Bed and Blessings: Italy: A Guide to Convents and Monasteries Available for Overnight Lodging

The book was an excellent aid in securing reasonably priced accommodations in Rome and several cities to the North. The curfew - the front door being firmly locked at 10 PM - may be a problem for some but not for those who have spent a busy day sightseeing. We found one convent also closed the door during the lunch hour so we had to wait patiently for our check in. The only other negative was that some of the nuns were not terribly knowledgeable regarding operating their "hotel" and I had to help repair an electric outage. All in all, the book is a great aid in avoiding high-priced hotels.

I just returned from Italy where I stayed in three of the listed guest houses. The prices ranged from $18 to $30 per night per person. The prices were close to those listed in the book, but be sure to confirm. The three houses I visited were all professionally operated and I was pleasantly surprised with the experience.Many of the guest houses' rates are per person, and this is a big plus for those traveling alone. Men were welcome in many of the convents, but some convents only allow women.Most of the guest houses take reservations by fax only and the book includes a sample request for information and a reservation form in Italian.

At last, a clear and concise guidebook that offers travellers some alternatives to traditional lodging. The authors' descriptions are enticing as they reveal the charm of each location, capturing the heart and soul of Italy. It is a well-organized book, with all the necessary contact information, and I found the maps to be especially helpful when planning site-seeing.

I found the book to be well written and entertaining - delighted to find such a unique book. My wife and I are planning a trip to Italy next year. This book quickly focused us in on the places to visit, style of accommodations which we can afford, and some background information upon which to do some more study/research. Highly recommend the book.

Bed and Blessings is a unique guide to comfortable, affordable accommodations in Italian convents and monasteries. Although the book may be especially useful for Catholic pilgrims visiting Rome in the millennium, its information is also helpful for travelers regardless of religious belief, for the convents and monasteries welcome everyone. The book itself is divided into convenient sections based on region, and each entry provides not only contact information for the convent or monastery but also prices, description of facilities and locale, dates open, curfew information (if any), and directions. Also included are handy maps and forms in both English and Italian for requesting reservations.