Val d'Orcia is the UNESCO World Heritage off-the-beaten-path part of Tuscany that's featured in movies like "Gladiator," "The English Patient," and Franco Zefferelli's "Romeo and Juliet," and the recent Netflix series, "Medici." The soft, rolling hillsides with its endless olive groves, tumbling vineyards and stoic cypress trees make one feel as though they are immersed in a Renaissance painting.
We will stay at a villa which is part of a larger, family-owned estate. An hour and a half from Florence, and fifteen minutes from Montalcino (renowned for its rich Brunello wine) the villa is nestled amid some of the world's most inspiring landscapes. Surrounded by the family's olive groves and 900 hectares of vineyards and several panoramic sitting areas, the grounds are perfect for plenty of peace and quiet...a great place to dance like nobody's watching.
The villa's grounds overlook a gorgeous verdant valley where Montalcino twinkles in the distance.
The villa has both shared and single rooms available with private and shared bathrooms.
Authentically Tuscan, the villa has been beautifully refurbished but still maintains its original character.
For five days and nights, we'll embrace slow travel, engaging in authentic ways with the region's art, history, cuisine, landscapes and people. Throughout the week we'll be treated to Stella's incredible voice and presence during our daily excursions and in the evenings during intimate jazz sessions. Designed to be a soul-nourishing, sensory week, on this retreat you will let go of the demands of your days and be taken care of while enjoying the company of other like-minded, jazz and wine-loving people.
We'll be nestled amid the hills where finest of the fine Italian wines are produced. We'll meet the vintners and taste the top wines of the region from Montalcino and Montepulciano as well as take strolls through the gorgeous medieval towns like Siena and Pienza.
In the evenings we'll be crooned and lulled by the sultry sound of Stella Katherine Cole's timeless voice at private soirees held at the villa.
Each evening dinner will be prepared by local Tuscan chef Francesco who will dazzle us nightly with an array of incredibly delicious 'piatti tipici Toscani.'
THIS RETREAT IS FULLY BOOKED
RETREAT INCLUDES:
ROUNDTRIP PRIVATE TRANSFER FROM FLORENCE TO VILLA
FIVE NIGHTS ACCOMMODATION
ALL MEALS EXCEPT ONE LUNCH
PRIVATE WINE TASTING OF BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
PRIVATE ORGANIC FARM TOUR WITH PECORINO CHEESE TASTING
GUIDED HIKE
GUIDED TOUR OF SIENA
LUNCH & TASTING AT PRESTIGIOUS WINERY
COOKING CLASS, WINERY TOUR & BRUNELLO TASTING
TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM ORGANIZED EXCURSIONS
EVENING JAZZ SOIREES