First September Italy Retreat - 2025
A Week in Le Marche:
Finding Joy and Connection During our FIRST Italy Retreat
When we planned our first weeklong retreat in Italy’s Le Marche region, we knew it would be beautiful — rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves, and medieval towns perched on cliffs. Nestled between the Sibillini Mountains and the Adriatic Coast, Le Marche is called “all of Italy in one region.” What we did not expect was how truly authentic our experience would be. Le Marche isn’t the Italy of glossy postcards, English-speaking servers and tourist-packed piazzas. It’s quieter, grounded, and incredibly real. This was Italy with its sleeves rolled up — welcoming, genuine, and full of soul.
Living the Local Way
Our home for the week was the charming Boutique Hotel Leone, which was originally built in the 15th century. The hotel sits on the edge of the historic center of the small hilltop town of Montelparo and has stunning views across the rolling countryside to the Adriatic Coast on one side and the Sibillini Mountains on the other. The hotel was all ours! Beautiful gathering spaces inside and out, an infinity pool, outdoor and indoor dining areas and a small staff that treated us like royalty. Each day began with a lovely buffet breakfast and cappuccinos before we headed out to our adventure of the day.
Our days were full, but never felt rushed. We embraced the Italian rhythm of a mid day “riposo” to provide time for a nap, a dip in the pool, or a village walk with a quick detour for gelato!
Our Adventures
The biggest challenge you may face in Le Marche is deciding which villages and towns to explore since they all seem to have unique characteristics. We never got tired of the medieval buildings, the winding alleys, the flowers tumbling from window sills. And the churches! All reflected the regions’ layered history, from Romanesque abbeys to Renaissance and Baroque cathedrals rich with frescoes and marble. Some of the most interesting were the understated ones in a small village, yet rich with art-filled interiors (or bones tucked into a stone wall in the cellar!). Some favorite towns were Ascoli Piceno, a town built entirely from travertine that literally glowed in the dark. Fermo, with its underground Roman Cisterns, was fascinating. The brilliant coastal town San Benedetto del Tronto was an interesting contrast to the hilltop towns with its Museo d'Arte sul Mare (Museum of Art on the Sea).
During the retreat, we had the unique opportunity to truly live the local culture through unforgettable hands-on experiences that brought the region’s traditions to life. We spent an afternoon learning the art of pasta making, guided by a local nonna and her family, then enjoyed the fruits of our labor at a laughter filled dinner. At a nearby bio (organic) farm, we discovered how sustainable agriculture thrives in Le Marche’s fertile landscape and tasted the freshest produce straight from the fields. We sampled regional cheeses at a local caseificio (cheese dairy), and had lovely meals at two family run vineyards. We were particularly charmed by one winemaker’s eight year old son who helped with serving and clearing- there was nothing commercial about our experiences!
We took several opportunities to immerse ourselves in nature, and one of the highlights was a hike in the mountains outside an ancient shepherds' village, followed by lunch at a local agriturismo. Yoga on the deck, overlooking the mountains, was a beautiful way to start one of our mornings.
The Taste of Le Marche
No Italian retreat would be complete without food, and every meal here was an experience in itself. We were fortunate to have every lunch/dinner away from the hotel personally planned by Madeline, one of Hotel Leone’s owners. From trattorias to dinners prepared by Tim, Madeline’s husband and chef, each dish celebrated the region’s ingredients — handmade pasta, olive oil, seafood, and local wines. In Italy, meals are a time to connect, relax and savor the delicious food. As we spent time at the table enjoying the traditional antipasto, primo, secondo and dolce we found ourselves slowing down and appreciating even more the time together.
Women, Friendship, and the Magic of Shared Experiences
We were a group of 13 women from Virginia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Almost everyone had attended a previous For the Soul Retreat in New Hampshire, but only knew two or three other women. One of the things we try to do with a For the Soul Retreat is ensure that the women who participate are diverse in age and life experience. This group ranged from early 60s to mid 70s—each woman bringing her own stories, wisdom, and sense of humor. They were all interesting, curious, and open to new friendships. They really bonded from Day One! During the retreat, the conversations were nonstop—and a month later, they’re still chatting away in our group chat! In fact, they’ve already planned a December overnight get-together in Williamsburg, VA.
This is exactly why we love our retreats—you can always take a tour with a travel company, but why not be part of an experience designed to spark real connections with women who might just become lifelong friends?
Stay tuned for highlights and reflections from our SECOND Retreat with artist Amy Wynne
We spent the last week of September in beautiful Tuscany with Amy Wynne, sketching rolling landscapes and medieval hill towns. 🌿✏️. Wow — two incredible retreats in one month! Stay tuned to read all about it!
Come to Italy With Us!
Val d'Orcia, Italy October 1-8, 2026
Le Marche, Italy May 28-June 4, 2027