Easter weekend has long been the unofficial kickoff of the high travel season in Italy, and 2025 is no different: The National Tourist Board (ENIT) that six in 10 hotel rooms across the country are booked for the holiday.
Of the from abroad who will touch down in airports this spring (from March to May), 28.5% will land in Rome — some specifically for the Vatican’s Jubilee Year, but plenty of others just for garden-variety vacation time.
In other words, if you’re in Rome and staying in hotels this spring, you can probably expect decent crowds at check-in and the breakfast buffet — and, of course, high-season prices, too. Calmer, more affordable alternatives probably sound appealing, and one opportunity that many travelers overlook or aren’t aware of is a stay in a monastery, convent or other form of sanctuary.
Why you should consider a monastic stay in Rome
You may have heard stories of unreasonable curfews, spartan cells, strict silence policies and obligatory attendance at prayer and meditation sessions. While this can be true of some settings, a large portion of Rome’s “heavenly hostels” have joined the 21st century, offering comforts such as free wifi, high-tech entry and relatively relaxed dress codes.
In other words, these blessed boltholes aren’t just for Catholic pilgrims anymore (though being respectful of those who are traveling for religious reasons is pretty basic etiquette when staying at one).
A big pro of these accommodations is that they’re typically located in historic buildings near iconic monuments and popular Roman attractions — often steps from the city’s restaurants, cafes and nightlife. Yet with their chiming bells, chanting monks and kinder, gentler approaches to hospitality — not to mention wallet-friendly rates — monastic stays provide a place to pause, block out the noise and reflect on your day’s travels.
Here’s our rundown of four soul-soothing sanctuaries to consider booking on your next trip to Rome.
Badia di Sant’Anselmo
For travelers on a tight budget, this Benedictine monastic house offers a serene atmosphere atop the Janiculum Hill (Gianicolo), above Trastevere. The accommodation is dormitory-style with shared bathrooms, but because the number of spaces is limited, priority goes to Benedictines visiting Rome, and family members and friends of residing monks. It’s highly recommended you book well in advance of your visit. (Note that only guests ages 18 and up are allowed.)
Where: Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta 5
Close to: Circo Massimo, Testaccio market, Giardino degli Aranci
Rates start at: €50&Բ;
Suore di Santa Elisabetta
Charming, simple and secure, this lodge or “holiday house” (casa per ferie) run by the Sisters of Saint Elizabeth has 45 rooms (singles, doubles, triples and quadruples) — some with private baths. Notable “extras” include a lush garden, a chapel for those who want to pray, a TV room, an elevator, a terrace with views over Rome and a generous 11pm curfew. Breakfast is included, making this one almost the “holy grail” of this category of lodging, but the lack of air conditioning could be challenging once the heat wave rolls in.
Where: Via dell’Olmata 9
Close to: Termini Station, the Colosseum and the hip Monti neighborhood
Rates start at: €65&Բ;
Phone: +39 06 99330123
Monastero di Santa Cecilia in Urbe
Dedicated to the patron saint of music, the Monastery of Saint Cecilia offers simple lodging with shared bathrooms, a tranquil place to retire after time in the buzzy Trastevere neighborhood nearby. On the grounds you’ll find the Basilica of Pope Paschal I, an archaeological area containing the remains of a Roman domus and insula (apartment building), as well as a 13th-century fresco by Pietro Cavallini, thought by many to have been Giotto’s teacher, depicting the Last Judgment.
Where: Piazza Santa Cecilia 22/A
Close to: Isola Tiberina, Bocca della Verità (The Mouth of Truth)
Rates start at: Around €60
Hospitality inquiries: forestariasc@gmail.com
Monastero dei Santi
Not all monasteries are austere: This one’s an obvious departure from the other options on the list, but we’ve included it for those who want a calm and contemplative stay, yet love their creature comforts. This 12th-century “monastery hotel” is a 5-star property sitting on the highest hill in Rome (Monte Mario), affording it one of the best views over the city. Privacy and relaxation are on the menu here (with a little more pampering than you might find at its more ascetic counterparts — there’s even a personal butler available). Still an integral part of the Monastery of Saints Dominic and Sixtus, the site is home to the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, which holds important artworks dating from the first century CE. The abbey complex of Saints Sixtus and Dominic itself includes the monastery of the Dominican cloistered nuns, still active today.
Where: Via Trionfale, 179
Close to: St. Peter’s, the Vatican Museums and Villa Madama
Prices start at: About €500 a night
