Services

This convent is operated by the Suore di San Giuseppe.

A typical Roman villa, with lovely guest areas over several floors. Good sized rooms and common areas which are all immaculately maintained. A peaceful courtyard and garden is ideal to sit & relax after a day out in Rome.

Breakfast is included in the price. There are many dining options within walking distance of the venue.

Features

A warm, welcome and ideal location adjacent the Vatican Walls. Dining options, the metro and a great gelati shop are all close by - this is a quintessential Monastery Stay in Rome.

Getting Around

The historic center of Rome. City with easy access. Bus and metro stops for local and surrounding locations are very close by.  
 

Customer Reviews

	This was excellent accommodation -modern, clean, comfortable with attractive outdoor terraces. Walking distance to everything you need. Friendly, helpful staff. Air conditioning was fantastic in Rome's summer. It was a pleasure to come back after a day sight-seeing sight-seeing. 10/10!!. Thank you.
Kim - , New Zealand (June 2024)

	Good location & enjoyed the peaceful garden. Helpful staff at Reception.
Tom - CO TIPPERARY, Ireland (June 2024)

	Beautiful facility. Clean rooms. Friendly staff. The location was great. We loved the outdoor terrace and courtyard. Nights were quiet. We would stay here again.
Debra - WI, United States (May 2024)

	It was perfect For our needs. Great rooms with wonderful bathrooms. Community were very helpful. Check in and out seamless.
Archdiocese - MERSEYSIDE, United Kingdom (February 2024)

	Wonderful, friendly, and felt like our home away from home. Literally right across the stress from the Vatican. Old world charm, modern day amenities.
James - FL, United States (October 2023)

	My friend and I had a lovely stay! Sister Elena was so kind and helpful during our stay. I would definitely stay here again.
Francesca - OR, United States (September 2023)

	The renovations and upgrades since a stay fifteen years ago are exceptional. The best part though is Sr. Elena! Sister is so welcoming, helpful, and made us feel right at home.
Nancy - MD, United States (September 2023)

	This property was conveniently located a couple minutes walk from the Vatican Museums, which I had reservations for at 8 am. It's 6-7 minute walk to the Cipro subway station. It's about a 15-minute walk to St. Peter's Basilica because you have to walk around the castle wall to reach St. Peter's square.
Paula - GA, United States (June 2023)

	This was a perfect place to stay while in Rome! We were warmly welcomed, and the rooms were great for our stay. Breakfast and baggage storage was provided, which was helpful for our trip. It was right outside the Vatican, and within walking distance to other parts of Rome. We loved our time here!
Katie - MO, United States (April 2023)

	My first experience with Monastery Stays & everything was positive. A lovely, well maintained building with beautiful terraces I could sit out on at any time. A great location, 15 mins from the Vatican & 20 mins from the airport bus, with plenty of food & drink nearby. Best of all was the ambience & the wonderful welcome from Suor Luisa. I would recommend Inst San G wholeheartedly.
Mary - , United Kingdom (November 2022)

	It was an amazing experience, the staff were fabulous and Sister was just beautiful and helpful and lovely
Dianne - NSW, Australia (October 2022)

	Room was exceptionally clean & beautiful. The service & breakfast was excellent. Very warm & welcoming staff. We would like to especially thank sister Elena ! Highly recommended stay ! A very quiet & peaceful environment with a nice garden & patio. Would like to stay again when the opportunity arises.
Rosanna - , Singapore (September 2022)

	We had a beautiful stay! Our place was very modern and clean, and we warmly welcomed! I felt so at home, and it was one of my favorite memories in Italy.
Elijah - DE, United States (September 2022)

	We had a lovely stay, the location was very good and the letter of introduction was very helpful particularly with the language barrier at times.
Catherine - , United Kingdom (September 2022)

	I spent there a wonderful stay. The sisters are very kind, funny and helpful. It was lovely to spend a few days in this accommodation.
Paul - , France (May 2022)

	This is simple & cheap monastic accommodation. Basic rooms, basic breakfast, spiritual atmosphere. Old roman mansion in a quiet residential area. My room had a nice view of the area & of Monte Mario. There are shops & cafes nearby. It's opposite the ancient Vatican City walls (some rooms have views of them) & about 3 minutes walk from the Vatican Museum entrance, 15 mins from St Peter's Sq. Less than 10 minutes walk from Cipro metro station. The nun who checked me in & out was friendly & spoke a small amount of English.
Patrick - , Ireland (February 2020)

	Really excellent hospitality from the Sisters. Very close to the Vatican, St. Peter's, Vatican museum, but a little further away from things on the other side of the Tiber. The metro stop is only 5 minutes away though. Overall definitely highly recommend.
Kyle - MI, United States (January 2020)

	Wonderful place to stay, nice neighborhood and was easy to get to by the Metro (Cipro stop). Nice daily breakfast and the sisters are great!
Anthony - VA, United States (November 2019)

	Though it was no fault of the nuns at Istituto San Giuseppe Della Montagna, there was a lack of communication about the facilities (location of dining room; how to check out etc). Printed guidance would be really useful. Having said that, the nuns I interacted with were lovely!
Steven - , United Kingdom (October 2019)

	Great location. Very close to the metro or easy to walk to many great neighborhoods. I was able to pay the balance by credit card instead of cash.
Kerry - FL, United States (September 2019)

	I am grateful with the sister specially Sister Elizabeth for her kindness.
Lucia - FL, United States (June 2019)

	Great location. The only issue is that there is not often someone at the desk. The breakfast is basic but good.
Michele - ON, Canada (June 2019)

	Thank you so much! Istituto San Giuseppe Della Montagna was a peaceful retreat after a long day of touring Rome on foot. (The city is very friendly to foot traffic, and many of the sights are located relatively close together.) The accommodations were spotless, with a comfortable bed and location across the street from the back wall of the Vatican-nearly across the street from Vatican Museum! The sisters speak little English, and I speak almost no Italian, so the letter of introduction was a welcome bridge to the communication gap. As stated on the website, this is not a luxury hotel: If you want to be catered to, and need a down blanket to sleep, please choose a 5 star hotel. If you want a serene retreat in a safe, incredibly convenient location, this is a perfect option. Would also be great for children--lovely little courtyard with toys and flowers. Simple and perfect!
Dean - PA, United States (May 2019)

	Very friendly Nuns, very helpful, very spiritual
Robert - Karnataka, India (May 2019)

	Just visited the convent for two weeks I loved it. Total calm and quiet, a haven after a days sightseeing in The Eternal City. The Sisters wonderful especially Sister Guadalupe who was always so helpful and always smiling. I was travelling on my own, the convents location to The Vatican and safety was perfect for what I wanted. All the other guests so friendly and unintrusive it has a lovely atmosphere. I would definitely stay there again.
Teresa - BC, Canada (October 2018)

	Very happy with stay.
Clare - , United Kingdom (October 2018)

	The convent was wonderful once I got there. The sisters even had a ticket to the Pope's opening Mass for the synod on youth for me at check in.
Allison - LA, United States (October 2018)

	The location was great and check in was easy.
Phyllis - AZ, United States (September 2018)

	The nuns were very helpful. The gardens were very peaceful and the breakfast room was cheerful.
Betty - CA, United States (September 2018)

	Excellent location for entrance to the Vatican Museum and great to have free parking available for our rental car.
AnnMarie - CA, United States (August 2018)

	We enjoyed our stay! Once we took a taxi from the train station to the convent, we didn't need a vehicle for the rest of our visit. We were within walking distance of so many great places. The air-conditioned room was a real blessing in the hot summer weather. There was definitely a language barrier between us and our hosts, but with patience and good humor we all managed to communicate. The front desk is not always staffed, which is to be expected since this is a convent and not a hotel, but it meant we couldn't always get our questions answered quickly.
Ellen - NH, United States (August 2018)

	Very nice facility; will recommend to others.
William - TN, United States (August 2018)

	You can't find a better hotel at this price at this location. It's a walking distance to Vatican Museum, St. Peter square and Metro. My husband and I had a great time staying here. I would give the Rooms a 10 if the shower is a little bigger. I would recommend it to friends and family.
Jerry - TX, United States (July 2018)

	The place is surprisingly quiet and peaceful for its location - right near the Vatican. It is clean, and the tall fence gives a sense of security. The nuns are extremely friendly and helpful, although you might want to get a dictionary if you do not speak Italian, for the nuns do not speak English. Overall, highly recommended.
Ilya - ON, Canada (June 2018)

	It’s in a courtyard which is pretty and keys are provided to enter at your leisure. The breakfast room was lovely and bright with a very nice selection of items. The two Sisters who run the facility live next door so you don’t have much contact with them if you require any information, however they are very friendly and welcoming when you encounter them.
Adele - NY, United States (June 2018)

	There is a joyous simplicity and tranquillity about the Istituto San Giuseppe Della Montagna which should recommend it to all travellers seeking somewhere modest and welcoming on a budget while in Rome. It is very conveniently placed near the Vatican Museum and St Peter's Square, and to the Metro if you do not want to walk.
Daniel - Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom (June 2018)

	The sisters were absolutely wonderful– I can't say enough about them. we very much appreciated access to the Chapel for daily mass with the priesthood came with us. The place is ideally located, with easy access to the subway and buses. We were also very close to grocery stores and other markets to supplement our visits to the many terrific restaurants in Rome.
Hank - MO, USA (June 2018)

	It was simple & comfortable, thank you!
Kimberley - QC, Canada (May 2018)

	I had a lovely stay at Istituto San Giuseppe Della Montagna. The nuns were very welcoming and helpful and the residence was peaceful and quiet inside. It was a great location and did the job for my first time visiting Rome.
Carmen - London, United Kingdom (May 2018)

	Great stay, Great location, very clean, and the nuns were wonderful. I was surprised no one spoke English, although that was all over Rome. There was free internet and I’should have invested in I translate app, and I could have communicated with the Sisters.
Pamela - IL, United States (May 2018)

	Perfect location, very comfortable, clean and mostly quiet except I was next to the elevator so I could hear people getting on and off. Continental breakfast provided. Some fruit or yogurt would have been very welcome. No real complaints. I would stay there again. Single traveler.
Lydia - TX, United States (May 2018)

	The location was great, right across the street from the entrance to the Vatican Museums. The sisters were sweet and helpful. The room itself was small and functional but adequate and a great value. The garden area was pleasant and it is clear that some of the sisters like to garden!
Nancy - CA, United States (April 2018)

	I had a wonderful stay at this facility. It was within walking distance of many Vatican sites as well as good restaurants and shopping.
Louise - IN, United States (March 2018)

	This is a fantastic place to stay while in Rome. The nuns are so friendly, and the room is very low cost, and close to St. Peter's!
Maureen - KS, United States (March 2018)

	The staff was very helpful with questions we had, especially in lining up a taxi to take us back to the airport.
Ralph - CO, United States (November 2017)

	A little gem tucked away from the busyness of tourists in the Vatican area, and just a few steps away from Vatican Museum and 5 minute walk to to St. Peter's. Sister Rosa Maria was very helpful and welcoming.
Margarita - NY, United States (October 2017)

	Great service and accommodation. Everything was excellent and thanks again for the great hospitality and kindness of the nuns.
Hristina - , Macedonia (October 2017)

	You are getting a lot of value for the price when you stay here, and closeby St. Peter's Square, the Vatican Museum, the metro, grocery store, drug store, and restaurants/cafes. It is a very safe location, and the room price is reasonable with a restful bed for sleeping, extra blankets and pillows for comfort, a table and several chairs, and a window which allows fresh air into the room, and the windows also have room-darkening shades over the glass to improve sleeping. The bathroom has a sink, toilet, shower, with white towels. The service is best first thing in the morning. WIFI was not available during most of my time there, but there are restaurants nearby where you can access WIFI. Basic breakfasts of strong coffee, milk, rolls/sweet rolls, Nutella and other spreads, and boxed juices are available -- enough to get you started in the morning.
Alex - Ontario, Canada (September 2017)

	Wonderful location - perfect for us as we'd booked a Vatican Gardens tour and the admission point is literally across the road from the convent. We found the rooms very comfortable, neat and well equipped little bathrooms and everything lovely and clean. Above all the nuns were extremely kind, helpful and very understanding. I would totally recommend this as a place to stay in Rome, particularly for those prioritising visits to St Peters and the Vatican Museums.
Ann - London, United Kingdom (August 2017)

	Sister Maria Del Carmen was amazing! She was always cheerful and happy to assist us in any way that she could.
Cynthia - TX, United States (July 2017)

	We are always pleased to stay at the convent. The sisters fulfilled our every need and were kind. The rooms were always very clean.
Jennifer - GA, USA (June 2017)

	I felt welcome right away and San Giuseppe became my home away from home for the next 10 days in Rome. The sisters were always ready with a smile, to help with any need or answer a question. If you want to be near the Vatican this is a good choice.
Jeanette - CA, United States (March 2017)

	Excellent location. Spartan room, but was exactly as advertised. It was a little noisy outside the room. Other than that, just fine.
Mark - CA, United States (September 2016)

	It was excellent! Sister Paula and Madre Grazia offered excellent hospitality. Nothing and no question, was a problem for them. If I ever go back to Rome again, I will definitely want to stay there. Would highly recommend.
Joseph - CA, United States (September 2016)

	Very pleasant stay. Clean, basic accommodation with good breakfast. In a city like Rome, the amount of time we spend in any room is small and this was more than adequate as roof over our heads. Thank you for the warm welcome.
Christine - Derbyshire, United Kingdom (August 2016)

	The overall impression is very good. The sister helping us to check in is very nice and helpful though we mainly communicate through body language. I particular like the breakfast room. It is bright and clean. Only one thing, the drainage of the bathroom is not working very well. Other than that, everything is good.
Sally - , Hong Kong (July 2016)

	Location is excellent. Just next to the Vitican city. The sisters there are very nice and helpful. There is a small court yard outside and we can spend a relaxable evening together with the rest of the family under summer breeze.
Sally - , Hong Kong (July 2016)

	Convenient and comfortable. Close to metro and Vatican museums. Sisters and staff are terrific.
Anne - VA, USA (June 2016)

	They were wonderful sisters, so welcoming and warm. Would recommend anyone needing to stay close to Vatican to consider this great palace.
Fergal - County Kildare, Ireland (May 2016)

	It was a wonderful location, and we liked everything about our stay.
Fredwyn - KY, United States (May 2016)

	Great location close to the Vatican and the Metro. Easy to walk to restaurants and shopping. The rooms are very small but adequate. We only slept there so it worked out fine for us.
Marion - British Columbia, Canada (May 2016)

	We had a wonderful stay at San Giuseppe Della Montagna! The sisters were very nice and helpful and did all they could to make us feel at home. We would really like to come back!
Kerstin - , Sweden (April 2016)

	We appreciated the availability of an "Italian style" breakfast. Also, the garden area within the walls was a pleasant area in which to relax and unwind from a busy day. The location of the monastery so close to the Metro stop was very convenient.
Lisa - CO, United States (April 2016)

	The sisters who run the place are so delightful!! They even went out of their way to give me a side tour to a Benedictine Abbey close to St. Paul Outside the Walls. I will definitely come back for the canonization of Mother Teresa in September, God willing.
Rosalie - TX, United States (March 2016)

	Wonderful stay.This was our favorite place we stayed on our European trip. The sisters were charming although they spoke almost no English. Breakfast was continental but substantial. The coffee was amazing. Our rooms were simple but clean. We were across the street from the Vatican walls and about 100 meters from the entrance to the museums. It was an easy walk to St Peter's, food, or a taxi. The beds were comfortable. Our room faced the street so there was some street noise but were are from a suburb and this seemed like home. Would not hesitate to recommend this convent to others and would love to stay there again.
Ann Marie - MI, United States (October 2015)

	It was a pleasant stay and everyone was very nice.
Diane Schommer - IL, USA (September 2015)

	This was a lovely visit! We were greeted by one of the sisters and enjoyed her sweet welcome. The location was next to the Vatican, which was great for those activities, but it is a bit far for other things such as the ancient city, etc. Still, a wonderful visit. We felt safe and yet it was an easy walk to a grocery store and gelato stand! Very nice stay!
Tena - OK, United States (September 2015)

	Rooms: excellent -- air-conditioned in late July! The sisters were beautiful and kind. Location: first-rate, just across the road from the Vatican Museum, a block or two from a major shopping street and restaurants. All good!
Fr James - SA, Australia (July 2015)

	We were very comfortable in our room, and the Sisters were helpful when we had questions. The location is wonderful for staying near the Vatican - we had a view of the Vatican wall outside our window. The breakfast sunroom was inviting and breakfast was adequate for a start to our day. The garden area has tables and chairs where we sat and enjoyed the end of the day. The closest metro station is about a 10 minute walk, passing by a couple simple eateries and great gelato place. We enjoyed walking around the area. I would definitely recommend staying here.
Mallory - NM, United States (June 2015)

	Every aspect of Istituto San Giuseppe Della Montagna was excellent. We booked the triple room on the street side of the monastery and although the traffic noise did not bother us, it might be something for others to keep in mind when booking.
Ann - VA, United States (May 2015)

	Check-In went very smoothly. Fans are listed as available but we had to ask for them three times in order to get them in our rooms. The sleep quality was a 7 because we needed to keep the windows open and the street is very busy and therefore noisy. The rooms are comfortable and clean. The Breakfast area is bright and inviting. There were a variety of food items for breakfast and the coffee was delicious! We would recommend LAR144 and Monastery Stays.
Regina - FL, United States (October 2014)

	The Institute was clean, and the breakfast were simple yet hardy. The only problems I had were the language barrier (I do not speak Italian or Spanish) and the beds were a tad uncomfortable. However, the area was perfect and made it very easy to get around Rome.
Amy - NY, United States (September 2014)

	Was centrally located. The rooms were comfortable and very clean.
Sandra - New South Wales, Australia (July 2014)

	A shame that the nun in charge could not speak english but I had a lovely stay
Maria - New South Wales, Australia (June 2014)

	The place is spotless. The location is great for Vatican access. Restaurants are very close. Don't be alarmed when the first sister you contact may not speak English, but, ask for the one sister that does and it all works out great. It is about 200 yards to the Vatican museum and about a 5 minute walk to St. Peter's Square.
Denise - NE, United States (June 2014)

	Great location!
Marie - CA, United States (June 2014)

	It was wonderful. And yes, I'm going to make sure that I recommend Istituto San Giuseppe Della Montagna. I plan to use it again next time in Rome.
Patricia - AE, United States (May 2014)

	very happy there because it was quiet. Would have liked more fresh buns for breakfast and non processed cheeses.
David - British Columbia, Canada (May 2014)

	Perfectly located for our purposes just across from the Vatican. Sister Mary Grace was very welcoming, and we managed our having little Italian and her having little English. Lovely garden is an oasis in the midst of Rome's traffic. Breakfast is simple but adequate and served in a bright, cheerful space. We'd definitely recommend.
Martha - MA, United States (May 2014)

	We had a wonderful stay and the nuns were very welcoming and we managed to make ourselves understood even without any Italian. The only disadvantage is the position on a main road which makes it rather loud at night but the cleanliness and the fact that you really can walk everywhere very easily makes up for it.
Jane - , Germany (April 2014)

	The nuns were very kind. The lack of English made the stay difficult. I spoke some Italian Napolitano dialect, so I could get by. There was internet in the public spaces, this should be listed in the information. I especially was fond of Sister Grazia.
Joan - NY, United States (March 2014)

	Excellent location, highly recommended, the sisters were very helpful and accommodating. Easy access to subway and walking distance to the Vatican.
Ngoc - MD, United States (February 2014)

	Our stay was wonderful. The Sisters were very welcoming, helpful and efficiently took care of our requests. The location, room, breakfast were excellent. I've recommended it to everyone that has asked about it. Looking forward to booking another trip with Monastery Stays!
Kathleen - NY, United States (December 2013)

	I absolutely loved this place. The room had basic facilities but it was very clean with maid service every day - even over Christmas. You were given keys to come and go as you please which meant no curfew unlike some other places. The breakfast was self service and the breakfast room itself was cosy and more than adequate. Would recommend this place to anyone and will definitely stay again if I return to Rome. Great location for the Vatican.
Isabel - Antrim, United Kingdom (December 2013)

	Easy access to Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica. Easy access to transportation (metro), food and lots of shopping. View wasn't as spectacular as my Florence stay but for the value, relative quiet, cleanliness and wonderful hospitality, it was well worth it.
Jane - NY, United States (September 2013)

	Lovely place to stay in Rome, rooms very reasonable and as good as others I've stayed in, better even.
Kerrie - dublin, Ireland (April 2013)

	I really enjoyed my stay here. The nuns were very friendly, rooms were clean, and it was very peaceful. The location is very convenient and there are many nice restaurants and bars nearby, not to mention the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's down the street. Great experience!!
Zoe - NY, United States (February 2013)

	Our stay was very pleasant and Sister Elvira was very kind, accomodating and helpful. The location, just across the street from the Vatican, was excellent and we walked to many of the near by tourist attractions.
David - Alberta, Canada (October 2012)

	We were late for the check-in (8:00pm) but the Sisters were very nice. I thought we were responsible for organizing our room because it is a Monastery but they did every day and it was impeccable. Very nice experience and awesome location. Just 2-3 minutes from the Vatican Museums and 2-3 minutes from good restaurants and Gelateria Millenium (best gelato in Italy!).
Luis - TX, United States (October 2012)

	Wonderful place.
Genevra - MD, United States (September 2012)

	The whole experience was great! Ideal location for the Vatican. Easy to reach other areas of the city through the Cipro Subway stop just 5 minutes away.
Lorraine - FL, United States (August 2012)

	Sister Elvira is amazingly accommodating. She was helpful and suggestive about the area and things to do. The location was centrally located and the rooms were comfortable. Overall, we truly enjoyed our stay and would definitely return to this location.
Angeline - CA, United States (August 2012)

	The Institute left very little to be desired - friendly service, excellent cleanliness, and a good level and feeling of security. The only thing that prospective lodgers should keep in mind is that the Institute is located along the Viale Vaticano, a fairly busy roadway - as a result, it can be a bit loud at times, though it subsides well at nighttime. My sleep quality fell a bit due to the heat of the season - but I challenge anyone to find a cool room in Rome room during an unseasonably warm July! The fan provided by the Institute was most appreciated. I greatly enjoyed my stay at the Istituto San Giuseppe della Montagna, and would gladly return, should I venture to Rome again.
William - Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (July 2012)

	Very friendly staff, clean, good location, easy access to metro.
Katharine - NY, United States (July 2012)

	Excellent location! Very quiet facility but is fronting on the busy street that separates from the Vatican wall. Wonderful to come home to from full days in Rome. Walk to St. Peter's, cross the street for the Vatican Museum. Very good price and quality considering the expense of accommodations in the area.
Janice - British Columbia, Canada (June 2012)

	Safe, enjoyable, friendly, convenient and great location to Vatican and metro.
Jeffrey - Western Australia, Australia (April 2012)

	A wonderful location near the entrance to the Vatican Museum. The help from the staff was excellent - speaking some English and being flexible to check me out at an earlier time. Nice to have no curfew and breakfast was satisfying, with Cafe Americano! Would definitely stay here again.
Christopher - VT, United States (March 2012)

	The nuns were fantastic! I really enjoyed my stay there. I am recommending them to everyone I know.
Maureen - KS, United States (September 2011)

	Sister Maria was always very helpful, although we sometimes struggled with language issues.
Steven - NY, United States (July 2011)

	There is a bus stop just across the street, but we never did figure out the connection to it. We did use the Metro and it was very convenient.
ANNE M - Manitoba, Canada (April 2011)

	Very friendly nuns who try to insure you are comfortable. Continental breakfast was wonderful. Quarters are small and simple.
Glender - CA, United States (March 2011)

	Very clean, wonderful people, comfortable beds. The hot water was super hot. Sister Mary Grace was fantastic and she made our stay feel like we were at home. Street noise, not enough towels. Not enough time to enjoy the company of the sisters. Wish we could have taked Sister Mary Grace to Assisi with us. Will go back when time permits.
Timothy P - VA, United States (September 2010)

	Clean and easy access to the underground. Separate beds for a married couple, beds not very comfortable.
John - WA, United States (March 2010)

	Friendly nuns, a pleasant room.
Anita - Bedfordshire, United Kingdom (February 2010)

	The building was beautiful and the staff was very kind. The breakfast did not have much to offer except bread and jam, and the breakfast room was very cold.
Diana - WA, United States (February 2010)

	It was wonderful. The sisters were as nice as could be. Everything was very nice.
Joseph - NJ, United States (October 2009)

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