"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." 

Marcus Aurelius

Dance under a Tuscan sun, and enjoy vino & vinyasa in the light of the Italian moon...Experience the art of living yoga as we dive into the simply delightful nature of Italian culture. 

Reconnect with your personal health in a joyful way, and learn about Marcus Aurelius' teachings of meditation and mindfulness.  

Life is enriched by exploration and connection. Retreat to the artisan family run 'Agriturismo Le Pianore' with us, and discover the deep roots of Tuscan life.

Empower your body and mind with vibrant and healing yoga, enliven your senses with the Italian 'dolce vita', unplug from distractions and wire into regenerative ways of being, brighten your spirit by making new friendships and lasting memories.

This is an all levels yoga retreat and community experience; all ages, couples, friends and solo travelers are welcome! 

We can accommodate all food requirements, providing traditional Tuscan and Neapolitan dishes, incorporating all fresh homegrown organic produce together with locally sourced ingredients.  

Accommodations are well designed and comfortable, providing the perfect base camp for us to unwind and connect with nature.

SHELLEY WILLIAMS and SUZY NECE are longtime friends and colleagues. They collectively share over 25 years of professional experience as expert teachers in their field of yoga and somatic healing movement arts. 

Shelley and Suzy are known for creating an accessible and joyful retreat environment for any and everyone to deepen, learn, and experience new frontiers in body, mind, spirit, and culture. 

AGRITURISMO 'LE PIANORE' - Set in the heart of Tuscany, cradled between medieval hilltop towns and surrounded by woodlands, vineyards, olive groves and mountain streams. A private haven ideally suited to creative exploration and spiritual practice: with its spectacular views and untouched landscapes, it imparts a real sense of freedom.

The estate is an IMC certified organic farmstead with more than 80% of it's energy coming from renewable sources (solar panels and sustainable managed wood) and all the water comes directly from the mountain spring.

The property offers a variety of rooming options, mostly with private bathrooms, and beautiful, spacious indoor and outdoor yoga facilities.

The wonderful Basile family, originally from Napoli, will be our hosts and will welcome you with the warmest of Italian hospitality, making sure that your Tuscan vacation is simply "fantastico.!".

CHIRRIPOSA RETREATS specialises in organising and hosting customised retreats, workshops and vacations for groups, individuals, families and friends in search of fun and adventure in amazing locations.

Chirriposa will take care of all the fine details of your retreat... from the domestic travel arrangements, your hotel, accommodations and meals. 

The Chirriposa team will accompanying you throughout your trip as your hosts, organising optional activities, services and excursions and even be your private drivers!

All you need to to do is simply sit back, relax and allow us to remove any stress from your shoulders., so that you can concentrate on you and enjoying your retreat!

We look forward to meeting you and hosting your retreat!

Angus and Tania

https://www.chirriposa-retreats.com

Your flight should arrive into Florence ANYTIME on Friday 22 September and depart from Florence ANYTIME on Sunday 01 October. You will make your own arrangements for transport from the airport to the group hotel in Florence. A taxi will take about 10 minutes and will cost around €10-15. Alternatively, you can take a tram T2 from the airport (FLO) 'PERETOLA' for 4 stops (7 mins) to 'NOVOLI' (Florence), which will leave you right outside the hotel.

HOTEL IN FLORENCE:

Name: Starhotels Tuscany - Novoli

Website: https://www.starhotels.com/en/our-hotels/tuscany-florence/

Address: Via di Novoli, 59 50127 Firenze Italia

Phone: +39 055 431441

http://www.tuscany.fi@starhotels.it

Our hotel is located in Novoli, a neighborhood located just on the outskirts of FLORENCE. It is home to several important institutions, such as the University of Florence and the Tribunal of Florence.

While Novoli may not be as picturesque as some of the historic neighborhoods in the city center, it is much less touristy and offers a variety of amenities, restaurants, and parks. It is also well-connected to the city centre via public transportation, making it easy to explore Florence and its many attractions. The same tram T2 can be taken every 6 minutes from 'NOVOLI' outside the hotel for 6 stops (10 mins) to the main train station 'ALAMANNI - STAZIONE SANTA MARIA NOVELLA'. 

We will leave from Florence as a group the following morning, after a delicious full breakfast in the hotel, to our Tuscany villa. The group meeting point will be at 10:00am outside the hotel lobby. We will make a stop along the way to grab some lunch and to visit the beautiful medieval town of Monteriggioni. Arrival at our retreat centre ‘Agriturismo Le Pianore’ will be around 4:00pm

There will be retreat vehicles (9 seater mini-vans) and drivers at our disposal throughout the retreat, giving us the freedom to visit as many local attractions & excursions as our hearts desire.

Address: Località Le Pianore, 58044 Monticello Amiata GR, Italy
Province: Province of Grosseto
Phone: +39 339 774 5348

NB. There are 2 Agriturismos 'Le Pianore’ in Tuscany. www.lepianore.it is the correct one!

If you plan to fly into another airport or will be traveling before/after the retreat to other parts of Italy, you will need to make your own way to the villa. If this is the case, you can easily book your own individual transportation. NB. Individual transportation is not included in the retreat pricing. We recommend checking out www.yourprivatedrive.it

We will depart from our Tuscany accommodation the following Saturday 30 September and spend one last night at our group hotel in Florence, before flying home ANYTIME on Sunday 01 October.

CHIRRIPOSA CONTACT INFO:

Name: Angus Stephens/Tania Cappelluti

Website: www.chirriposa-retreats.com

Email: contact@chirriposa-retreats.com

WhatsApp: +506 83324664/83252514

PASSPORTS: At this point, we would like to remind you to check that your passports are valid for travel and have at least 3 months left on them from time of departure for Europe. 

TRAVEL INSURANCE: We would also like to remind you to purchase a travel insurance, which will cover you in case of any cancellation, loss or theft of belongings and medical emergency. This can either be done through your credit card company, airline or travel agent. You can also purchase a travel insurance here during checkout or online at www.truetraveller.com

Please note that Chirriposa will be available to assist you, in case of emergency, but will not be responsible for any cancellation fees, lost or stolen items or medical expenses incurred during the trip. 

You will also be required to sign a ‘Liability Waiver’ and accept our 'Cancellation and refund Policy'  upon completing your registration.      

WEATHER: After the hot summer months of July and August, September offers ideal weather: cool evenings and bright and sunny days with temps averaging between 59°F to 81°F (15-27°C), making it one of the more pleasant times of year to visit Tuscany.

WHAT TO WEAR: Pack some light summer clothes for warmer days and don’t forget your swimsuits for the pool and visiting the hot springs. Also remember to pack a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. However, you should also be prepared for cooler days and nights. For those of you who want to go hiking, cycling or horseback riding, we suggest you bring suitable footwear. A pair of running shoes would be highly recommended. 

WATER: In Florence, we cannot vouch for the quality of the tap water and, therefore, we recommend buying bottled water for drinking. However, at the Agriturismo, the water in the villa comes directly from a natural spring and is excellent drinking quality. It makes sense to bring your own water bottle and fill it for your daily use.   

ELECTRICITY: Electricity in Italy, as in the rest of Europe, comes out of the wall socket at 220 volts alternating at a 50 cycles per second. Note that the electrical sockets are different in Italy and so you should bring a travel adaptor.  

PHONE & INTERNET: There is free Wi-Fi in our hotel in Florence. There is limited cell phone signal on the property in Tuscany, but we will have free Wi-Fi access in the communal areas of the villa. However, please try to disconnect as much as possible.

YOGA MATS + PROPS: Yoga mats, blocks, straps and blankets are available at the yoga shala. However, you may prefer to travel with your own mat. 

BUGS: End of September is not normally a bad time of year for mosquitoes and horse flies.  However, most bites would occur during sunset/sunrise or in shady places in the forest. It is best that you bring a good insect repellent with you. You might also like to wear long pants in the evenings.  

SHEETS AND TOWELS: All your rooms will have fresh sheets and towels provided. Your rooms will be cleaned mid week and new towels and linens provided on request. However, you should bring a towel for the pool or for visiting the hot springs. Otherwise a sarong will also work well and be much lighter to pack.

MONEY: The currency in Italy is the Euro (€). Currently...

€1.00 equals around £0.86  

£1.00 equals €1.17

You can pay us directly for any optional tours, activities, bodywork and beverages together at the end of the week in cash ($ or €). You will be able to take money out of the ATM using your debit and credit cards. We may also receive payment via Paypal, but you will be charged a 5% service and Paypal fee.  

FOOD: We will offer a range of traditional 'flexitarian' (vegetarian and non vegetarian) Italian meals, incorporating organic vegetables that are grown on the property and local produce from nearby villages and markets. Please inform us of any dietary requirements or restrictions ahead of time and we will try our best to accommodate your needs. Also if you have any allergies, please let us know in advance.  

ALCOHOL: Organic wine, produced on the property, and local liquors will be served with dinner. Outside of mealtimes, we will operate an honesty system, where you can write down what you consume and settle up at the end of the week.  

NOTE. It is permitted to consume your own wine on the property, but you will be charged a €6 corkage fee for each bottle opened.

SECURITY: There is not much need for strict security measures at the retreat center, however, there are keys for all the rooms and we can also lock away your passports etc. for you in the main safe. NB. Please be extra careful of your valuables and belongings in Florence, especially on the public transport, as there may be pickpockets. 

LAUNDRY: There is a laundry service available at the villa, but costs €5 per wash. However, if you only have a few items, we can arrange to do a group wash most days.