A Writing and Deep Reflection Retreat

What You Will Learn

What's Included

This retreat is a powerful combination of group writing, list making and reflection sessions with group shares

• A writing exercise exploring "Where are you now?"
• A Writing exercise "Where have you been?"
• A Writing exercise "Where do you want to go?"
• Working through personal and creative blocks
• The power of letting go to reconnect with your creative self
• Understanding the journey of an author from dream to publication

• Daily workshops at the retreat with our small group for 4 days. These are kept private and off social media. 

• One 30-min call before event to answer any travel questions and get advice on your trip planning. I recommend making the most of your flight by planning to do a little travel before or after the event on your own or with a friend/partner, I'll give advice and help you feel comfortable and prepared for the trip of a lifetime! 
  
  
• 3 Monthly LIVE Zoom beginning 6-months prior to our event to get some "face time" with each other, share travel plans and bond before meeting in person. 

• Group WhatsApp chat the week leading up to our trip so you can share travel, connect with attendees and make plans if desired to meet up before or after, you will NOT be alone! We'll all be here, cheering you on! 

• Your room (see options below)
• Group Meals: Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner (with wine)
• Transfer to/from airport to villa 
• Transport to/from excursions

The Bedrooms

Room 1 

Divya

This is a private Master bedroom at the villa, with a generous ensuite bathroom, and AC.

First Floor

Own bathroom ensuite

Room 2 

Shreya

This is a private bedroom at the villa, with a double bed, ensuite  bathroom, and AC.

First Floor

Own bathroom ensuite

Room 3 

Melanie & Joya

This is a bedroom with 2 twin beds and a shared bathroom. If you choose this option you'll be paired with a roommate. 

First Floor

Own bathroom ensuite

Room 4 

Nidhi

This is a private bedroom at the villa, with a double bed, convertible to a Twin Bed room, with a shared bathroom.

Second Floor

Shared bathroom

Room 5

Belinda and Elisse

Twin Bedroom

This is a bedroom with 2 twin beds and a shared bathroom. If you choose this option you'll be paired with a roommate. 

Second Floor

Shared bathroom

Shared Bathroom 

Second Floor

 Terms and Cancellation Policy

Our policy is the same as that of other online courses and in-person professional conferences. Registrants canceling up to two weeks before a conference or online class  will receive a 50% refund. No refunds are given after that. We are unable to make exceptions to this rule, due to advance booking requirements, and the need to reserve space in each class for enrolled students. Please consider travel cancellation insurance whenever making travel plans.  In case of an unexpected force majeure that prevents a conference from being held, such as pandemic or natural disaster, you are welcome to transfer into another of our conferences at no extra charge, or move into one of our online Master Classes. In the event that we must cancel a workshop or class for any other reason and you do not wish to choose another workshop, you will receive a full refund of your payment.

About the Villa

"La Torre di Hesperides"

Who is Attending

Belinda 

Melanie

Nidhi

Shreya

Elisse

Divya

Pre Itinerary Joya, Nidhi

Lunch

Lunch 1pm

Address: Place Firenze, The Kitchen and The Bar
P.za di Santa Maria Novella, 7 50123 

Phone +39 552645181

Website: https://www.theplacefirenze.com/en/best-kitchen-bar-florence

Car Pickup

Car Pickup at 1:15pm 

Your reservation 1160864263 

Europcar Driver Id: 124055487

Phone: +39 0552381147

Address: FLORENCE DT FLRC01, Borgo Ognissanti 153/r 50123 Firenze

Hours 8am to 4:30pm GMT

Florence Outlet

Website: https://firenze.themall.it/en

The Itinerary

A note. Some of the activities may change days, based on the tour operators and availability.

Day 1 – Tuesday May 23rd: Arrival/Dinner

• • Arrivals
  • Happy Hour - Intros & Intentions (priorities/goals - when I leave this retreat I want to….)  
  • Dinner

From Florence Peretola Airport you’ll journey through the rolling hills of Tuscany to La Torre di Hesperides, originally constructed nine-hundred years ago as a small, fortified castle for a member of the powerful Guidi family.  After a warm Tuscan welcome, we have a little Italian aperitivo in the garden. This is before our welcome dinner where we set our writing intentions for our time together.

Day 2 – Wednesday, May 24th: at the Villa/ Drone Photographer/Cooking Class

• 8am Breakfast 
• 9am-10am A Writing Exercise. 
  10am-12pm Drone photographer Fabio Bernardini will take an hour to shoot us from above. His website
• 12pm-1pm Lunch
• 1pm- 4pm Afternoon walk on the property for inspiration 
• 4pm - Afternoon tea & conversation Q&A And Writing Exercise
• 6pm Cooking Class with Chef Antonella Benini

Every morning we enjoy quiet writing time. Savor a delicious breakfast at the villa that includes homemade pastries, organic yogurt, seasonal fruits and eggs, as well as teas, juices and Italian coffee. We gather for a few structured exercises both in the morning and afternoon.

• FEAR EXERCISE
• THINGS I LIKE ABOUT ME (As a writer, leader)
• PERSONAL LAW EXERCISE

After lunch here at the villa, free time. Take a nap. Walk the grounds.

In the early evening, we host a cooking class with Chef Antonella Benini

Day 3 –Thursday, May 25th: Private E-Bike & Wine

• Early Breakfast.
• 9.00 am Leave villa to reach San Sano parking (suggested time). The bike guide will wait for us at the parking.
• 9.30 am Private e-bike tour in Chianti, followed by wine tasting and lunch at Colle Bereto Winery.
• After lunch, our bike tour will continue to go back to the meeting point
• 4.00 pm approx. Our will end. Drive back to villa
• Free time 
• Happy Hour Q&A 
• Ahas & Writing exercis
• Dinner

When we return, we engage in these exercises

• YOUR LIFE IS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE
• OPENING UP TO OTHERS EXERCISE

This evening, you’ll take a soulful look at your life, followed by a regional-style dinner prepared by Chef Antonella

BIKE ATTIRE

The suggested basic outfit is a t-shirt, shorts (cycling shorts even better) a waterproof jacket (just in case of rain), and sneakers. A light backpack would also be useful to carry your personal items, your camera and some snacks, too).

They provide the helmets and water bottles.

Day 4 –Friday, May 26th: Olive Oil Tasting

• Breakfast 

• This morning we do quiet writing time.

  • A series of thought provoking questions to close out the week.
  • THIRTY DAYS TO A MORE POWERFUL SELF IMAGE

• Writing & Q&A  
• Dinner 
• After Dinner: Open letter to yourself from January (closing ceremony) 

In the afternoon you’ll return to the villa for a bit of rest before gathering together for another exercise.

This evening, we open our letters we wrote to our future selves in January, followed by aperitivo and another regional-style dinner prepared by chef _________

Day 5 –Saturday, May 27th: Departure

Early morning departure to Florence Peretola Airport.

Tuscany Writing Retreat with Joya and the Samita Mastermind Includes:

• 5 day, 4 night stay at Torres Hesperides, Tuscany, Italy
• Private group transfer to/from Florence Peretola Airport
• Private transport service to/from all side trip locations included in the itinerary
• All abundant breakfasts
• All lunches
• All delectable dinners featuring traditional dishes from the regions of Tuscany and Umbria, locally grown, organic produce and wine and olive oil from the villa’s estate
• Daily group and individual sessions with Joya
• Evening aperitivo hour for connecting and reflecting on the day’s events with fellow students
• 24-7 concierge service

Not included:  Airfare, meals, alcoholic drinks, buses, trains or boat transportation outside of that which is specifically listed in the trip package, gratuities for villa staff and drivers

The Unexpected is Part of the Journey: We weave amazing, authentic adventures into every trip, but sometimes unexpected things come up. If a site has an unscheduled closing, we improvise to include something equally as wonderful and interesting. The quality of the retreat is never at risk, as our team is committed to excellence, along with our vast, local, Italian connections.

Testimonials

Kimberly Brown, KBA-NYC, Architect

When I committed to the Paris retreat, I was asking myself, "I'm taking this time away from work. Why am I doing this?"

At the end, I truly realized that being around other people helps me achieve more. To see their path, learn from their path and their stories is just invaluable. It feels great to be around other thoughtful, intelligent, creative women.  With your groups, I feel like, okay, wow, these people are impressive and are shooting for the moon or and beyond. Joya cultivates a group that makes me feel like money I'm spending and participating in is worthwhile.

Having studied abroad in France as an American [student], you have to wait a lot. When you're in a group and traveling, it can be exhausting.  But Joya is elegant, orchestrated, and thoughtful about the in-between moments: going from the Chanel store, putting our things in a locker, and zipping to the front of the line at the Louvre with a private guide. Even if there was a 20 minute delay. What would she do? She instantly would have some questions for us and get us talking.  She thinks of everything.

Those in-betweens, when we're walking somewhere,  I made connections.   I did that with most everybody on that trip. I had some special time to just kind of connect with each person and hear about their spark or their brilliance.

Chef Antonella

Post Itinerary