🇮🇹 15 Years in Umbria. And We Keep Coming Back.🍷

There’s a reason we return.

For 15 years, we’ve been gathering in the hills of Umbria for this retreat, and somehow, each year feels both familiar and completely new. We come back for the tranquility. The incredible food. The ease of being here. The warmth of the people. The beauty and culture that surround us. And for that unmistakable feeling that life can move a little more slowly.

Join Jenny Kaufman and Patti Lupo for five unforgettable days at Locanda della Quercia Calante, our beloved eco retreat tucked into the rolling countryside of Umbria, halfway between Rome and Florence.

Over the years, this place and the people who welcome us here have become part of the retreat itself. There’s an ease to arriving, settling in, and letting someone else take care of the details. Beautiful meals appear at the table. Yoga happens with the Umbrian landscape as our backdrop. There is time to wander through ancient villages, linger over lunch, sit by the pool, take a nap, laugh with new friends, and simply be.

Our daily yoga and movement practices are welcoming and accessible, whether yoga has been part of your life for years or you’ve never stepped onto a mat. All ages, all levels, all people. Come exactly as you are.

And then there’s Umbria, the “Green Heart of Italy.” Olive groves, vineyards, hilltop towns, incredible food, deep traditions, and a culture that reminds us to savor what’s right in front of us.

Perhaps that’s why, after 15 years, we still choose this place.

It gives us something we don’t always make enough room for at home: time, connection, movement, rest, beauty, and the pleasure of being fully present.

Come solo. Come with a friend. Come as a couple. Come for the yoga, the food, the people, the culture, or simply because you’re ready for five days that feel different from everyday life.

Fifteen years later, we’re still coming back. We’d love for you to experience why.

To reserve your spot on the retreat, a nonrefundable deposit of $750 is required at the time of registration.

We are happy to arrange a payment plan for the remaining balance. Full payment is due no later than Monday, June 7, 2027.

Cancellation Policy

We understand that plans can change. Because our retreat requires us to make financial commitments well in advance, the following cancellation policy applies:

• Cancellations made on or before June 7, 2027: You will receive a refund of any payments made, minus your $750 nonrefundable deposit.

• Cancellations made after June 7, 2027:
  Payments are nonrefundable unless we can fill your spot on the retreat. This policy applies regardless of the reason for cancellation, including illness, personal emergencies, travel disruptions, or other unforeseen circumstances.

• Transferring your reservation: Should you wish to transfer your reservation to another person, you may transfer your spot, deposit, and any payments already made to the new participant. A $500 administrative transfer fee will apply to all reservation transfers.

Travel Insurance

Because life and travel can be unpredictable, we strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you register for the retreat.

We recommend choosing a policy that includes:

• Trip cancellation and interruption

• Medical and emergency coverage

• Baggage protection

• Travel delays and disruptions

• Emergency assistance

Travel insurance is the best way to protect your retreat investment and travel with greater peace of mind. It also helps take the pressure off both of us should something unexpected happen, and you need to cancel. It truly breaks my heart when circumstances arise and we are unable to issue refunds due to commitments and expenses already incurred on your behalf. Having the right travel insurance in place helps protect you financially while allowing me to honor the retreat’s cancellation policy.

You will book your own flight to Rome (FCO), planning to arrive between 8:00am and 11:00am on Saturday, September 18th. For those traveling from the U.S., this will typically mean departing on Friday, September 17th.

Once we have everyone’s flight details, we’ll coordinate a private group bus from the Rome airport to our home for the week in Umbria. The ride is about two hours, giving you plenty of time to settle in, have a snack, close your eyes, and enjoy your first glimpses of the Italian countryside.

When we arrive at Locanda della Quercia Calante, you’ll check in with your passport, and then we’ll gather around the table for our first delicious meal together.

The rest of the afternoon is yours to unpack, settle into your room, explore the property, and exhale.

Later, we’ll meet for our first yoga practice, a gentle and grounding class designed specifically for travel-weary bodies. We’ll move, stretch, breathe, and begin to settle our nervous systems after the journey.

Then it’s dinner, a good night’s sleep, and the beginning of five beautiful days in Umbria.

Our first full day in Umbria begins slowly.

For those who would like to join us, we’ll start the morning with a short 30-minute meditation and movement session before breakfast. As with everything on this retreat, it is completely optional. This is your time, and we want you to experience the week in whatever way feels best for you.

After breakfast, we’ll gather on the yoga deck for a longer 90-minute yoga practice, surrounded by the peaceful Umbrian countryside.

The afternoon is intentionally spacious. Take a walk, swim, nap, read, explore the property, connect with new friends, or simply do absolutely nothing. There is nowhere you need to be.

Later in the afternoon, we’ll come back together for a mellow 60-minute yoga and meditation practice to ease us into the evening.

Then, one of our favorite traditions begins. Our hosts, along with Patti and Jenny, will welcome you to an Umbrian wine tasting and aperitivo. This is about so much more than the wine. We’ll hear stories about the land, the history, and the traditions of this beautiful region while enjoying locally made appetizers featuring ingredients grown and produced right here on the property. For those who don’t drink alcohol, something special will be waiting for you as well.

Then we’ll gather around the table for dinner and head off to bed, relaxed, well fed, and officially settling into the rhythm of Umbria.

We’ll begin the morning with an optional 30-minute movement and meditation session, followed by breakfast.

After breakfast, we’ll gather for our longer 90-minute yoga practice, then enjoy a little space to relax and recharge before a light lunch.

Later in the afternoon, we’re off to Orvieto, one of Umbria’s most beautiful hill towns, just about 40 minutes away.

Once we arrive, the rest of the day is yours. Wander the winding cobblestone streets, explore the shops, stop for a gelato, visit the extraordinary sights, or find a café and watch Italian life go by. Be sure to step inside the magnificent Duomo di Orvieto, one of Italy’s most spectacular cathedrals.

As evening approaches, scope out the perfect spot for dinner and enjoy a night out in town. Whether you’re craving homemade pasta, a beautiful local dish, or simply want to follow your nose and see where it takes you, this is your evening to experience Orvieto your way.

At the end of the night, we’ll all meet back at the Duomo at our designated time. From there, we’ll gather everyone together and get you safely home to the Locanda.

A little yoga, a little adventure, and a beautiful taste of life in Umbria.

Today, we stay close to home and enjoy a full day at the Locanda.

We’ll begin with our optional 30-minute morning movement and meditation session, followed by breakfast and our longer 90-minute yoga practice. Later in the afternoon, we’ll come together again for a mellow 60-minute movement and meditation session.

In between, the day is yours. Schedule a massage, take a swim, wander the property, curl up with a book, nap, or simply enjoy having nowhere else to be.

For those who are interested, we’ll also roll up our sleeves for a hands-on pasta-making class with our hosts. We’ll learn the art of making fresh pasta the Umbrian way, surrounded by good food, good company, and plenty of laughter.

And the best part? Dinner tonight is the fruits of our labor.

A day to move, rest, learn something new, and enjoy the simple pleasure of making and sharing a meal together.

After our morning movement, breakfast, and time to ease into the day, we’ll set off for somewhere truly unforgettable.

Late morning, we’ll make the short drive to Civita di Bagnoregio, one of the most extraordinary hill towns in all of Italy. Perched dramatically above the surrounding valleys and reached by a pedestrian bridge, Civita feels almost suspended in time.

We’ll arrive just in time for lunch, and from there, the afternoon is yours. Wander the tiny cobblestone streets, take in the incredible views, explore the shops and hidden corners, and find the perfect spot to settle in for a long Italian lunch.

There is no need to rush. That’s part of the experience.

After our afternoon in Civita, we’ll make our way back to the Locanda for our final yoga practice and closing together.

One last time on the mat. A chance to move, breathe, reflect, and take in all that the week has given us before we gather for our final evening in Umbria.

A beautiful ending to five days of movement, connection, incredible food, adventure, and the simple joy of slowing down.

We firmly believe that if you’ve traveled all this way, you should give yourself the time to experience more of Italy.

We’ll say goodbye to the Locanda very early Thursday morning and travel together by private bus back to Rome Fiumicino Airport.

From there, the choice is yours. If you’re heading home, you can plan your flight back to the States. Or, even better, extend your adventure. Grab a cab into Rome, hop on a train to your next destination, and keep exploring this incredible country.

After five days of yoga, beautiful meals, new friendships, hill towns, long lunches, and time to simply be, we hope you leave feeling rested, connected, and a little more spacious than when you arrived.

The retreat may be over, but Italy doesn’t have to be.