016 - The Cenobitic Monasteries of Italy

If you’re looking to get away from the bustle on your next trip to Italy, check out these amazing monasteries. “Some 200 Cenobitic monasteries dating from the Middle Ages are scattered across the Italian peninsula. The monks who lived in these secluded sanctuaries practiced “life in common” and provided beds for weary wanderers - a tradition that continues today, where all visitors are welcome regardless of religious affiliation.

Rooms are minimalist but the experiences aren’t: listen to Gregorian chants, view sacred objects and Renaissance artworks, or meditate amid peaceful natural surroundings. Active monasteries where travelers can stay include La Verna, set atop a cliff two hours east of Florence, and the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore ​​near Siena, where you can taste wine made by the monks in the abbey’s wine cellar.”

Source: National Geographic, “Te Best 25 Places in the World to Travel to in 2025”, Karen Carmichael (November 2-monasteries, 2024).
Image: Andrea Fazzetta