Tuscany Retreat

July 30-Aug 6 we are back at Villa Bice!

Join us for our 5th annual Artist Retreat at Villa Bice, where we spend a week together in the chic & faded glory of this sprawling historical villa where Mark Twain lived for a year before he went bankrupt.

It’s hard to describe the magic of Villa Bice, but suffice to say its charms continue to call us back summer after summer.

Where is it? At the edge of a lovely, sleepy village in the Tuscan mountains called San Marcello Pistoiese. It’s about an hour 1/2 drive north of Florence and 45min from Lucca. There’s a train from Florence to Pistoiese, then a bus from Pistoiese to San Marcello Pistoiese that takes you right to the front gate of the villa. You can walk from the gate of the villa into the charming town (never crowded), or to stunning mountain hikes (with a pit stop at a classic refugio), or stroll through the valley from village to village. Or skip the hike and just get a spritz. And the best thing: it’s not too hot…it’s even cool in the evenings.

The villa pools and fountains (you can dip into) are filled with cool mountain spring water and only a short drive away are crystal clear, cool swimming rivers and gorges.

When? July 30—Aug 6th. Arrive Thursday July 30th, anytime after 12:00 (first meal is dinner), leave Thursday Aug 6th after our last big brunch.

The Food! Everything You Want to Eat (Emily Baird) happens to be my cousin AND a famous chef. Emily is from Northern California, went to culinary and pastry school in Vancouver, and has worked in restaurants in Portugal and New York. For the last 15 years she’s been a private chef for high profile clients and celebrities in LA, Aspen, the Hamptons and aboard private yachts and jets. Her style of food is California/Mediterranean with an emphasis on seasonal, organic, local produce and ethically sourced animal products. See more pics on her Substack.

What is this? This retreat is meant to give you ample time for pure creative self indulgence and plenty of space to be alone and copious amounts of beauty to inspire your latest project.

•Outline your next book/screenplay/play, compose, begin your epic poem, sketch/paint for your next “canvass,” birth your one-person show, write some jokes for your next set, finish that last/first chapter, choreograph, write and play music, write your proposal. Screen your film at our evening screenings under the stars.

•Participants will present their creative goals at the start of the retreat and have the option to present their work at the end of our time together.

•We will reserve some afternoon and evening hours for writing salons and screenings (artists present slide shows, filmmakers show their work).

•Meander around the stunning grounds, nap on the porch, take a dip in the various cool pools fed by natural mountain water to revive your fading intellect.

•From the side gate of the villa you can stroll into the charming town of San Marcello Pistoiese for a cappuccino &/or a Campari spritz to lubricate your imagination and incite story telling. Not more than five minutes from the gate (next to the 16th century private chapel) are cafés, restaurants, and a wine & cheese shop.

•Morning yoga/movement/meditation and a short writing prompt all in the gorgeous chapel, led my moi.

•Stunning mountain hikes.

•Fab swimming holes in gorges and rivers under medieval bridges.

•Remember: No pressure to join any of the group activities! If you want to work on your project all day and night and just grab a plate of food and hide away…we support you!

*Take note that we will take one night off of our provided dinners to go out on the town and have dinner out (not included in retreat price).

(*That said, if you are a fussy, high maintenance person—like if you can’t handle plumbing issues here and there, or perhaps a faulty lamp—then this retreat is NOT for you. The villa is HUGE and old and that’s what we like about it. But the plumbing & electricity can be fussy. The sheets are excellent, though.)

Included:

•Room and board, daily yoga class, writing workshops, salons,screenings, light breakfast (pastries and coffee), big brunch, big dinner, rides to local swimming holes.

•Meals are served buffet style, beautifully presented, and we usually eat together outside.

•We are not responsible for lack of creative motivation due to meeting sexy mysterious person at local cafe and hitching a ride to Positano and going bankrupt.

Cost: *prices may vary a bit once the group is set, depending on room/location.

—General cost of Private Room: from $2,700 to $3,000 for the week

—General cost of room for two (separate beds or shared bed): around $2, 500

—General cost of room for three ppl (three single beds): $2, 400

*If you are a group we have two separate little villa’s on the property—one with it’s own kitchen (inquire if interested). Kids are welcome.

To reserve a room/bed:

Email me (aauder@icloud.com) with your first and last name & a brief description of your work and what project you intend to work on, and if you want a shared or private room.

Once approved: Venmo a NON-refundable deposit (half of your balance) to: @alexandra-auder (8934)