Lonely Planet Review
A women-only hostel in a beautifully restored, 16th-century convent, this place is run by the Casa Internazionale delle Donne (International Women's House). There are 35 beds, including singles, doubles, triples, quads and a room for eight, some with a private bathroom, some without. There's also a communal room and restaurant where breakfast is served.
The Buon Pastore centre - the name of the complex in which the hostel is housed - is a thriving cultural centre. There's a shop selling handmade products made by women artisans, a coffee shop and restaurant/bar in the ground floor garden; feminist organisations hold regular meetings here and there are often exhibitions and seminars. But to give the impression it's a hotbed of righteous militancy would be misleading. It is, in fact a lovely, relaxed place to hang out. The hostel's communal room is welcoming with newspapers, board games, TV and Internet, and the guestrooms are bright and, if unexciting, pristine. Most look over the peaceful internal courtyard where a 100-year-old magnolia tree grows. Towels and bed linen are provided.
Review by author
Duncan Garwood