Retreat with St. Catherine

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

The hostel is strategically located next to the Basilica San Domenico, which houses a fresco of St. Catherine, as well as a few fascinating reliquaries (including her finger!) Our double room with bath had ample space and was well tended. The view makes the room seem gourmet! My single room on my second visit was immaculate, though the bed was a little lumpy. I was impressed by the cleanliness of the share bath on the second visit as well. Having the nuns at the door gives you a strange sense of security, even if you're not religious.

The only drawback to Alma Domus is the curfew, which was 11:30pm -- a late dinner with lots of wine can send you scurrying through the windy streets to make it home in time for the Sisters to let you in! I'd also highly recommend making reservations in advance of your arrival, at least a week or two -- during my last visit to Italy I desperately wanted to stay there, and was met by disappointment when I called a few days ahead to find they were booked!

Lorenzetti's landscapes, "A Town on the Sea" and "Castle on the Banks of a Lake," are thought to be inspired by the architecture and landscape of Siena... also valued as some of the first landscape paintings in European art. To me, these paintings are worth the whole visit. I continue to admire even my postcards of the pieces that I have from the museum. What is very striking to note is the similarity in ambiance with present-day Siena. Also, it is incredible to see the correlation and progression of the Sienese painters over the time span represented in the galleries.

So that you don't miss the opportunity to spend time at the Pinacoteca, check the hours of the museum posted outside. There are a few days that the galleries are closed, and when I was there, it was only open in the mornings. I visited the museum twice to fully enjoy the collection. Bring a sketchbook!