Autumn Tuscany Retreat | A creative retreat at Villa Lena

Tuscany Retreat

3 - 8 October 2024 | Villa Lena, Pisa

Gather your harvest on a creative escape in Tuscany

As the rust tones of Autumn flicker and dance across the rolling hills of Tuscany, you are invited to a creative gathering with like-minded yogis, artists, writers and dreamers at Villa Lena. The majestic 17th century villa is situated in quintessential Tuscan countryside and on an organic farm, enlivened by the interplay between nature and contemporary art. This retreat embraces the abundance of harvest time, offering a balance between exclusive creative workshops, truffle-hunting and autumn cooking experiences, daily yoga, and restoration.

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Anticipate a journey with…

Truffle Hunt & Cooking class

Autumn is the time when truffles are ready to be harvested. The area that Villa Lena is situated in is famous for it’s highest quality, delicious and large truffle yield. People travel from far and wide for this annual ritual. Our group will have a guided truffle hunt in the countryside, followed by a pasta-making cooking class (including truffle of course!).

Yoga immersion

We have two yoga spaces for this retreat, one is a light and airy room in the main Villa, with views onto verdant gardens. The second is a yoga deck behind the Villa swimming pool area that has stunning views over rolling Tuscan hills, vineyards and olive groves. Yoga classes twice daily alternate between yoga spaces.

Professional artist Workshop

Villa Lena is not just a countryside lodge, hotel and farm. It is also a non-profit art foundation that runs an artist residency programme. Villa Lena supports emerging and young artists through this residency programme, and our yoga retreat group will have one exclusive creative workshop with a professional artist!

Organic wine tasting

Villa Lena produce a range of organic wines. There are two red varieties, and one sparkling rosé. The sangiovese red wines are grown in vineyards on the Villa Lena property, and the rosé combines local grapes with Villa Lena’s crop to create a creamy, fresh, blushing, any-time delightful wine. We get to taste all!

Calligraphy with Betty

Firenze-based calligrapher and designer, Betty Soldi, will be leading us on an exclusive creative workshop, linked to the retreat theme of ‘destruction and rebirth’. We’ll explore how the ‘learnt’ restrictions of our writing styles impact our way of being in body and mind. We’ll get to destroy this learning, making space for new inky flourishes and transformations!

Creative living

Our group will be staying in the 17th century converted farmhouse, Renacchi. Through innovative and stylish renovations, the historic countryside architecture has been transformed into a series of light, stylish and comfortable apartments. All rooms have original artworks, and antique furniture. Renacchi is 7min walk from the main hub, so promises us privacy and serenity.

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Location

Palaia, Tuscany

The extensive property that Villa Lena is situated on is around 1 hour east of Pisa, in the heart of Tuscan countryside, in the municipality of Palaia. Historically, the property was named San Michele, after the archangel to whom the chapel inside the villa is also devoted. The estate has had many owners, and some of the buildings - notably Fattoria and Renacchi - have foundations that date back to 300 A.D. In the early 20th century, the estate was a major center for aristocratic parties and hunting weekends. Indeed, the land is famed for its quality truffles and abundant wild boar and deer. The current owner purchased San Michele and rebranded it as Villa Lena in 2007, following which extensive renovations began. Temperatures in spring range from min. 15 ℃ / 59 ℉ to max. 27 ℃/ 81 ℉.

Accomodation

Villa Lena

The Villa Lena estate is located in the Province of Pisa, secluded amongst 500 hectares of woodland, vineyards, olive groves and organic vegetable gardens. A 19th-century villa sits at the heart of the property, originally built for an Italian aristocratic family. It now houses the Villa Lena Foundation and artist-in-residence programme. Surrounding the villa, are converted historic agricultural building - former farmhouses, stables and hunting lodges - that are now self-contained guest apartments and shared facilities. For this retreat we will be sharing three Renacchi apartments, all with original artworks and vintage Italian decor.

This retreat is for you if you:

Enjoy creative/artistic activities and people
Love good Italian food and produce
Enjoy or are interested in yoga and meditation
Value nature and quiet, country environments
Are craving a mix of rest and inspiration
Adore stylish decor and unique character buildings

What you can expect:

Exclusive creative workshops and the arty vibe of the Villa Lena foundation
Organic, farm-to-table produce and excellent Italian food
Twice daily yoga and meditation sessions with Nina
A secluded countryside setting - no traffic, no stress!
An itinerary that balances alone time and creative activation together.
Stunning historic Tuscan villas and original art everywhere!

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Your InRetreat guides

Nina integrates poetry, personal transformation and unique insights to her practice, enriching body movement with meaning. Her classes are playful, flowing and accessible to all levels, offering an inclusive space where everyone can discover their own personal edge and cultivate presence.

Read Nina’s full bio

Descending from a Florentine family who have been hand-making fireworks since 1869, Betty is a wordsmith, calligrapher, designer, author and creative thinker with a multi-faceted approach to a constellation of imaginatively inspired projects.

View Betty’s full bio

This Retreat in Review

“It was a very spontaneous decision for me, to join the retreat at Villa Lena in spring 2022. I am SO GRATEFUL for my decision! These days gifted me with strength and connection and sparkling creative inspirations. Nina is a super heartwarming host, amazing yoga teacher and everything was organized so great! The Villa is stunning, the food was delicious and the timetable left enough space to spend time on your own and integrate. If you hesitate to book - forget your doubts, its worth every second of your life!”

Melanie, Germany, 2022
“I really enjoyed this retreat. It had everything I wanted and exceeded my expectations. The group was super nice and just the right amount of people. The yoga had good variety and Nina really guides you through them with beautiful words. The surroundings are beyond beautiful and the staff were super friendly. It had been the best retreat I’ve been to and I will come back to this or other retreat that Nina organises. Thank you Nina for everything!”

Bine, Netherlands, 2022
“I truly can’t imagine a better way to spend five days unwinding. If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience to relax and invest in yourself, this is it. The combination of the Villa Lena setting (one of the most beautiful places I’ve been), twice daily yoga, and other creative workshops filled me up even more than I’d hoped. I left with a clarity of mind, deeper breaths, more aligned body, and some new friends, too.”

Marissa, USA, 2022
“With Nina I always felt in good hands, before the retreat as well as during Yoga classes and the well chosen activities. With her calm and kind communication as well as her openness and knowledge she created a welcoming and inspiring atmosphere with room for reflection and fun!”

Daniela, Switzerland 2022
“I was travelling alone on this trip so was a little nervous, but almost everyone else was also travelling alone. Nina and the staff at Villa lena quickly put us at ease and we bonded so well. It was restful, exciting, fun, supportive, magical. And more.”

Jane, England, 2022
“Nina was a great guide, both as yoga teacher as well group leader. Very accommodating of everyone's needs, as well a great communication bridge with Vila Lena when needed. Very available and genuinely present, both arranging necessary things - classes, activities, as well on a personal level, making everyone feel at ease from the beginning to the end of the retreat.”

Ana Rita, Portugal 2021
“Could have not imagined a better yoga teacher/ retreat leader. Very accommodating, listening to peoples needs and wishes, positive at all times as well as clear communication. I liked the inspiring touch with the poems, stones and intention settings.”

Janine, Amsterdam 2021
“Nina was such a calm, fun and inspirational yoga instructor and retreat leader. I had such a wonderful time and I felt so content and nurtured by the experience.”

Candace, Amsterdam 2021
“Nina was a very wonderful yoga teacher. I could benefit so much from her personal, rich experience as a yoga teacher and from her warm, kind and caring way to support me in my yoga practice.”

Silja, Switzerland 2021
“For me, the best part was the format of this trip — your days are perfectly planned for you with the ideal mix of activity and free time such that you have zero decisions to make. Your mind can be at ease and you can trust that Nina has built and planned a trip better than any you could plan for yourself.”

Marissa, USA 2022

All the retreat details

5 nights of accommodation at Villa Lena
Brunch and three-course dinner daily
Yoga classes with Nina Butler, twice-daily
Exclusive calligraphy workshop with Betty Soldi.
Exclusive creative workshop with professional artist-in-residency
Truffle hunt and pasta-making workshop, followed by truffle pasta lunch!
Villa Lena wine-tasting experience
Use of Villa Lena swimming pools, expansive grounds and art spaces.
Gift bag
Transport to/from Villa Lena. (We can assist with booking sharing/private transfers from Pisa airport.)
Alcoholic and other beverages. Coffee/ tea and juice is included at brunch.
Lunch (We have a large late brunch after yoga, so you may not need much more food. Lunch is readily available at San Michele restaurant.) On one day we have lunch included with the cooking workshop!
Arrival
Fly into Pisa International Airport on 3 October.
We can assist in arranging group/ private transfers from Pisa airport to Villa Lena. It is a 40min drive by car. (Prices range from €30 to €100, depending on the number of people sharing the car).
Opening welcome dinner on 3 October at 7pm.
Alternative airports: Florence; Rome; Milan (catch a regional train from there to Pisa centrale, and we’ll arrange a taxi from there).
Departure
We depart after brunch by 11am on 8 October.
We can assist in arranging group/ private transfers from Villa Lena to Pisa Airport. It is a 40min drive by car. (Prices range from €30 to €100, depending on the number of people sharing the car).
3-8 October 2024
Sharing room in Renacchi apartment:
€ 1899
Single room in Renacchi apartment:
€ 2499
Booking Terms
30% deposit required to confirm booking.
Balance payment is due 60 days before arrival.
Cancellation Terms
Deposit payment (30%) is non-refundable.
In the unlikely event the retreat is postponed, we will book new dates and 100% of your payment made will be put forward to the new dates. If the new dates do not suit you, the payment you have made will be reissued in vouchers, or refunds.