Retreats

Villa San Michele, Florence, Italy

If a 13th century converted monastery, high in the Tuscan hills above Florence with the Duomo as the focal point directly ahead of you, sounds like a fabulous location, look no further than Villa San Michele. This five star hotel with luxurious rooms and junior suites awaits you along with the wonderful staff at the hotel and those of La Dolce Vita Retreats.

You will be pampered from the time you arrive at the Florence airport where a private luxury sedan will whisk you the few minutes to the Villa in Fiesole. A welcome cocktail reception will introduce you to Janice Briggs, founder and owner of La Dolce Vita Retreats. Your meals will be prepared by the hotel’s renowned Chef de Cuisine, Attilo Di Fabrizio. The most spectacular function will be two days of hands on cooking classes at the famous School of Cookery, followed by lunch enjoying what you created. Fun and informative excursions are planned including visits to Florence’s most famous museums. Midweek guests will enjoy a day at the Capannelle, a beautiful vineyard and estate in the Chianti region where we will enjoy a wine tasting and Italian-style barbeque, followed by a visit to the Italian designer outlets.

The days will include substantive discussions with the faculty on a series of mind, body and spirit subjects. But there will be lots of time for leisure time and relaxation. This will be a very special week for you to focus solely on yourself and enjoy the camaraderie of a handful of other interesting women. The retreat will have no more than 17 guests.

For women who enjoy traveling with their husbands, but also want to partake in the benefits of the La Dolce Vita Retreats program, the excellent concierge staff can arrange for daytime activities for the gentlemen, such as golf,  museum/architectural tours, wine tasting, etc, all custom tailored to his interests.

The total cost (with the exception of beverages except where noted as part of the program of events, such as wine tasting) from arrival at the Florence Airport is:

$7,150* p/p double room, double occupancy 

1st Payment:   $1,430, due upon signing
2nd Payment:  $2,860, due on or before June 1, 2010
Final Payment: $2,860 due on or before August 1, 2010

$9,350* double room, single occupancy 

1st Payment:   $1,870, due upon signing
2nd Payment:  $3,740, due on or before June 1, 2010
Final Payment: $3,740, due on or before August 1, 2010   

$8,150* p/p junior suite, double occupancy: 

1st Payment:   $1,630, due upon signing
2nd Payment:  $3,260, due on or before June 1, 2010
Final Payment: $3,260 due on or before August 1, 2010

$11,775* junior suite, single occupancy 

1st Payment:   $2,355, due upon signing
2nd Payment:  $4,710, due on or before June 1, 2010
Final Payment: $4,710 due on or before August 1, 2010

Special Offer:  TO BRING ALONG A NON-PARTICIPATING PARTNER (husband, daughter, mother, friend) to share your suite or room, including half board, and share your private Mercedes transfer from the airport to the hotel, add $1,295 to the single occupancy rates.

*Pricing is based on Euro exchange @ $1.35 Prices subject to change without notice. 

Each of the five annual retreats features a variety of mind-body activities that allow you to re-connect with your essential self. Our guest faculty you will lead discussions on techniques to nurture your mind, body and spirit and we will practice those modalities daily.

• Welcome cocktail reception – Sunday evening, followed by a gourmet dinner
• Guided hiking and power walks in the hills of Tuscany
• Hands-on culinary classes led by renowned Chef Attillo d'Fabrizio at the famous School of Cookery at Villa San Michele
• Daily Creativity workshops featuring  Janice Briggs, Life Coach: Dare to Dream; Mind Mapping; Creating the life of your dreams; Journaling and Self-discovery
• Privately guided museum and historical tours of Florence, including transport
• Private day trip to The Campanelle for Italian barbeque, wine tasting and  Italian designer outlet shopping, including transport  
• Gala Renaissance Dinner with music the final night of the retreat
• Breakfasts (6), dinners (6), and  lunches (4) included. 
• Transfer from Florence airport to hotel by luxury sedan

The camaraderie of women is amazingly healing. Limited to no more than 17 guests, you will share your stories, forge new friendships, and re-discover your essential self. Your experience will be life altering.

Your days will be spent laughing, playing and exploring creative notions. You will tap into your inner childlike spirit.

Create your own reality. Be awed by your life. Discover your own dance!

• Visit to Florence including museum tours and lunch
• Visit to The Campanelle, country house and vineyard, for wine tasting and barbeque and Designer Outlets shopping excursion

To prepare for the adventure, a list of Suggested Readings such as short stories and poems is listed for your reference.

Click on the links below to purchase it on Amazon.com.

Writing as a Sacred Path: A Practical Guide to Writing with Passion and Purpose- Jill Jepson

Writing Begins with the Breath: Embodying Your Authentic Voice- Laraine Herring

Writing Down Your Soul: How to Activate and Listen to the Extraordinary Voice Within- Janet Conner

The Journaling Life: 21 Types Of Journals You Can Create To Express Yourself And Record Pieces Of Your Life- Shery Russ

The Artist's Way Workbook- Julia Cameron

The Artist's Way Morning Pages Journal- Julia Cameron

The Artist's Way- Julia Cameron

Falling Awake- Dave Ellis

The Heart of Yoga- T.K.V. Desikachar

Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit- Donna Farhi

Light on Yoga- B.K.S. Iyengar

Yoga and Ayurveda- David Frawley

The Ayurvedic Cookbook- Amadea Morningstar

Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners- Amadea Morningstar

The Chakra Handbook- Shalila Sharamon and Bodo J. Baginsky

Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life- Byron Katie

Honoring the Self: Self-Esteem and Personal Tranformation- Nathaniel Branden

A Woman's Self-Esteem: Struggles and Triumphs in the Search for Identity- Nathaniel Branden

Happiness Is a Serious Problem- Dennis Prager

The Dance of Connection: How to Talk to Someone When You're Mad, Hurt, Scared, Frustrated, Insulted, Betrayed, or Desperate- Harriet Lerner

The Dance of Connection: How to Talk to Someone When You're Mad, Hurt, Scared, Frustrated, Insulted, Betrayed, or Desperate- Harriet Lerner

The Road Less Traveled, 25th Anniversary Edition : A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth- Scott Beck

Perfect Health: The Complete Mind/Body Guide, Revised and Updated Edition- Deepak Chopra

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Pocketbook Guide to Fulfilling Your Dreams (One Hour of Wisdom)- Deepak Chopra

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga: A Practical Guide to Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit- Deepak Chopra and David Simon

The Ten Commitments: Translating Good Intentions into Great Choices- David Simon

Style Statement: Live by Your Own Design- Carrie McCarthy and Danielle LaPorte

Live Good- Kobi Yamada

Present Moment Awareness: A Simple, Step-by-Step Guide to Living in the Now

How Then, Shall We Live?: Four Simple Questions That Reveal the Beauty and Meaning of Our Lives

In Tuscany- Frances Mayes

Bel Vino: A Year of Sundrenched Pleasure Among the Vines of Tuscany- Isabella Dusi

Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life - Byron Katie

Honoring the Self: Self-Esteem and Personal Tranformation - Nathaniel Branden

A Woman's Self-Esteem: Struggles and Triumphs in the Search for Identity - Nathaniel Branden

Happiness Is a Serious Problem - Dennis Prager

The Dance of Connection: How to Talk to Someone When You're Mad, Hurt, Scared, Frustrated, Insulted, Betrayed, or Desperate - Harriet Lerner

The Road Less Traveled, 25th Anniversary Edition : A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth - Scott Beck

Perfect Health: The Complete Mind/Body Guide, Revised and Updated Edition by Deepak Chopra

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Pocketbook Guide to Fulfilling Your Dreams (One Hour of Wisdom) by Deepak Chopra

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga: A Practical Guide to Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit by Deepak Chopra and David Simon

The Ten Commitments: Translating Good Intentions into Great Choices by David Simon

Style Statement: Live by Your Own Design - Carrie McCarthy & Danielle LaPorte

Live Good – Kobi Yamada

Present Moment Awareness: A Simple, Step-by-Step Guide to Living in the Now

How Then, Shall We Live?: Four Simple Questions That Reveal the Beauty and Meaning of Our Lives

Attilio Di Fabrizio. Click here to see Attilio's biography.

All payments are final. We recommend that you purchase trip insurance.

Should you require assistance with airline reservations or pre- or post travel plans, we can proudly  recommend the services of several agents.  Please inquire about agents in your area.

Special Offer:  TO BRING ALONG A NON-PARTICIPATING PARTNER (husband, daughter, mother, friend) to share your suite or room, including half board, and share your private Mercedes transfer from the airport to the hotel, add $1500 to the single occupancy rates.