www.monasterystays.com Authentic Italian Monastery lodging - "Prima Colazione " = "Breakfast " Traditional "Prima Colazione " = "Breakfast " in Italian - served in Italian Monasteries

No Eggs and Bacon will be available at your Italian breakfast and it is not because of the simple monastic lifestyle lived by your hosts. Italian breakfasts are not at all part of grand Italian cooking and food. The family lunch and the very social evening meal is where you will find grand Italian food. So the authentic traditional Italian breakfast, more akin to the continental lighter breakfast, is significantly different from the breakfast that you are probably used to eating. The "English " or "American style " substantial cooked breakfast is not eaten by Italians and is not offered at monasteries. Don 't sleep through breakfast as it is often included in your tariff and the authentic traditional Italian breakfast you will receive at a monastery - authentic as the stay at the monastery itself - will be very satisfying. I describe it as a robust continental breakfast as extra helpings are always available if you are hungry.

Served in the Monastery Refectory or Community Dining Room

UMT106 in Todi, Umbria Breakfast is usually taken in the refectory or dining room of the monastery consistent with the community aspect of monastic life. Breakfast will not be delivered to your room. Some of these dining halls are incredibly large, ornate, ancient rooms filled with frescos and with a great deal of history. Imagine staying in a place in Todi sitting having breakfast amongst millions of dollars of magnificent art. Breakfast finishing times are convenient - usually timeframes that suit travellers. Approaching the refectory or community dining room the aroma of recently baked bread and freshly brewed coffee will anoint your senses in readiness for an Italian "breakfast " experience. In monasteries if you are travelling alone, or with another, you will often be seated with other international travellers again consistent with the community aspect of the monastic life. Breakfast is usually laid out on the dining table in front of you or at a side table for you to graze off or at both.

So what is "Prima Colazione "?

An Italian breakfast consists of the following; Coffee - strong freshly made Italian style [usually magnificent] - it will be served in a pot along with a pot of hot milk combining the two to make your own "caffe-latte " Pane - crusty bread - fresh and delicious for your jam Panini - bread rolls fresh, often hot from the oven, and when broken an aroma to die for Brioche - breakfast pastries - flaky and so fresh - yes mouth watering Italian pastries just melt in your mouth. Prima Colazione at TOC122 in Cortona, Tuscany Cornetti - croissants - similar to the French version but more like cake and less like puff pastry Marmellata - jams of different types [of good quality often made with chunky pieces of fruit throughout] - probably home/monastery made from fruit from the monastery 's orchard

What of the EGGS?

Make sure you have a hearty breakfast before exploring the canals of Venice Eggs are not part of an Italian breakfast. Breakfast is not a big and important meal of the day. The traditional Italian breakfast does not include fruit or juices, bacon and eggs. Eggs are served for lunch or dinner prepared in a multitude of forms as a first course or a light main course. During your travels if you occasionally wish to enjoy a cooked breakfast ask your monastery hosts for the nearest "rosticceria " where eggs and bacon are often available. A "rosticceria " is a kind of delicatessen where food is packaged to take away or eaten from the take away containers while standing up at tall table or table ledges attached to the walls of the public areas inside the "rosticceria ".

What of the Cappuccino?

Cappuccino - you ask - where is it at breakfast? Generally cappuccino is not part of the offering within the monastery dining room as an espresso machine often not a part of the available monastery equipment. At the local pasticceria [pastry shop] or bar [more coffee shop, pastry, sandwich bar than a drinking place] found on most streets [Italians graze a lot] you are able to order a cappuccino and other milk coffees. Many Italians have their breakfast standing up in the local pasticceria on their way to work or school - it 's an all day pastry, fruit juice, sandwich and coffee shop, normally a small space - these are everywhere you look in Italy. Have breakfast at TOF107 before heading into the heart of Florence A cappuccino is always available after midday, but in the non tourist areas, the common question will be on ordering "did you forget to have your breakfast this morning ". Milk coffees are served in Italy in the morning - but Italians never drink milk coffees, like cappuccino and caffe-latte, after midday. At some bars and cafes you may be asked nicely if you would like to take a seat, as there are usually at least a few seats available - be ready for it - that can increase the price of the same item you have ordered significantly. If music is playing at or on the verandah of your chosen café or bar that could very easily increase the price again.

So don 't miss the breakfast!

Be confident that you are going to enjoy your Italian monastery breakfast, it is delicious and is a real energy day starter for the busy traveller, but it will be a little different. You certainly won 't go hungry. Should your tariff not include breakfast because or not be served by the monastery - you will find if you ask that the monastery 's director of hospitality will direct you to a nearby pasticceria. Don 't be surprised to find him or her in full habit standing next to you at the counter. They never sit down in a pasticceria or bar. Buon appetito!

About Monastery Stays Monastery Stays Pty is a typical innovative small company established to provide a superior service for people wanting an authentic experience in Italy of staying in unique and value for money lodgings conducted by religious orders, showing warm hospitality to all travellers. Monastery Stays Pty Ltd Angela Hoban VP Customer Relations Email: info@monasterystays.com Website: www.monasterystays.com Note: The author is David Hoban, a director of Monastery Stays Pty Ltd. This article may be freely reproduced if acknowledgement is given to Monastery Stays Pty Ltd or a link to our website provided.

Confidentiality: This email has been sent from Monastery Stays Pty Ltd ABN 48 075 875 133. The information in this e-mail and in any attachments is confidential and may be privileged. It is for the intended recipient only. If you have received this communication in error, please advise us by clicking "reply ", entering "wrong address " in the subject line, clicking "send " and then delete and destroy all copies immediately. Security: Although Monastery Stays Pty Ltd ABN 48 075 875 133 has taken steps to ensure that this e-mail and attachments are free from any virus, we advise that in keeping with good computing practice the recipient should ensure they are actually virus free. Monastery Stays Pty Ltd | Adelaide | Australia

Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail