The Muse Retreat
Florence + Tuscany
Italy
October 8 - 17, 2024
Together, we will explore + befriend our inner muses, while nestled in the Tuscan countryside, nourishing our bodies and igniting our creative spirits.
This is an alcohol-free retreat.
About The Muse Retreat
This is an invitation to join Sober Artist & Coach Tammi Salas for The Muse workshops & retreat in the awe-striking Tuscan countryside.
Our base will be a beautiful stone farmhouse called Podere La Valle. The farm is located in the center of a 370 acre herbal-aroma plants farm whose primary focus is the year-round cultivation of plants for the production of gorgeous Tuscan, organic essential oils. This property is the perfect location to base our retreat–as it includes a built-in trail system throughout the farm–for daily hikes, reflection, creating art and meditation.
Throughout the week, our local guide Carol Sicbaldi (an American hiking guide based in Italy for 22+ years) will lead us on adventures along the trails, visiting artists/artisans, in-depth food tastings and other special friends and farmers.
This is an incredible invitation to join Tammi + Carol for this special event in Tuscany – to indulge all your senses while being surrounded by stunning, natural beauty, enjoying exclusive visits with authentic Tuscan people all curated and enhanced by the unique teachings of Tammi Salas, as well as learning more about the area and the artisan expertise of Carol Sicbaldi.
Our days will begin with early morning (optional) cold plunges, meditations or walks on the property. There will be the Muse sessions led by Tammi Salas. Our afternoons will include excursions to local villages, an ancient grain flour mill and we will gather to prepare lunch or dinner in a private chef’s countryside home.
These intimate, once-in-a-lifetime experiences are not easy to find. Strong connections with local people, lifelong relationships with simple, amazing folks, means we will be creating unforgettable memories together.
As our time in Tuscany unfolds, we will have specific days for workshopping the concepts Tammi has come to know, love + practice in her day-to-day, like, simple grounding routines, self-portraiture, short stories, pocket altars, and small (powerful) approaches to shifting and embracing the mystery and beauty of life. There is also an incredible spa onsite that we can utilize on the property.
We can talk about all of this on our live calls to get you fully informed on the property + our adventures.
The Muse workshops will teach you how to:
Follow your curiosity
Notice the details in your daily doings through ritual + routine
Reset your nervous system
Create your own magic
Honor your personal font (your handwriting!)
Be a conduit for beauty
Celebrate who YOU are, right now, in this moment
Honor the little girl in you (she’s such a wise guide)
Identify synchronicities + important symbols to use in your artwork
Create a portable altar to take home with you
Collage + Image transfers for work with Self-Portraits
Learn how to be your own MUSE
The Muse Tuscany 2024 Itinerary
Day 1 Tuesday Oct 8:
TRANSFER FROM FLORENCE TO THE VILLA
12:00 pm - pick up at Hotel Orto dè Medici in Florence.
Group lunch in Castellina in Chianti.
Arrival at our villa property in the late afternoon. Check-in and orientation walk around the place. Evening regroup for intro/overview talk by Tammi about “Being Your Own Muse.”
Welcome dinner.
Overnight at Podere La Valle
Day 2 Wed Oct 9: CREATIVE MUSE SESSIONS + RELAX
Julie Tausch will offer image transfer demos as part of this morning’s program. Self-portrait work.
Afternoon spa/relax /create time.
Dinner.
Overnight at Podere La Valle
Day 3 Thursday Oct 10:
VISIT TO AN ANCIENT VILLA: COOK + OLIVE OIL TASTING + RELAX
Will drive up the road to an impressive 200 year old villa producing olive oil. Here we’ll cook our lunch with the family matriarch Eleonora and get to know the farm, the unique spaces there, the entire Calamai family–and their deep connection to food. Afternoon spa/relax /create time.
Dinner.
Overnight at Podere La Valle
Day 4 Friday Oct 11: CREATIVE MUSE SESSIONS + RELAX
Today Tammi will focus on self-portraiture, pocket altars and foraging around the property. Afternoon spa/relax /create time.
Dinner.
Overnight at Podere La Valle
Day 5 Saturday Oct 12: GUIDED SIENA VISIT + RELAX
This morning we’ll drive to Siena for a half day tour with our amazing local guide Rita Ceccarelli. Lunch on your own in Siena.
Afternoon spa/relax /create time.
Dinner.
Overnight at Podere La Valle
Day 6 Oct 13 Sunday:
CREATIVE MUSE SESSION - LOVE LETTERS + RELAX
Tammi will do a workshop on Love Letters.
Afternoon spa/relax /create time.
Dinner.
Overnight at Podere La Valle
Day 7 Monday Oct 14:
ANCIENT GRAINS FAMILY LUNCH + RELAX
This morning we’ll transfer to a countryside family home and meet Daniele Bolognesi (ancient grain cultivator & baker) and his family. Lunch at the property. Return to villa for afternoon spa/relax /create time.
Final Dinner at the villa.
Overnight at Podere La Valle
*Note: we’d love to invite women to a daily cold plunge in the villa pool.
Hot tea + opening meditation in the yoga studio, as well.
(when schedule permits).
*Lunches will be served at the villa on days when we stay at the property
Day 8 Tuesday Oct 15:
TRANSFER TO FLORENCE + FREE TIME
Afternoon check-in at the Orto dè Medici hotel. Lunch on your own and free time to explore or shop in the city.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight at Hotel Orto dè Medici
Day 9 Wed Oct 16:
FLORENCE ARTIST & ARTISAN TOUR + FREE TIME
This morning Carol will take us on a unique visit to artist and artisan studios in the center of Florence. Lunch on your own.
Final group dinner at the very special Nugolo restaurant in Florence center.
Overnight at Hotel Orto dè Medici
Day 10 Thursday Oct 17: INDEPENDENT DEPARTURES from
Hotel Orto dè Medici.
Arrivederci!
RETREAT PRICE: €3900 per person
(based on shared double accommodations)
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: €800 per person
(single room + private bathroom)
PRICE INCLUDES:
8 nights accommodations (6 nights in Tuscan villa, last two nights in Florence)
All tour transfers and luggage shuttles (not including airport in/out taxis in Florence)
Services of local, bi-lingual/bi-cultural guide Carol Sicbaldi
Teachings & Muse workshops led by Tammi Salas
9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 8 dinners
1 private cooking lesson
Local hikes (optional) on the property led by environmental guide & tour leader Carol Sicbaldi
A foraging session
Siena + a Tuscan village visit: Castellina in Chianti
Artist and artisan studio visits in Florence
Tastings (including cheese/honey/chocolate /tea/AF drinks & olive oil)
NOT INCLUDED:
International airfare
Pre-night (Oct 7th) accommodations at Orto de Medici Hotel OR other hotel in town
Airport taxi in/out of Florence (tram or private taxis available)
2 lunches
Tips/gratuities
Last year’s crew:
Proof of Life Retreat 2023
A joint heart-collaboration and labor of love between Tammi Salas and Carol’s Moveable Feast
How do I reserve my spot?
RETREAT PRICE: €3900 per person
(based on shared double accommodations)
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: + €800 per person
(single room + private bathroom)
12-person (total) retreat
7 spots available (shared double occupancy)
1 spot available (single occupancy w/ private bathroom)
SECURE YOUR SPOT HERE!
To reserve your spot, click on the link above + make your 600 euro deposit.
Questions: email info@carolsmoveablefeast.com
Shared rooms are currently available, as well as one single supplement room. A 600 euro retreat fee deposit is due electronically by March 15th and the remaining balance is due by July 15th.
Want to see last year’s Proof of Life Retreat Itinerary? Click here.
Be sure you are able to attend this once-in-a-lifetime retreat, as there is a strict no refund policy after March 30th.
We can’t wait to retreat with you this fall in Tuscany!
xo,
Tammi + Carol
