Convent churches and chapels

The majority of churches and chapels in Rome are, or once were, attached to communities of consecrated religious. The word "convent" comes from the Latin conventi or "those assembled together".

In English, a distinction is made traditionally between "convents" which are usually of unenclosed religious sisters or active male religious, "friaries" which are for friars, and "monasteries" which are for monks or nuns.

The distinction between "church" and "chapel" here is that the public has no right of access to the latter, although it is often permitted.