenirs. It's bit hard to park your car, so if you are driving,leave your luggage first, then find a good spot to park. We parked our car for the three days in the lot at Borghese.Don't be afraid to take a cab, the prices were reasonable.

For Ed who is looking for this information.