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Next year marks Jubilee 2025 – a period of grace for the global Catholic community, and a celebration that has been drawing pilgrims to Italy since it was established in the 1300s.

As the country that is home to the Vatican City, and many other sites rich in Christian heritage — Saint Mark’s Basilica in Venice, the Duomo in Florence, and the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, just to name a few — Italy is preparing to welcome millions of international pilgrims. Jubilee 2025 is expected to draw more than 30 million visitors to the capital alone (roughly eight times the city’s population), piling pressure on the availability of hotel accommodation.

But for anyone looking for more authentic accommodation in Rome, monasteries offer a great alternative. This article looks at why you should stay in a monastery in Rome during Jubilee 2025. It explores the best monastery accommodation near Rome’s most important Catholic sites and suggests some ideas to add to your itinerary. If you’re still in the planning stages, bookmark this page as we’ll also be publishing posts on monastery stays in Florence, Assisi, and beyond.

Insider tip: book your accommodation early. With more than 30 million visitors expected, the most convenient, cost-friendly accommodation is bound to get booked up quickly.

When is Jubilee 2025?

The Jubilee runs from December 2024 until January 2026, between Christmas and the following Epiphany. A calendar of special events will focus on particular groups of people and specific themes. You can find the official calendar here.

→ Bookmark the Jubilee website for updates from the Vatican

→ Bookmark the Jubilee website for iOS or Android

Stay in a monastery in Rome for added authenticity

There are many reasons why monastery stays are becoming increasingly popular. Monasteries never have that cold, impersonal feeling you can get with some hotels. Many have breakfast and dining halls, communal spaces, and – especially in Rome – rooftop terraces with stunning panoramic views. While some monasteries are more basic, many come fully equipped with modern amenities. And all are far more budget-friendly than hotels or Airbnbs.

Rome’s top-rated Casa il Rosario, for example, costs as low as €50 per night compared to the €90 you would spend on average for a night in one of Rome’s hotels.

Staying in a monastery also enables you to become part of a community, regardless of whether you are religious. In an age of solo travel and remote work, travel loneliness is on the rise, and being holed up in a hotel room only adds to that sense of isolation. Being part of a community within your accommodation can forge friendships and connections, and common areas, chapels, and dining rooms offer the ideal place to do this.

Safety is another factor for why more people are deciding to stay in monasteries and convents. The fathers and sisters who run them are, by nature, extremely accommodating, and the closed sense of community represents an oasis of peace among the freneticism of a city. Do bear in mind that many monasteries enforce a curfew before or around midnight. But if your idea of travel is more peace and quiet than partying, monastery accommodation is perfect.

→ Read our top tips for monastery stays

Where to stay in Rome for Jubilee 2025

We partner with more than a dozen monasteries in Rome, each offering unique bed and breakfast accommodation in historic and picturesque settings. If you’d like to stay as close to Saint Peter’s Basilica as possible for Jubilee 2025, there are three guesthouses – Casa Maria Immacolata, Casa Per Ferie Margherita Caiani and Casa Valdese – in the district of Prati, none of which is further than a 10-minute walk from the Vatican.

But depending on how bustling you want it to be around your accommodation, you might want to check out monastery accommodation near Rome’s other papal basilicas.

Each basilica — Saint John in Lateran (San Giovanni in Laterano), Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore), and Saint Paul Outside the Walls (San Paolo fuori le Mura) — is centrally and conveniently situated (even Saint Paul ‘Outside the Walls’ is a stone’s throw from a metro station) making their immediate monasteries ideal accommodation in Rome. And as the Pope will open the Holy Doors of each papal basilica for Jubilee 2025, which will remain open throughout the year, these areas are bound to be home to plenty of events.

Things to do near Saint John in Lateran

You cannot come to Rome without visiting the Basilica of Saint John in Lateran. In fact, it is this basilica, not Saint Peter’s, that is the official church of Rome and the seat of the Pope. Among its many relics are, perhaps, the heads of saints Peter and Paul, and wood from the table of the Last Supper. Look out for its bronze central doors, which originally belonged to the ancient Senate House in the Roman Forum.

Situated just across the road from the Basilica of Saint John in Lateran are the Holy Stairs, which Jesus climbed on the day of his death sentence in the palace of Pontius Pilate, and which were transported to Rome by Constantine’s mother, the empress Saint Helena, in 326 AD.

Monastery accommodation near the Saint Mary Major

Casa Il Rosario, Rome

The closest monastery accommodation to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major is La Casa Il Rosario. Belonging to the Dominican Sisters of Charity, this centrally-situated guesthouse comes equipped with plenty of amenities – including wifi, lockers, and heating and air conditioning for the sweltering summer months – and is bookable for a minimum of two nights and a maximum of 10 days.

Click here to book your stay.

Things to do near Saint Mary Major

The Casa il Rosario Roma and nearby Basilica of Saint Mary Major are centrally situated within the historic centre and have easy access to the Metro B line and other public transport links. Because this area is so central, you can reach most main ancient attractions on foot: like the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (all accessible with one 24-hour entrance ticket), the Capitoline Museums, and the neoclassical Altar of the Fatherland.

Make sure you don’t miss the Basilica of Saints Cosma and Damian. Accessible from the Via dei Fori Imperiali, this stunning basilica stands directly above a temple in the Roman Forum - the so-called Temple of the Divine Romulus, built in honour of the infant son of the emperor Constantine’s rival, Maxentius, in the late 3rd century AD.

Just across from Termini Station, the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs is one of the most architecturally intriguing churches in Rome. Designed by Michelangelo, it incorporates large sections of the early 4th-century Baths of Diocletian, giving the most immersive idea of how a public baths complex might have looked.

You’ll find plenty of places to eat out around the Monti district, though if you want to venture even further away from the crowds just jump on the Metro and head over to the Castro Pretorio area (Al Forno della Soffitta does exceptional Neapolitan-style pizza). We’d recommend staying away from the main tourist thoroughfare between the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon.

Monastery accommodation near the Saint Paul outside the Walls

Villa Benedetta, Rome

The Benedictine-run Villa Benedetta is the ideal guesthouse for travellers looking for more modern accommodation situated just outside the noisy city centre. It is remarkably well connected, situated a less than five-minute walk from Garbatella metro station (B line) and Roma Ostiense train station, and a fifteen-minute walk away from the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.

Villa Benedetta offers single or double rooms, with triples or quadruples available on request. It comes equipped with many modern amenities, including private bathrooms with showers, a free wifi connection, and basic kitchen facilities, should you be visiting on a budget and looking to self-cater.

Book your stay at Villa Benedetta

Things to do near Saint Paul outside the Walls

The beginning of the Via Appia Antica (Old Appian Way) is just a 20-minute walk from Villa Benedetta, and this 4th-century BC consular road is one of Rome’s most stunning hidden gems.

The pagan and Christian sites that line the Via Appia really do offer something for everyone. By far the most popular are the catacombs of Saint Sebastian and Saint Callixtus, and the Church of Domine Quo Vadis, where Peter encountered Christ on his way out of the city. But the road is also lined with imperial mausoleums, private baths (no longer with running water, you’ll be disappointed to know), and even a chariot racing track within the ancient Villa of Maxentius.

The Via Appia also marks the terminus of the medieval Via Frangicena pilgrimage route from Canterbury, England, and is still a popular pilgrimage route today. For a fantastic half-day out, reserve bikes or book a guided tour along the Via Appia from the official visitor centre. If you’re planning to walk the Via Francigena, make sure to download your Pilgrim’s Passport.

In the evening, the nearby neighbourhood of Garbatella is among the best in Rome for authentic Roman dining. Barely any tourists venture into Garbatella, a purpose-built neighbourhood mostly dating from the 19th century, preferring the better-known (but far busier) districts of Trastevere and Testaccio. But they’re missing out. Garbatella is a real gem of a neighbourhood – peaceful, picturesque, and remarkably free from traffic.

Its Michelin-star-winning Ristoro degli Angeli serves all your Roman classics at very reasonable prices. Trattoria Zampagna is another firm favourite among locals, situated just a few minutes’ walk from the Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls and within easy reach of both bus and metro lines.

Insider Tips for Visiting Rome in 2025

Book your accommodation well in advance. The Eternal City is always busy, with ‘off-seasons’ a thing of the past, and will be extra busy throughout the Jubilee year.
Read reviews beforehand. Good preparation is key to a successful trip, and nowhere is this more the case than with accommodation. Each of our monasteries features reviews where you can see what others have said about their accommodation experience.
Choose your location carefully. When deciding on your accommodation in Rome, consider your itinerary. Because public transport will be at capacity and taxis are not always reliable, you’ll want to stay as close to your chosen sites as possible.
Sign up for the free Pilgrim’s Card. Bearing the name of its holder, the Pilgrim’s Card is a free digital pass which is needed to organise a pilgrimage to the Holy Door and to take part in other Jubilee events. The e-card is free, but you can also Services Pilgrim’s Card for discounts, offers and reduced prices for various sites and attractions.

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