The most recent economic data show that religious tourism is a rapidly growing sector, throughout the world, in general, and in particularly in Italy, home of Christianity and Catholicism.

For years, tour operators have failed to acknowledge this segment tourism market, considering it the poor version of the real vacation.

But, as this sector of tourism was developing and with the ever-increasing demands and also thanks to a greater understanding of the tourists/pilgrims, the experts have finally come to the understanding that the religious tourism is not a “poor” tourism, but rather a “simple” tourism.

 

Why choosing a religious accomodation

Those who choose to stay in an abbey, monastery, convent, parish house or in one of the many other solutions of religious hospitality, do not seek the comforts and luxury of a usual holiday. You should not expect to find the comforts of a hotel or extra offers.

As a consequence, you do not need to plan a large budget for the. Religious tourism is extremely rich in terms of spirituality but is certainly a low-cost tourism.

Taken together, religious hospitality offers you the tranquillity, distance from the crowd and the confusion, the silence, and leisureliness, the meals consumed by sharing the table, the wake-up call by the bells ringing in the morning and the possibility of gathering in prayer and meditation, all values and experiences that are not monetizable options.

A few rules to remember

Religious structures that host travellers, tourists and pilgrims are often located in beautiful places, immersed in enchanting landscapes, surrounded by art and history, or feature both of them.

Nevertheless, sometimes hospitality is a bit spartan. Frequently, especially if it is your first time, it takes a while to get used to it, but, as can be seen by the acquired data, more and more tourists fall in love with this unique way of traveling.

In order to get ready for the typical characteristics of these accommodations, it is useful to know some of the general rules to follow once there. While varying from structure to structure, there are some that are more or less same for all.

• Simple food: generally, the menu consists of a very limited choice and simple dishes, that are made with products collected and prepared by the host community.

• Silence: respect for the religious community that is living in the structure is an imperative to be kept in mind at all hours of the day.

• No smoking and no alcohol: those who stay in a religious structure must share their values and lifestyle. Wine is usually served during meals but bringing alcohol to the room is not allowed.

• Roosters and bells ringing: the sound of an alarm clock in these places is a forgotten sound and scarcely heard by most of the tourists who stays there. And, once left, the wake-up call is going to be one of the moments to remembered most affectionately.