Day 1—Meet in Rome, drive to Orvieto. Our driver will pick us up at our meeting point in Rome and whisk us out to Hadrian’s Villa for a morning of majestic ruins and ancient architecture inspired by the distant frontiers of the Roman Empire. We’ll celebrate with a midday feast in Tivoli, then wander through the Renaissance gardens of Villa d’Este. Orvieto is a short drive north where our countryside villa awaits nearby with a light tasting dinner on the terrace of our charming accommodations for the week.

Day 2—Orvieto. After a morning BodyMind session on the villa lawn overlooking Orvieto, we’ll venture into town to explore its medieval streets and impressive sights. We’ll settle into the best restaurant in town for classic Umbrian plates and local wines, then walk it off on a locally guided tour of Orvieto’s Etruscan past, masterpieces of Renaissance art inside the cathedral, and meet artisans making beautiful things in small shops around town. A sunset aperitivo on the terrace awaits back at the villa.

Day 3—Civita di Bagnoregio. It’s fun to explore the villa’s estate with morning practice in a different spot each day. Lunch today is at a nearby winery where we visit an Etruscan cellar with bottles from the 1800s and sample some of the (more recent) vintages in the Enoteca. In the early evening we’ll head to nearby Civita di Bagnoregio, a tiny hilltown of breathtaking beauty and nearly 3,000 years of history. We’ll climb its steep footbridge, the only path, up into town and enjoy the setting sun lighting up the surround clay calanchi. You’ll be free for dinner on your own in Civita.

Day 4—Olive harvest. It’s olive season in the green hills of Umbria so today we’ll join a crew harvesting olives by helping to pick a few trees. Working together we’ll learn the process of from unrolling nets beneath the trees to the stages of pressing at the mill. The flavors of olio novello—fresh pressed extra virgin olive oil—will change your understanding of what olive oil is. At the end of the day we’ll celebrate the (very tasty) fruits of our labors with the team. A farm fresh group dinner awaits.

Day 5—Saturnia thermal springs. This morning we day trip into Southern Tuscany to visit the ancient sulphuric hot springs of Saturnia. The Etruscans came here for medicinal purposes, and so will we. 

Day 6—Pilgrimage day. Building on the work we’ve done so far, we’ll take our personal journey on a pilgrimage to the volcanic lake of Bolsena. First we’ll shop for a picnic at the weekly Orvieto farmer’s market, then head towards the Via Francigena pilgrimage path and a picnic spot overlooking the lake. Thankfully it’s only a leisurely stroll through wooded shorelands and farm pastures to Bolsena, a tiny section of the longer thousand mile road to Rome.

Day 7—Travel to Rome. Today we are ready to move to the big city. We’ll say goodbye to the villa, and hello to Rome. We’ll get checked into our hotel for three nights, and before heading out for a walk linking the fountains of the Acqua Vergine that has carried water into the Eternal City since ancient times. A welcome to Rome group dinner awaits.

Day 8—Ancient Rome. After an early breakfast we head out to meet our Roman guide at the Forum and a walk through the ruins of the ancient capital. We’ll visit… the Colosseum? San Clemente? Baths of Caracalla?... before returning to the hotel for BodyMind work on the rooftop terrace.

Day 9—Rebirth. Our last day together is the grand finale. We’ve come along way, adapted to the Italian rhythm of life, and we’ve shifted perspectives. Like Rome itself. We’ll explore these themes in Roman art at the Capitoline Museum? Vatican? Pantheon? Before coming together for a last dinner party to celebrate our time together. 

Day 10—Arrivederci. Our tour is over after breakfast…

Tour itinerary is subject to change.