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by Mariateresa Montaruli
 No questions asked- no explanations needed. All who knock on a monastery's
door are received with gentle kindness and simple manners, provided you
don't arrive in the middle of prayers or at mealtimes, when it's unlikely
the doors would be opened. No one at the monastery door will inquire as
to the faith or religion of any visitor. Anyone seeking asylum in an Italian
monastic guesthouse is invited, though not obliged, to abandon him or herself
to the rhythm of abbesses and priors. They only ask that the silence be
respected and that visitors relinquish watches, Walkmans and cell phones.
And why not? The music here has different sound, hours another name; communication
flows quietly with the deepest inner-self. A Day in a Monastery A typical day in the monastery begins at dawn with a recitation of a pray. Breakfast is served around 8:00 in the refectory and eaten with the monks, as always during meals, in complete silence. Mass is celebrated at the Third Hour, which corresponds to 10:00; the rest of the day is spent studying texts, in the library, working in the gardens or fields, meditating or taking part in spiritual sessions. The Sixth Hour bells at 12:00 call all to prayer and then to lunch; dinner is normally served at 7:30 in the evening. No later than 10:00 PM, the monks and their guests retire to their cells for the evening.   Spartan Hospitality The spartan hospitality offered by the monasteries differs greatly from that of a hotel.. One distinct difference is the sharing of genuine monastic meals prepared using the monastery's own produce. Bed linens are not always included with the accommodations. For further detailed information, you may call or write the individual monasteries. It's useless to request prices in advance, as a monastery with a price list at the ready would be rare indeed. It's customary to leave a donation at your own discretion. The journalists Gian Maria Grasselli and Pietro Tarallo, authors of "Guida ai Monasteri d'Italia", "Guida ai Monasteri d'Europa" and "Monasteri del Mondo" (ed. Piemme, 1996, Casale Monferrato, Tel. 0142-3361) have compiled a "Monastic Top Ten" from among those with lodgings, taking into consideration the pleasantness of the surroundings as well as the standard of available facilities. Here are their choices: |
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