tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423406296664878001.post5080020356865606963..comments2023-06-19T01:37:47.250-07:00Comments on Kelly Carrying On: Villa San GirolamoKelly D'Innocentihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13268616012885190871noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423406296664878001.post-73906627249118665622023-01-17T19:04:51.358-08:002023-01-17T19:04:51.358-08:00Very sad this beautiful villa lies unused. I staye...Very sad this beautiful villa lies unused. I stayed there several times in the 1990s and each visit is a treasured memory. If you can update this blog post, please tell us if there is a new owner or plans to restore the villa? <br /><br />MJ Anderson, Florida.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423406296664878001.post-2239903116008785042022-05-28T17:25:44.412-07:002022-05-28T17:25:44.412-07:00My wife and I lived in Rome for two and a half yea...My wife and I lived in Rome for two and a half years. San Girolamo was our escape. We spent many weekends with the Blue Nuns and became family. We had children and we would take turns retreating to Fiesole while the other kept the kids. Such a wonderful place. Community meals in the evening would feature ten to fifteen travelers from all over, with wonderful conversation.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01169989253597847346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423406296664878001.post-44322751726529407432018-11-14T19:19:51.869-08:002018-11-14T19:19:51.869-08:00I remember that big piece of furniture, the sidebo...I remember that big piece of furniture, the sideboard. It was in the room where tea was served. This was 1992, and the nun who served tea seemed to be in her late 80’s or early 90’s. She described that she had been there during WWII when the place was occupied by the Nazis. The view from the garden was amazing, the Arno Valley. I think it was a stretch to say they they were running a luxury hotel. It was more a humble but clean guest house, and there were elderly there in the care of the nuns too. They needed the income to support the place. I’m sad it’s empty, it is a beautiful and historic place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423406296664878001.post-51021932534040900652017-02-20T08:59:48.464-08:002017-02-20T08:59:48.464-08:00Villa San Girolamo is a part of my family history....Villa San Girolamo is a part of my family history... we moved to Italy in 1964 when my mother was getting away from a nasty divorce with 4 small children (me being the smallest at age 3). After several months settling in Rome she left us with her mother for a week and went to recharge batteries at Villa San Girolamo, which was charming, welcoming and very cheap (needless to say we were broke). There she met some lovely nuns and a few priests from the Rome North American College who were guests, who triggered a bit of a spiritual awakening that eventually called her back to the Catholic church, and in successive stays we met people who were to become part of our life and family (including my future stepfather). I remember an amazing Christmas there being spoiled by "Sister Maggie" (Magdalene) and Father Prospero GrechAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423406296664878001.post-762756652394568852016-06-29T01:57:30.653-07:002016-06-29T01:57:30.653-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Max Chevershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18351412944540775058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423406296664878001.post-9988062674513484402016-04-06T18:08:09.560-07:002016-04-06T18:08:09.560-07:00My twin brother and I were sent to Rome from the M...My twin brother and I were sent to Rome from the Milwaukee Archdiocese to reside at the Pontifical North American College and to complete our Theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1961. We were to study for 4 years and also to be ordained as Roman Catholic priests.<br /><br />At that time San Girolamo was a "rest home" run by Irish nuns. Daily cost was $5.00 per day. The Irish nuns were fantastic. When students became sick, they were sent there to recuperate.<br /><br />My twin brother got sick and spent about 2 months there in our first year and about the same time in our second year, after which he had to return to Milwaukee. I spent several days there each year to visit him.<br /><br />I also spent several weeks there recovering from an appendectomy. Further, after I was ordained, my mother, some friends and myself spent Christmastime at Fiesole I celebrated Christmas Midnight Mass for religious nuns in a church in Fiesole, followed by a daytime Mass at the Villa with the Queen of Greece in attendance. <br /><br />The Irish nuns were just wonderful human beings. That is why I retain such fond memories of the Villa.<br /><br />I too am saddened by the present state of the Villa.<br /><br />Thomas R Marlier<br />Shawano Wi USAThomas R Marlier, Shawano WI USAhttp://kellycarryingon.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423406296664878001.post-50817214551665900492015-05-18T10:28:45.280-07:002015-05-18T10:28:45.280-07:00I'm so sad to see that the Villa is closed. M...I'm so sad to see that the Villa is closed. My wife and I stayed there in September 1992. We had twin beds, and a nun sat at a desk outside in the hallway! It was kind of an austere retreat. Tea was served in the afternoon. A priest came to say mass on Sunday. The garden was a peaceful place to rest or read, with a stunning view of the Arno valley. The nuns had lived there many years and could recount stories of the German occupation of the Villa during WWII. It was a magical place, run by lovely people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423406296664878001.post-60664049816564336722014-09-18T05:39:31.440-07:002014-09-18T05:39:31.440-07:00My boyfriend and I stayed at San Girolamo in July ...My boyfriend and I stayed at San Girolamo in July 1995. It was a magical and enchanting time, being lovers who visited Florence for the first time and who loved the serenity, beauty, seclusion of Fiesole, so close to the historicity and beauty of Florence. There were pathways, an orchard, and such stunning views of Florence. The nuns were kind and helpful, and the cost of staying there was quite inexpensive. John and I loved staying at San Girolamo and I am saddened that it is no longer operational. That place will forever remain in my memory as a personification of the beauty, history, and enchantment of Florence and Italy, as a whole, and a memory of an enchanting time in my life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423406296664878001.post-83865467163080150862014-07-29T03:52:57.089-07:002014-07-29T03:52:57.089-07:00My wife and I also stayed there in the 1990s. We&#...My wife and I also stayed there in the 1990s. We'd booked in for two nights - and ended staying for six, so enchanting was the place. The nuns were brilliant and when they found out I'd written a book about the disappearance of the Irish racehorse, Shergar, I received a lot of fuss. So sad to read this lovely place is in neglect. It was truly wonderful to sit in the enchanting gardens, looking out across the domes of Florence. Dinner was a communal affair amid like-minded travellers and part of the fuss they made of us was when an extra bottle of wine mysteriously appeared at our table. www.roydavidwriter.com Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423406296664878001.post-35932679106821474682014-01-22T14:27:51.651-08:002014-01-22T14:27:51.651-08:00I stayed in the Villa S. Girolamo in the 1995 whil...I stayed in the Villa S. Girolamo in the 1995 while visiting Florence. It was a beautiful villa overlooking the old part of Florence. It was run by an Irish nun who had great character. The meals were delicious and they gave me extra helpings because the nuns did not eat much. Sorry to see it in disrepair. Hope someone buys it and brings it back to life.Bennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423406296664878001.post-75399685845485203302013-09-12T06:08:28.953-07:002013-09-12T06:08:28.953-07:00I stayed here in 1993 with my best friend after we...I stayed here in 1993 with my best friend after we had finished our A'Levels. Both our Dad's trained to be priests at the English College in Rome - obviously neither of them completed!<br />The Villa was run by fabulous Irish Nuns from the Order - Piccola Compagnia de Maria (Little Company of Mary). We spent a magical two weeks in Fiesole, it was beautiful watching the sunset over Florence. Am so sad to hear that it is closed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com