We pick five of the best luxury hotels in former monasteries.  While the monks might have lived in somewhat spartan conditions, you don't have to.

Parador de Monforte de Lemos, Lemos, Galicia, Spain

A 17th century former Benedictine Monastery, the Parador de Monforte de Lemos is in the San Vicente do Pino monumental complex.

Converted into 50 rooms, set around the central cloister of finely worked stone.  Curved channels around the central floor were once used to collect rain water which was stored in a cistern beneath the tiles.

With hunting a popular activity in the area, dinner is likely to consist of some local Galician specialties, including deer, trout or roast suckling pig in the style of the Counts of Lemos.

More information from Paradores of Spain.

Grand Hotel Cocumella, Sorrento, Italy

One of the oldest, most beautiful hotels in Italy, the Grand Hotel Cocumella is on the Sorrento peninsula, overlooking Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples.

Built in the 16th century as a monastery, the building became a hotel in 1822.  The Cocumella has 44 elegant air-conditioned rooms and six suites, all furnished with antiques.

Among the special features, a seaside solarium, a chapel where concerts are held and the hotel's own tall-ship, "Vera", which takes guests on cruises along the Amalfi coast to Capri.

One of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), more details on their website.