Solo Trip: My Real Experience Staying in a Monastery in Rome ✨🏛️

Before my trip to Rome, I was reading Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. Little Cosette and Jean Valjean found peace under the protection of a convent, and that made me curious—could I experience something similar? So, I booked a stay in a monastery. The Good Stuff 🌿 Perfect location – Just a 7-minute walk to the Colosseum 🏟️ and about 15 minutes to the Trevi Fountain. Yet, it felt like a peaceful oasis in the middle of bustling Rome. I even felt extra safe there! Friendly staff – Check-in/out was smooth with English-speaking staff. Breakfast was served until 10 AM—I showed up at 9:50 AM on the first day, and the kind cleaning lady insisted on packing me bread, fruit, and even coffee to go! ☕🍎 The next day, she gave me two more apples for the road. 🥹 Charming spaces – A lovely little garden, a terrace, and even an invitation to join morning prayers (though I was too exhausted to wake up early 😴). The (Slightly) Annoying Part 🦟 Mosquito invasion – It was peak summer (late July), and I left the window open at night… Big mistake. I got eaten alive by mosquitoes! 🆘 Lost in translation – The nun on night duty didn’t speak English or Italian—only Spanish! We had to Google Translate our way through the conversation. 🗣️📱 She wiped my bites with alcohol (which miraculously stopped the itching!) and changed my sheets. The next day, the English-speaking staff gave me bug spray—problem solved! Final Verdict? 💖 A truly unique experience—especially when most hotels were price-gouging in summer, this cozy single room was only €50/night! 🙌 Would I do it again? Absolutely. (But maybe with mosquito repellent next time.) 😂 #StudyAbroadDiaries #EuropeTravel #PhDlife #StudyAbroadLife