Tuscany Retreat '26!

May 25-31, 2026

Tuscany, Italy

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We don’t want to show you Tuscany, we want to invite you into it.

Tuscany in the springtime—the soft green hills, wild poppies blooming in the fields, the scent of lemon blossoms in the air, and the slow rhythm of life that somehow makes you breathe a little deeper. It’s a place that has captured our hearts again and again. A place that feels, in so many ways, like home.

And we want to invite you into it. To gather with you in this special place and with our friends here.

This isn’t a trip where we rush from one place to another or tick off a list of landmarks. It’s slower. More soulful. More deeply rooted.

A villegiatura—an extended stay in one beautiful region, where we settle in, let our shoulders drop, and allow the beauty around us to soak into our bones. We’ll gather together as a creative community—men, women, couples, solo travelers—enjoying connection, wonder, beauty, and something more meaningful than a vacation.

You will wind through the Tuscan countryside to a place we absolutely love—our home for the week. A beautiful, ancient, medieval Borgo on a quiet hillside with valley views that make you pause mid-sentence. This Tuscan haven becomes sacred ground during our time there. There’s something about it—maybe the golden light, maybe the stillness, maybe the laughter echoing off the stone walls, or the beauty in every corner. It's a beautiful haven deep in the Tuscan countryside that feels like a little piece of heaven on earth.

We'll spend a day in Florence, and step into a private creative workshop tucked into a hidden garden, inside an ancient limonaia—a lemon house filled with history and light — with our friend, Betty Soldi, for a special morning ink workshop in her beautiful studio. You’ll hear birdsong through the open windows as we gather around tables to create, share, and exhale. We'll spend the rest of the day exploring our favorite parts of Florence—the neighborhoods, cafes, and shops.

We’ll spend time in some of the most beautiful hill towns—San Gimignano, Siena, and Volterra—not as hurried tourists, but as welcome guests paying attention, and meeting our friends in each of these special places that hold such a dear place in our heart.

We’ll truffle hunt with the borgo truffle hunters, linger over handmade pasta and dinners where the conversation is just as delicious as the food. Strangers will become friends.

This is a special time that doesn’t just show you a place. It invites you into it. It's for those who want to chase beauty, to be fully immersed in the richness of the culture, and to find space to breathe, reflect, and create in community.

Come with us next spring. Tuscany is calling, and we’d love nothing more than to show you our Tuscany and why the place and people are so very special to us.

Our retreats are for women/men/couples/singles. This is a small, boutique retreat with very limited spots.

Included in the retreat price:

• 6 days and nights in a luxurious countryside estate deep in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, with some of the most commanding views in all of Tuscany.

• Special welcome gifts

• Morning workshop in Florence with Betty Soldi in her beautiful limonaia atelier tucked into a secret garden.

• A woodland picnic in the borgo garden

• A beautiful dinner in a vineyard

• A historic walking tour of Siena, with time in the stunning Duomo di Siena, filled with Italian masterpieces including many from Michelangelo and Donatello.

• A morning truffle hunting in the forests of our borgo with the estate truffle hunters

• A cooking workshop in the heart of San Gimignano making several types of pasta with a local chefs

• Time meandering the lovely medieval villages of Volterra, San Gimignano, Siena, and the beautiful city of Florence.

• Free time to enjoy the enchanting borgo that will be our home for the week with opportunities to: ride horses, take a dip in the beautiful infinity pool, schedule spa time, peruse the art gallery, go for a bike ride, enjoy the eight different hiking/walking paths on the estate

• Breakfast each morning, two dinners, two lunches.

• A surprise or two!

• Private transport to and from the Florence Airport on May 25 and 31 + private transport to all scheduled experiences and excursions.

NOT INCLUDED IN THE RETREAT FEE: your airline ticket, insurance [medical or travel], meals not listed in the above itinerary. Travel insurance is required for this retreat, and must include cancellation coverage.

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

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The Tuscany Retreat will be May 25-31, 2026. The cost of the retreat is $7,995.00 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 March 1, 2026. Once registered you will receive a retreat contract 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