Another definition please...

We are shopping for lodging in Tuscany.
I see many apartments describing their bedrooms with a "matrimoniale" bed as opposed to a double, twin or king size bed.
Is it two twins pushed together? or Is it a regular double-size mattress? or Is it what we call a "king" size mattress?

We are two large people who have been married for 39 years and we either snore or get up frequently!!!!! No Jokes please!!!

I would love to know what I am reserving!!!

Thanks for your kind help, as always...

My understanding of "matrimoniale" is simply a generic term for a double - to be shared by spouses - rather than twin beds. It doesn't really tell you about the actual size - for that you're better off asking the owners/ managers for actual measurements...

It is often 2 twins pushed together with a seam in the middle.

...and if you apply the mass of two people on that seam, they can both wind up on the floor as the beds migrate apart. Personal knowledge.

an unseamly question!

Interesting responses. More than once we've been given a choice by an Italian hotel of a "matrimoniale" bed which was clearly about the size of a US double bed -- not very big -- or having two twins which were side by side. In that case, they certainly weren't referring to the two twin beds as being a matrimoniale bed.

An Italian hotel room for two people is normally called a "doppio" and has two single beds (separate beds, each for one person). Much less common are "matrimoniale" rooms, which have one double bed.
In European countries, beds are almost always single (for one person) or double (for two people). Terms like "king" or "queen" are American: I have travelled all over Europe, but have no idea what "king" or "queen" sized beds are. Kings and queens are actually the same size as other people. In fact, our queen in the UK is, apparently, a small woman.

I always thought it was the deflowering bed for the honeymoon...naughty Degas inspires me

I opened this post to make a joke, but won't because you asked "No jokes" but it's Friday night and it would be soooooooo interesting.

I've known (socially) some fairly large queens in the UK. I never saw their beds, though.

http://www.vbella.com/essays/bed.asp