It used to be that fathers threatened their morally wayward daughters with a stint in a convent, but last January I found life in the abbey to be quite pleasant. I spent nearly a month in Italy with a college group, and then stayed on by myself in a convent in Assisi for the week of vacation that followed. With limited funds I was in need of inexpensive lodging, and as a young female traveling alone it gave my parents some peace of mind knowing that the "sisters" would be looking out for me.
My school group had traveled to Assisi (hometown of St. Francis) during our month-long stay, and I had been taken with the beauty and charm of the historic city. Sprinkled along the hilly, cobbled streets are convents and monasteries marking the path of many religious pilgrims. The town is sleepy in January (I made my reservation less than a week in advance) but all the rooms fill for the Lenten pilgrimage season months before it begins. At my hotel in Rome I trolled online for convents in Assisi, and finally settled on the Suore Svedesi Di Santa Brigida, (Swedish Sisters of St. Bridget) an order I thought fitting due to my Scandinavian roots.
After a train ride from Rome to Assisi, I caught a bus up to the Old City. Evidently the bus driver understood my broken Italian, and as promised by the sister I had spoken with on the phone, I was dropped off at the base of the convent grounds.
Inner courtyard of the convent in warmer months. Photo: convent web site.
Staying with the sisters I felt less like a tourist and more like a part of the Assisi community. At the urging of a fellow guest I attended a musical performance chronicling the life of St. Gabriel, and was impressed that my 15 Euro ticked afforded me a great seat at an impeccably performed, choreographed, and costumed show.
I never felt suffocated by piety or religiosity, but since Catholicism is such a large part of Italian culture I decided to attend one of the morning chapel services. Besides the nun who spoke crisp, clipped English and seemed to be in charge, I had little to no contact with the rest of the sisters. They regarded me as a guest, and shuffled quietly about their business of cleaning and cooking, offering me a warm smile as a greeting. It is possible to eat all or none of your meals at the convent, and while dinner looked heartier, my breakfast consisted of two pieces of bread and a cup of coffee. Needless to say, after the first day I looked elsewhere for morning fare.
When I left the convent I felt refreshed and ready for my journey back to the United States. The few days of quiet and solitude had been a great opportunity to reflect on my travels, as well as take in the sights of Assisi and the surrounding small towns. Due to its religious significance there were many convents and monasteries to choose from in Assisi, but many towns and cities across Europe offer similar accommodations. For those looking for affordable, interesting, and dependable lodging, I would highly recommend the experience.
