La Bella Vita In Italia!
UMBRIA, ITALY
SEPTEMBER 3—8, 2017
Our luxury yoga retreats blend good health with good living! Stay in a historic and stunning Borgo turned luxury 10-room boutique villa set in the Italian countryside—and immerse yourself in an old-world appreciation of Italian cuisine, culture, wine, nature and yoga—all wrapped in classic Italian luxury!
Stay in an ancient castle villa!
Our historic villa dates back to the beginning of the X century, when it belonged to Rovaldo Baldassini, father of Sant’Ubaldo, patron saint of the town of Gubbio. The villa is located near the picturesque medieval town of Gubbio, the chapel of St Francis of Assisi, and the famous city of Perugia in Umbria. The property consists of different cut stone buildings leading down to a lovely pool, organic garden and spa overlooking a pristine valley of olive trees and lush woods. The former church, with historic architecture and original frescoes, is our sacred space to practice yoga and meditation!
The rooms are traditional and charming, set in a mood characteristic of Italian countryside, with all the amenities that make your stay perfectly comfortable! There is a lovely pool to lounge by, a warm jacuzzi and massages, an organic garden and endless countryside to wander and explore!
Flow of the day
MORNINGS begin leisurely with an Italian cappuccino overlooking the Umbrian countryside. Breathe in pure peace during a morning serenity walk, meditation session and yoga class in a stunning 16th century frescoed chapel. Yoga classes are led by Irish guest teacher, Sylvia Ferguson — morning classes a gentle yoga flow and afternoon sessions focused on alignment, pranayama, restoratives and yoga Nidra. Our yoga programs emphasize safety, awareness, intelligence—and the joie di vivre of yoga!for a dynamic yoga flow practice, with classes accommodating a variety of levels while providing challenge and learning for everyone!
AFTERNOONS begin with a mouth-watering gourmet salad and light lunch followed by free time to lounge by the pool, relax with a massage, read or siesta. Learn about the Umbrian kitchen in a villa cooking class with the amazing Chef Lucca Mazza. Visit a nearby 10th-century castle to taste a variety of Umbrian wines. For those wishing to visit the medieval towns of Assisi, Perugia or Gubbio, you may hire your own car or a private driver. At sunset each day we re-convene for a rejuvenating and informative yoga workshop and pranayama.
EVENINGS are pure magic, as we have a sunset aperitivo and elegant Italian dinner style under the stars—appreciating la bella vita!
Cooking & Wine Taste
On our Mediterranean-style retreats we try for a good balance of retreat time, down-time and a taste of local cultural. Our experience on this retreat is that most people are perfectly delighted to stay at the villa to enjoy the peace and luxury of the countryside, pool, exquisite food and wine. Others who may have traveled a great distance or are experiencing Italy for the first time, may want to see an ancient medieval town or taste wine on a family vineyard. To give you full freedom to find just the right balance for you, we treat you to an in-villa cooking class with master chef Luca Mazza, and offer a local add-on wine-tasting at a beautiful 10th-century castle twenty minutes from the villa (reserve). For those who would like to explore the region we suggest either renting a car or hiring a local driver.