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CREATIVE & INSPIRING RETREATS FOR WOMEN IN SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES ON EARTH
You're a giver.
To your family. To your work. To your friends. To your community.
To continue to give, you must also receive.
This experience is designed to allow you to do just that. Enjoy the company of fellow women on their own personal journeys, all while soaking in the beauty Italy has to offer. If you're longing for inspiration, self-care time, adventure, or a mental break - One thing is for sure. You will leave this trip changed. We believe that sharing meals together leads to sharing our hearts. That sharing a bottle of red leads to sharing our fears. Illuminare provides a space attendees to look within ourselves & encourage our new friends, too. There is simply no better place on earth for a conversation like this one. 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.
It's time for you.
Looking for other retreats?
Take Me There
This retreat truly was one of the best weeks of my whole life. Amanda really rolled out the red carpet for us attendees. Everything from the accommodations to the experiences to the personalized notes and gifts were all done with such attention to detail. I have never felt more pampered! I left the retreat with so much more clarity about how I want to live life and make others feel. I would 1000% recommend these retreats for any woman who needs a little blood pumped back into her veins. You will be astounded at how someone pouring into you will change your mind and heart.
-Kate
"We travel initially to lose ourselves...and we travel next to find ourselves."
what to expect
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.
Umbria: The Green Heart of Italy.
With its 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.
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. Retreat members are eager to make new connections/friends, understand that Europe means a decent amount of walking, and are flexible/happy travelers! We will do some walking through the villages & countryside, so comfortable shoes are suggested. However, this will be a more slow paced retreat focused on relaxation over adventure.
What is the group size & when we will know who is joining us?
The group will include up to 12 participants, plus the host Amanda & retreat staff.
Approximately 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.
I have a special diet, can you accommodate?
On the application, you'll see a spot to let us know any diet needs you have & we will absolutely do our best to meet those at all meals. If you have specific concerns, please feel free to email with questions.
**If you have serious dietary restrictions, please email before registering with your specific needs so we can assess if this is the right retreat for you.
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 is not only full of character and oozing charm & rustic nature, 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!
Will we have wifi?
We will have wifi available for you within our retreat home so you can stay connected to your family & friends. If you'd like to have wifi on the go throughout the day as well and your cell provider doesn't offer this, please reach out and we'd be happy to help you arrange a personal hotspot.
how do i get there?
The Florence airport is a 2 hour drive from our villa, while the Rome airport is about 2.5 hrs. The train system is great as well, so don't be afraid to add an extra day or two on to your trip & check out more of the country. I'm happy to connect you with private driver options as well to make your transport effortless.
Should I be a wine drinker to enjoy this trip?
Great question! Some of our retreats are more wine focused than others. This trip WILL have more of an emphasis on wine. I would encourage those looking for a less alcohol-centric retreat to explore other options with us!
How active is this retreat?
Each Illuminare Retreat is a little different than the next. This particular retreat is more slow paced. The emphasis is on basking in the beauty of the region with gentle exploration of nearby towns.
That being said, guests do need to be able to do plenty of walking. We'll be in both vineyards and (uphill) cobblestone streets. While you won't be walking miles a day, you will do a fair amount of walking and need to be able to do so without assistance.
Once-in-a-lifetime experience
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Go home refreshed & empowered
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Embrace the culture, history, and food of umbria
Once-in-a-lifetime experience
-
Go home refreshed & empowered
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EMBRACE THE CULTURE, HISTORY, AND FOOD OF umbria
While this retreat is experience focused, it is also designed to allow you to reconnect with yourself.
Titled after the Italian word for Illuminate, we hope you leave this retreat not just with an incredible experience, but feeling a new sense of purpose, peace, or clarity in your own life. Whatever it is you're coming to look for - there is a good chance that once you clear out the noise of your day to day life & immerse yourself in the experience designed for you, you'll find it was within you the whole time.
Come experience the tastes, sights, smells & wonders of Italy - and flip your own light back on in the process.
illuminare
/ il:umi'nare/ verb:
to illuminate, to light up
What is the group size & when we will know who is joining us?
The group will include 8 participants, plus the host Amanda
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.
I have a special diet, can you accommodate?
On the application, you'll see a spot to let us know any diet needs you have & we will absolutely do our best to meet those at all meals. If you have specific concerns, please feel free to email with questions.
What are the accommodations like?
We will be staying in a stunning apartment in the heart of Florence! You will be sharing a room with another attendee so either come with a friend or be ready to make a new one! We believe that sharing builds our community & is part of this intimate retreat style experience!
Will we have wifi?
We will have wifi available for you within the apartment so you can stay connected to your family & friends at home. If you'd like to have wifi on the go throughout the day as well, please reach out and we'd be happy to help you arrange a personal hotspot.
how do i get there?
We recommend flying into either Florence, Rome, or Bologna. Transportation within the country is wonderful thanks to Italy's train systems. As the trip gets closer, you'll receive a comprehensive travel email with tips on finding the best flight deals, and how to navigate transport to our apartment once in Italy.
can i pay in installments?
Yes - We've provided a few options for you:
-You may pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your spot, with the remaining balance due on December 1, 2021.
-You may pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your spot, breaking up the balance into 3 payments due by December 1, 2021.
-You may pay in its entirety in one lump sum at the time of booking
retreat home
-6 night stay in a property dating back to the 13th century
-Day trips into medieval towns like Assisi & Perugia
-Most meals included (you will have a few lunches on your own while in town, however most lunches & dinners will be provided). Wine is always included with your meal
-Breakfast daily served in our retreat home by our private staff
-Truffle hunting in the forrest to find the best kind of treasures Umbria has to offer
-Cooking class to better understand the food & culture of the region
-Conversations with other women on their own journeys. A once-in-a-lifetime style girls trip to grow & be inspired
-Your custom journal to help spur on ideas & meditation
-A digital travel guide to aid you in planning your adventure
-Free time to do sightseeing & shopping on your own
-....and plenty of amazing surprises!
Details:
We ask that all guests arrive to our accommodations at 2:00 on Friday, October 24, 2025.
The retreat will conclude at 10:00am on Thursday morning, October 30, 2025.
What is included:
join us.
investment
Retreat cost:
$6800: Double Occupancy (Shared king bed in a suite with private terrace)
$6400 Double Occupancy (Twin beds)
Deposit required to hold your space: $900
Remaining balance paid in 2 installments
Note: Airfare & travel to/from our accommodations before & after retreat is not included.
Our group will remain intimate in size, therefore spots are very limited.
A note:
REGISTER NOW
If you’re considering going on a retreat, do it. Don’t try to convince yourself you don’t deserve to go, or that you’ll do the next one, or that you can’t afford it. Pull the trigger. You won’t regret it if you go. I promise.
-Karen, 4 time retreat attendee
illuminare retreats © 2020
| Site design by Kaleigh Turner Creative
Site design by Kaleigh Turner Creative