has anyone ever stayed at a convent or monestary in Rome or Florence or anywhere in Tuscany that they would reccomend? i am looking for a safe, clean, centrally located, and inexpensive place to stay (who isnt, i know...) for my first time in Europe and wanted to know if this was a good alternative to hotels? i will be traveling alone.

i haven't found convents or monastaries to be much cheaper than single rooms at hotels - still about 50-80 Euros a day.
What's your budget?

I've stayed in convents in Rome, Venice, and Siena. I can highly recommend them as an alternative to traditional lodging. Unlike Angeleno, I believe that you get more for your money at convents. E-mail me if you want additional info.

We have not personally stayed at convents or monasteries, but certainly would consider it. The down side for us might be the curfew most set at night. Picked the following up somewhere and thought it might be helpful to you Ohkay.

Rome romeguide.it
Rome euromatica.it/SIPAR
Rome travel.roughguides
Venice Venice / alberghi-venezia.it
Tuscany
Convents: St. Bridget's brigidine.org

Bed and Blessing Italy: A Guide to Convents and Monasteries ... Anne & June Walsh
Europeys Monastery and Convent Guest Houses Kevin J. Wright
Guide to Lodging in Italian Monasteries Eileen Barish

Get Guide to Lodging in Itlain Monasteries by Eileen Barish. It is dull but practical and up-to-date and available at Amazon.com. Booking rules must be followed, but yes, you definitely will find bargains and I mean $25 per night including breakfast!You will meet other folks like yourself, very likely, from many other countries.

This December we stayed at Fraterna Domus, a lovely convent near Piazza Navona. I am enclosing an excerpt from the email the nun wrote us about arrangements there. Also do a search on convents and monasteries on Fodors for more information.

2. 1 double room
3. Rates: per day per room:
- bed and breakfast (included): Euro 78 (the double room)
- 1 lunch (non included): Euro 12 (per person)
- 1 dinner (non included): Euro 12
4. We're looking forward a prompt reply and a PROMPT deposit of Euro 100 or
$ 100 (in Travelers check) to confirm the reservation.

Here are informations about our home:
? we are located just at town center, between Navona square and Spanish
steps, very near to S. Peter's. Our Home is quite small; it was builded
around an old church (Santa Lucia della Tinta).
? our style is "Franciscan".
? all rooms have private showers and toilet facilities.
? our house has got stairs without lift. We suggest you coming with small
luggage.
? all evenings, we close the door at 11.00 pm.
Cordiali saluti
Sr. Milena




=================
Fraterna Domus
Via Monte Brianzo, 62
00186 Roma

tel. 06 68 80 2727
fax. 06 68 32 691
e-mail: [email protected]
=================

My wife and I just stayed at
Suore De S. Elisabetta (St. Elizabeth Convent)
Via Dell' Olmata, 9
Roma
Phone 011 39 06 488-8271
Fax 011 39 06 488-4066
eamil [email protected]

I believe the rate was 71,00 euros per nite for a twin room ensuite with breakfast. Located about 6 blocks from the train station. Quiet and clean although most of the nuns do not speak english.

ohkay, My wife & I are staying at convents/monasteries throughout Italy. If you are interested here are the emails of some of them:

The "Lakes" (Como, etc) area:
[email protected]
talk to Giuseppe

Cinque Terre area
[email protected]
talk to Paolo

Firenze (Florence) area
[email protected]
talk to Patrizia

town of Assisi
[email protected]
talk to Suore Francescane Alcantarine

town of Todi
[email protected]
talk to Sister Freguglia

Rome
[email protected]
Sister Anderson

All these are in the range of 60 to 65 euros for TWO PEOPLE. Almost always includes breakfast & 1 or 2 also includes dinner. If not, dinner is usually about 14 euros. In Rome no guests eat with the sisters. You are on your own there. The earliest I know of that you have to be back is about 11pm.

Good luck Klansing

Klansing, will you report in when you return? I'd like to hear about your experiences in the convents.

Here's a convent we stayed in in Florence in Oct. 2001. No breakfast, though. I had to fax a couple of times before I had a response. It's in the Santa Croce area, within easy walking distance of the major sights. It's a French order, so the sisters speak both French and Italian.

Instituto Oblate dell'Assunzione
Borgo Pinti, 15
Firenze 50121
Fax: 39 0155 234 629