Monastero di San Girolamo, San Gimignano

History

The monastery was originally located outside the walls of San Gimignano, however this left it exposed to frequent raids, common for the time. In 1337, due to the attacks, the monastery was transferred inside the town walls. The nuns agreed to give their property of Sts.Victor and Niccolò to the town of San Gimignano, which in turn would build a monastery (a house and cloister). On November 1, 1337, the small community of five nuns moved into the new monastery, which in time was extended and completed according to the requirements of the Rule of St.Benedict.

In 1477, the monastery of St.Mary the Virgin in Cavriglia met the same fate and was raided multiple times, so the nuns moved to San Gimignano, where the monastery had by then assumed the name of San Girolamo.

The hardest times for San Girolamo came in the nineteenth century with the suppression decrees: in 1813, the Napoleonic laws decreed the suppression of all monasteries and forced the nuns to flee and seek refuge with relatives and friends. Only in 1816 were the nuns able to regain the monastery, which had been badly neglected. Renovation had barely been completed when in 1866, the Italian government issued a similar law, but did not succeed in turning the nuns out of their house.

Food & beverage

Breakfast is included with the lodging. There is a small kitchen where guests may heat up take away meals.

Other facilities

There is a meeting room and private parking.