Umbria:  The Green Heart of Italy.

With it's sister, Tuscany, just next door - Umbria is a lesser traveled part of central Italy.  While there may be less tourists, there is certainly not less beauty.  Welcome to the beating heart of medieval hillside towns, and life changing cuisine.

Late October is an exciting time in Umbria.  Olive harvest season is approaching.  The final vintages are being plucked from the vines.  Truffle hunting is in full force.  The foliage is shifting from green to golden hues.  If a farm-to-table immersive experience of Italian food, wine & culture is calling your name, this is the retreat for you.

We'll call an 18th century farmhouse & a 13th century former church home for the week.  Nestled within a cypress lined valley in the middle of a vineyard, surrounded by olive groves, this peaceful oasis will be one that will stick with you for a lifetime.

Ancient cities like Perugia & Assisi surround us, calling to be explored.  This retreat will be a mixture of taking in the sights of both town & country.  Experiencing Umbria in the most authentic way all the while.

There's something about all 5 senses being engaged. Taking in the smells & the sights. Feeling the ancient roads under your feet, hearing the clank of the cup meeting the saucer as locals savor their morning cappuccino.  And the tastes... we'll fill our bellies (and our souls) with the cuisine of this fantastic region.

We will come home filled. 
With experiences, with the love of a culture, with new friends, and with a renewed sense of self.

Illuminare Retreats (named after the Italian word for "to light up") provide a curated & immersive travel experience for women from all walks of life.  In the company of new friends, you'll find time to relax & recharge - while also being inspired & renewing your sense of adventure.  Europe has a beautiful way of getting down deep into your soul & stirring alive passions you forgot were there.   Of reigniting ideas & bringing a new perspective to our lives. 

If you've been longing for clarity & inspiration in your life, this is for you.

Please read through these important FAQs:

WHO IS THIS RETREAT FOR?

Women from all walks of life who need a little time away, reconnecting with themselves while being in a picturesque setting.  

Guests should be eager to mix & mingle among their new friends, while also enjoying some intentional downtime to explore on your own & rest.  Attendees should all be able bodied to do a fair amount of walking.  We will be walking through various terrain (from vineyards to up hills in town on cobblestone) so mobility is a must.  This retreat is focused on an authentic Umbrian experience and is very food from the garden, wine & culture focused.

HOW MANY ATTENDEES WILL THERE BE?

The group will include 12 participants, plus the host Amanda & other retreat staff

4 months prior to the trip, a Facebook group will be created for our retreat members to get to know each other, ask questions & share more about themselves.  This is a great time to discuss any transportation questions too, as you'll find several other travelers likely on a similar itinerary whom you can share rides with!

HOW DO I GET THERE?

Our retreat home is approx 2 hour drive from the Florence airport, and 2.5 hrs from the Rome airport.  We can pass along private driver information for your airport transfer upon request.

Guests are responsible to get themselves both to the villa for the retreat as well as back after the retreat is over.  Travel is included during any group related activities where transport is required.

All guests are asked to arrive at 2:00pm on October 24, 2025.  Guests are to depart by 10am on October 30, 2025.

WHAT ARE THE ACCOMMODATIONS LIKE?

Featured in The Sunday Times & Conde Nast Traveller, our home for this retreat is nothing short of charming.  We'll call an 18th century farmhouse & a 13th century former church our home for the week.  Situated right in the foodie corner of Umbria, there couldn't be a better spot to explore the food culture of this part of the world.

Our home has a total of 6 bedrooms for attendees.  Guests will be 2 to a room, with a bathroom for each bedroom.  (Please note, 2 of the bathrooms will be shared with a third attendee).  There are both shareable king size bed options available (in a larger room with a private terrace) as well as rooms with 2 twin beds in each.  

Our home is not only full of character and oozing Italian charm, but it is also amidst a working farmland!  I hope you're ready to get your hands dirty, because it's harvest season and I want you to experience this region in an authentic way!