Lake Como, Italy Creative Retreat '25

Retreat dates: June 16-22, 2025

Lake Como, Italy

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Imagine spending a week on the shore of Lake Como for a creative gathering retreat….as you enjoy intentional community at long table dinners, hands-on creative workshops, guided excursions, special devotions, time to meander the cobblestone streets in the villages of Bellaggio/Varenna/Menaggio, sip cappuccinos, and enjoy gelato in this amazing region. Italy is one of our favorite places, and we'd love to share it with you. [Watch the video HERE]

Lake Como has become a second home to us, and we want to invite you to join us. Chasing beauty here is not a run, but lingering meander and deep savoring. We treasure our time with you, and love getting to take you in to wonder and wander this special place that we hold dear. You will be drawn into beautiful rest and wonder as never before. A time to gather, delight, create, and dream. Godwinks intended just for you.

We would be honored to introduce you to our friends here in Lake Como. Our sculpting workshop is taught by our friend, Abele, a well-known sculptor in Italy that has been in charge of the Notre Dame and Milan Cathedral renovations. Spending the afternoon in his beautiful atelier with his family in the middle of Melzi Gardens learning to sculpt with Italian clay - it is such a special time creating together under a master. Your creations made in this beautiful atelier will be an eternal reminder of your time here.

Our friend, Olga, hosts us at her beautiful flower farm, allowing us to pick from hundreds of the most gorgeous blooms to create a special arrangement in the handmade flower bowls that our friend, Agnes, has handmade just for us. We use all these beautiful arrangements for the community long table dinner in which locals from the villages join us for a special farewell.

There isn't a feeling that compares to zipping across the lake in antique mahogany Rivas driven by our friends, Daniel and Simone - with that little Italian flag waving in the breeze….headed to one of our favorite lunches in a private cove. It's a meal you will talk about forever.

On The Cottage Table Experience Italy Retreat you are not a tourist, but a guest; as you will experience the local hospitality of this special Italian region. We seek to intentionally savor meals, moments, and people wherever we find ourselves. Will you join us at the table in Italy?

Come with us for an experience that will remain with you always.

Included in the retreat price:

• 6 days and nights in a beautiful villa from 1838 on the shore of Lake Como. Your home for the week is set in a botanical garden with a lovely terrace for special quiet times, reflection, sketching, journaling, meandering, or gathering overlooking the lake with a private pool and beach by the shore

• 6 breakfasts, 2 dinners, 3 lunches

• Our private drivers will pick you up from the Malpensa airport and transport you to the villa on Monday, June 16, 2025 where you will be welcomed with a drink, get settled, relax, and we’ll have a special long table Welcome Dinner on the villa terrace overlooking the lake that evening

• Special welcome gifts

• Our exclusive retreat magazine with daily devotions for our retreat

• Long table lunches and dinners, one in which locals from the community will join us

• A private sculpture workshop in a beautiful atelier inside Melzi Gardens with special Italian clays

• A European picnic in the most gorgeous, special location

• Historical walk through the lovely village of Bellagio discovering little-known vantage points that most people miss, through a sleepy fishing harbor where rare Larian gondolas bob, and then a special lunch at one of our favorite locations

• A creative flower arranging workshop at an Italian flower farm to prepare for our long table dinner with locals from the villages

• A hike to ruins on the cliffs of a village, perfect for a special quiet time, sketching, and taking in the incredible view

• Time in the beautiful terraced olive groves, olive oil from this region is especially prized.

• Tours of famous large villas and gardens…..filled with art museums and beautifully curated spaces

• A special long table lunch in a private cove on the lake, one you will talk about forever

• Joining in the annual Torch Light Procession in Bellagio for the Festival of San Giovanni

• Private boat transfers from our dock to all of our scheduled experiences

• Our private drivers will transfer you back to the Malpensa Airport on June 22, 2025

• Plenty of free time to meander the lovely cobblestone streets of the villages of Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio….enjoying the cafes, shops, people, and gelato!

NOT INCLUDED IN THE RETREAT FEE: your airline ticket, insurance [medical or travel], meals not listed in the above itinerary

We’ve saved a spot at the table for you!

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The Italy Retreat will be June 16-22, 2025. The cost of the retreat is $6,999.00 per person, double occupancy rooms with private bathroom. If you are registering as a single you will share a room with another guest of the same gender. [If you have a friend registering that you would like to room with, please be sure to send us an email and let us know.] You may pay the total all at once, or we have a payment plan; you can let us know which is best for you.

We have a firm cancellation policy, once you are registered the total of all fees are committed and non-refundable. If you find you are unable to attend the retreat, your spot is fully transferrable to someone of the same gender until February 1st, 2025. Once registered you will receive a retreat contract and waiver to sign and return.

The $800 deposit goes toward the cost of the retreat.

What Others Are Saying About Our Retreats:

“There are many beauty chasers in this life, but you are beauty chasers that invite others into the journey of seeing with fresh eyes! Thank you for all the intention that went into this time. Without a doubt, the relationships you have nurtured here along Lake Como had everything to do with the beauty you allowed all of us to be lavished in. Thank you for all the ways you gathered, set a table of invitation before us, and over and over showed Christ to those along Lake Como and all of us. I have been getting messages this morning from some of the other women on the retreat and just reminiscing about how special it was. It was truly hard for each of us not to sign up for the next one and do it all over again. Thank you for such an experience. Jesus was all over your workshop in beauty, love, impacting the community, seeds planted, truly reflecting Christ, the words and prayers you spoke over each of us each day, your heart for everyone, Keith’s tender heart to love and serve, and in so many ways we won’t know this side of heaven.” ~Jeanne Oliver

“Thank you for dreaming up this magical adventure for us - it has been such an incredible experience from the moment I stepped into the villa. I’m grateful for you both for all the memories I’ve been able to gather - from the gorgeous welcome dinner, the incredible accommodations, to all the places we went + your gracious generosity. You both have such beautiful + loving hearts - you have truly blessed us all.” ~ Andrea Garvey

“Thank you for executing all of your thought and ideas to create this beautiful Italy experience for us. I could just imagine you thinking and dreaming up all the ways you can show love on people and make us all believe we could do anything and come out the better people for it. Your attention to detail and love for the people is both obvious and contagious. I don’t know if I would have been bold or brave enough to sign up for this trip if it wasn't for you. One, because I’ve seen you inspire myself and others over and over again through the years and have come to trust you and fall in love with you as a mama, friend, and sister in Christ. And, two, you made this trip become a dream that simply could not be passed up! Thank you for inviting us to be a small part of your world. John and I are thrilled to be here! We have made some great new friendships and have shared and listened to the hearts of those in this group. I look forward to what is next with The Cottage Table Experience.” ~ Debra Stensrud

“I will treasure this experience in my heart for eternity. You have expanded my understanding of beauty, peace, and love. Each activity gave me new knowledge and enlightenment. Thank you for the beauty and peace you offered so generously. My heart has enlarged from your ability to bring friendship, fun, spirituality, and love into the most spectacular experience!” ~ Bonnie Purcell

“Life changing - the two words that describe the week I have spent at Lake Como. Thank you for an exquisite experience filled with love, laughter, food, and incredible experiences.” ~ Renee Mueller