An Alcohol-Free Tuscan Retreat
Delight the senses and immerse yourself in nature and adventure
A sober retreat in Tuscany this October 2023
SELF MADE presents:
With Pleasure!
October 7-14, 2023
October 7-14, 2023
In this weeklong retreat in the Tuscan countryside, we’ll experience nature and culture, connect over thoughtfully curated and locally sourced meals at abundant tables, and celebrate being alcohol-free by delighting in the pleasure, beauty and enchantment of Italy.
The intention of this retreat is to reclaim joy and pleasure, to relish in our five senses, and to soak in the richness of our surroundings.
Our time will be balanced between cultural activities and time spent in nature, with built-in downtime and plenty of opportunities to connect with each other. Mornings will be spent in (optional) quiet contemplation. Afternoons will either be spent on a local excursion, and/or doing group activities led by Dani. You will be invited to retreat fully into the experience and to give over to the allure of Tuscany.
Our home base is a stone farmhouse called Podere La Valle.
The farm is located at the center of a 370-acre herbal-aroma plants farm whose primary focus is the year-round cultivation of plants for the production of organic Tuscan essential oils. The property includes a built-in trail system throughout the farm, perfect for daily hikes, reflection, and meditation. Our local guides and transports will whisk us away for food tastings and visits with Tuscan food artisans and/or craft artisans.
Our days will begin with early morning contemplative practice or walks on the property. Afternoons will include excursions to local villages—including a visit to a pecorino cheese farm or an ancient grain flour mill, and a private chef’s countryside home, just to name a few. There will also be interactive teaching elements and creative explorations led by Dani.
Activities will foster intimate, once-in-a-lifetime experiences with local artists and artisans, and the potential to cultivate lifelong connections with your fellow participants. Though you will be encouraged to take part in everything this retreat offers, all program activities are optional, so you can discern what is best for you to fully rest and restore.
This retreat is for you if:
You’re longing to slow down and savor your life, and take a restorative break from the constant thrum of the urgency spiral.
You want to rebel against the bummer “but you can’t go to Europe without wine!” messaging and prove to yourself—and the world—that recovery is SO MUCH BIGGER than the narrative you’ve been sold.
You suspect that your capacity for JOY + PLEASURE is far greater than you tend to allow yourself on a day-to-day basis.
You’ve been taught healing is hard and that to feel good, you have to walk through what seem like endless fires—and you’re ready to push back on this notion.
You’ve hit a plateau in your recovery and the thought of revitalizing your practice with a mix creativity, somatics, and adventure calls to you
You want to adventure post-COVID but you feel overwhelmed by the details and would love for somebody to plan an amazing agenda
You're excited to meet like-minded friends and you enjoy group travel
You’re more stable than you’ve ever been and you want to CELEBRATE your hard work with other like-minded sobernauts
DAILY ITINERARY
-
Day 1: Saturday, 10/7
ARRIVAL DAY - PODERE LA VALLE - Castellina in Chianti
There will be a group shuttle (or a series of shuttles) from Florence center or airport–based on guest arrival times.
NOTE: We recommend flying in one day early on Oct 6th with one overnight in Florence. (recommended hotel: Hotel Orto de’ Medici).
◦ 1:30 pm Welcome buffet lunch at Podere La Valle.
◦ Afternoon walk on the property.
◦ Visit to owner Jerome’s essential oil distillery - just below the villa property.
◦ 7:30 pm Light dinner and introductions; overview of the week.
-
Day 2: Sunday, 10/8
TERRACOTTA & OLIVE OIL
◦ 7:00 am This morning will begin with an optional contemplative practice with Dani
◦ 8:30 am Breakfast
◦ 9:30 am We begin our journey with a visit to an artisan terracotta studio in Impruneta. For seven centuries the historical furnaces of Impruneta have been handing down through generations, this precious and ancient art of terracotta, finding evidence in virtuous examples, such as the Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Basilica of San Lorenzo, the Laurentian Library, the Medici Chapels and many others. Since 1309, the new art of mezzinai and orciai (terracotta workers) has been established. We’ll visit a beautiful historical studio and watch the artists in action. Unforgettable!
Late morning cooking lesson/lunch with Eleonora (female olive oil producer) on her olive tree farm, Monteoriolo.
At Monte Oriolo, producing olive oil is a family matter. The care they put into the trees and in the fields, is the same care they have for enjoying daily meals at the table. Strolling the property, cooking with Eleonora, tasting their oil and walking through her synergetic garden is all part of a very unique, family, Tuscan experience. We’ll cook, eat and taste olive oil!
◦ 8pm Light dinner cooked together back at the property. (dinner not included this evening)
-
Day 3: Monday, 10/9
DAY TRIP TO SIENA
◦ 7:00 am Morning Creative Contemplation session with Dani
◦ 8:30 am Breakfast
◦ 10 am After breakfast, we will head into what some consider one of Italy’s most intriguing and loveliest Medieval city: Siena. We will be met by a local professional guide who will share Siena living and the fascinating history of their year-round engagement, The Palio horse race. The afternoon is then free to grab some lunch on your own, hang out in Il Campo (the main piazza) to watch people, do some shopping (pick up supplies for tonight’s dinner) or explore the dazzling, winding streets of this big, very Italian “town”–before heading back to the villa.
Dinner on own/shared cooking.
-
Day 4: Tuesday, 10/10
HIKE THROUGH CHIANTI VILLAGES
◦ 7:00 am Morning Creative Contemplation session with Dani
9:00 am Breakfast
This morning we’ll stop in to explore the lovely original and historical market towns of Greve in Chianti. Connection in nature experience guided by Dani.
3hr nature hike, rolling hills - Walking level moderate
Our destination: Panzano in Chianti where we’ll stop in to meet a famous singing, (& Dante reciting) butcher named Dario. Free time in Panzano for a butcher lunch, trattoria pasta or quick sandwich in town - ON OWN.
Transfer back to La Valle.
◦ 6 pm This evening we will enjoy a hands-on cooking class at the villa where we will learn to prepare a few Tuscan dishes with chefs Mirella and Stefano. These two life-long Florentine cooks have a passion and drive to share their love of the land, the freshness, history and simplicity of ingredients and big, bountiful flavors. A memorable experience awaits us!
We’ll learn and cook together and then enjoy the results of our efforts.
-
Day 5: Wednesday, 10/11
FORAGING IN THE TUSCAN WILD, PIZZA BY NIGHT
◦ 7:00 am Creative Contemplation with Dani
◦ 8:30 am Breakfast
◦ 11:00 am Later in the day we will meet up with a local nature guide Marco who will take us foraging for spontaneous herbs, edible greens and flowers and if we’re lucky, porcini mushrooms!
Our foraging excursion will be followed with a lesson and tasting on how to make curative, restorative or relaxing herbal teas. Light lunch provided.
Connection in nature experience guided by Dani
◦ 7:00 pm This evening we’ll enjoy the special treat of mouth-watering, delicious pizzas made with ancient grain flour - served up by pizza maestro, Andrea (otherwise known as “A Man From Chianti”) and from his traveling tiny pizza food truck.
-
Day 6: Thursday, 10/12
CYCLING IN CHIANTI
◦ 7:00 am Creative Contemplation with Dani
◦ 8:30 am Breakfast
◦ 10:00 am We’ll shuttle to Gaiole in Chianti where we’ll pick up our standard mtb/road or e-bikes and begin a guided exploration of the stunning Tuscan countryside by bike! Undulating hills dotted with vines and olive groves, green pastures and harmonious stone houses. Half-way through our ride we will stop for a locally curated picnic (with loads of surprise goodies!) and continue on with our ride back to Gaiole village.
Rest and down time back at the villa before dinner and closing circle at the villa.
-
Day 7: Friday, 10/13
TRANSFER TO FLORENCE
◦ 8:00 am Creative Contemplation with Dani
◦ 9:00 Breakfast
The rest of the morning is yours to enjoy the villa property and spa
An optional massage can be scheduled at an additional cost.
Massages from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm.
◦ 12:00 pm light villa lunch followed by departure for Florence.
◦ 3:00 pm Afternoon check in to the hotel.
Final dinner in Florence.
-
Day 8, Saturday 10/14
ARRIVEDERCI - FLORENCE
◦ 8:30 am Breakfast
*Some folks will be departing today. Optional additional day in Florence (booked via Moveable Feasts or on your own) at Hotel Orto de’ Medici or other. Contact Carol - info@carolsmoveablefeast.com for more info on options for continued stay in Florence.
$3,850
Double Occupancy
$660 Deposit
$4,330
Single Occupancy
$660 Deposit
PRICE INCLUDES
8 nights accommodations (6 nights in Tuscan villa, last 2 nights in Florence)
All tour transfers and luggage shuttles (not including airport in/out taxi)
Services of a local, bi-lingual guide
Guidance/ inspirational sessions led by Self Made Leader Dani Cirignano
7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners
2 cooking lessons
Local hikes led by Environmental Guide Carol Sicbaldi
A foraging session in the Tuscan woods with forager Marco
Tuscan village visits
Artisan visits (including food /tea/AF drinks & oil tastings)
PRICE DOESN’T INCLUDE
International airfare
Pre and post night accommodations at Orto de’Medici Hotel in Florence
Airport taxi in/out of Florence (tram or private taxis available)
2 lunches/1 dinner
Tips/gratuities
Meet Your Guides
Meet Your Guides
WHO IS DANI?
Dani Cirignano (MFA) is a writer, coach, and recovery advocate in San Francisco, CA.
She helps fellow late bloomers learn how to work with—not against—their innate talents and gifts so they can design a bold, on-purpose life that aligns with their values.
She writes about recovery, creativity, community, and my beloved San Francisco, and I believe that it’s an expanded sense of joy, pleasure, and play that is the ultimate aim of personal growth and self-development.
I prefer the margins over the middle every damn time.
WHO IS CAROL?
Although American by birth, Carol’s relationship with Italy is more than mere coincidence. In the early 1900s her grandfather made his way to the Land of Opportunity from the tiny Italian village of Villaromagnano in Piedmont. One of 17 children, Pietro Sicbaldi worked hard to buy himself a large piece of land and started a fruit tree farm. Three generations and 14 grandchildren later, Carol’s family still work this land.
Carol’s insatiable curiosity about her heritage, combined with her love of travel and languages brought her across the globe and finally to Italy to perfect her ancestor’s mother tongue and to meet Pietro’s remaining relatives; her first, second and third cousins. After many years guiding tours along the Italian peninsula, Carol made Italy her permanent home and has created, designed, and guided active foodie trips for almost two decades.
As the conductor of authentic tours of Italy’s time-honoured traditions, the discerning experiences offered by Carol’s Moveable Feasts will push you to explore a life of simple pleasure, uncomplicated flavours, bucolic landscapes and architecture from a time when things were built to last.
Carol’s adoptive home of Italy is so many things to her; there are few places where a respect for heritage and tradition runs so deep. Take your pick from trekking, authentic home cooked meals, pop-up picnics and wine tastings and she will craft a tour to your exacting requirements.
She will introduce you to artisans whose life’s work is keeping their chosen crafts alive, from cheese makers, bakers, honey producers and herbalists to farmers, chefs, artists and wine and olive oil producers. Carol’s deep understanding of the places she shares with her guests ensure an insightful foray into the pleasures of this region.
Let’s celebrate a simplicity long lost in most corners of the world. Slow down, appreciate the rhythm and flavours of a simple life; let her show you the way.
