Travel6 Former Monasteries and Convents Converted Into Stunning HotelsFrom a 15th-century monastery on a Croatian island to a 17th-century Roman Catholic convent in the heart of San Juan, these are the most spectacular monasteries turned luxury lodgings

By Katie Lockhart

December 26, 2021

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Can you imagine anything more peaceful than roaming the hallowed halls of a former monastery? How about sleeping in one? Religious sites all over the world are being renovated and turned into luxury hotels and properties with stunning interiors and views to match. These reimagined relics become tranquil oases for travelers looking for a reprieve after a day of roaming cobblestone streets exploring ancient cities.

Book a massage under original vaulted stone ceilings, admire religious antiquities, or wander centuries-old medicinal gardens while the waves crash in the distance. From a 15th-century monastery on a Croatian island to a 17th-century Roman Catholic convent in the heart of San Juan, here are six of the most spectacular monasteries and convents turned luxury lodgings around the world.

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  Photo: Courtesy of Villa San Michele, a Belmond Hotel1/6Villa San Michele, Belmond Hotel (Florence, Italy)

  The glory of the Italian Renaissance can be found in every corner of this former 15th-century Franciscan monastery. Michelangelo designed its stone façade, and Nicodemo Ferrucci’s Last Supper fresco has been hanging since 1642. The boutique hotel’s 45 rooms and suites have terra-cotta tiles, custom furniture, stone fireplaces, and astounding views of Florence from above.

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  Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Peter & Paul2/6Hotel Peter & Paul (New Orleans)

  Built in 1860 as a church and later a convent, rectory, and Catholic school, this Marigny hotel was home to 10 Marianite Sisters of the Holy Cross. The 71 rooms and suites are unique in design and include religious antiques, checkerboard fabrics, and claw-foot tubs. Religious paintings hang in the old schoolhouse, while the rectory contains the Elysian Bar, crafting sinfully delicious cocktails and bites.

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  Photo: Courtesy of Lopud 14833/6Lopud 1483 (Lopud Island, Croatia)

  Though not a traditional hotel, this 15th-century Franciscan monastery is an exclusive-use property inside an ancient fortress just a short boat ride away from Dubrovnik. Each of the five suites features Renaissance furniture from the owner’s family collection. Lopud 1483 has been carefully restored over 20 years using historic plaster techniques to highlight the medieval stonework throughout.

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  Photo: Scott Dunn4/6Cirqa (Arequipa, Peru)

  A southern Peruvian monastery dating back to 1540, this Relais & Chateaux hotel is also available for exclusive use with 11 rooms centered around two stone patios with fire pits for cold nights and a plunge pool for hot days. Each room melds its original vaulted ceilings with modern touches like hanging matte pendant lights and handcrafted wood furniture.

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  Photo: Courtesy of Monastero Santa Rosa5/6Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa (Amalfi Coast, Conca dei Marini, Italy)

  This cliffside boutique hotel is delicately perched on the edge of the Amalfi Coast. Its 20 suites are named after the herbs used in medicines made by the nuns who lived in the rooms. The 17th-century Dominican monastery has sweeping views of the Gulf of Salerno from its sprawling infinity pool and its Michelin-starred restaurant, Il Refettorio. The Jane Goff–designed spa features stone-clad treatment rooms with vaulted ceilings, and the grounds have four levels of lush gardens.

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  Photo: Getty Images6/6Hotel El Convento (San Juan)

  The oldest member of Official Historic Hotels of America is in the heart of Old San Juan. Starting in 1646, this Carmelite Convent was the first in the Americas and home to nuns for 252 years. Today, it’s a charming 58-room Spanish Colonial hotel. Its chandelier-clad ballroom with marble flooring across from the San Juan Cathedral makes it perfect for a destination wedding.

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