5-DAY RETREAT DEVOTED TO HARVEST FEASTS, PHOTOGRAPHY TRIP TO THE MESMERIZING TUSCAN SEASIDE, TRUFFLE HUNT, FRESH PASTA COOKING CLASS, FOOD- & LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY, DINNER IN THE LOCAL OLIVE GROVE, MARKET STROLL & EXPLORATION OF HIDDEN TREASURES & CULINARY GEMS OF TUSCANY

OCTOBER 25TH - 30TH 2023

From €2.497

We are thrilled to announce our POPULAR 5-day skill-boosting and experience-based harvest retreat in the breathtaking region of Tuscany. From October 25th to 30th, 2023, we invite you to join us for an unforgettable journey that will nourish your body, mind, and soul. This retreat is not your typical getaway. It's a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a creative community, learn valuable skills, and explore authentic hidden gems of Tuscany. We have carefully curated a program that combines learning, exploration, and lots of delicious Italian food to provide you with an enriching experience like no other.

COOK, EAT, SHOOT
During our days together we will cook, photograph, indulge in delicious meals on the terrace and in local pasticcerias and trattorias, and learn how to make the most delicate and photogenic fresh pasta with edible flowers and fresh herbs from a local ‘nonna’. We will shoot the pasta in its making, take gorgeous process shots, talk about how to capture the soul and atmosphere of the scene and process, and how to tell a strong visual story. 

DAYTRIP TO THE MESMERIZING TUSCAN SEASIDE
One of the highlights of this retreat will be our day trip to the Tuscan seaside, where both you and your camera will fall in love with the beauty of the pastel-colored villages. We will enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the charming family-driven trattorias and spoil ourselves with a mouth-watering gelato during our photo-walk through the adorable fishing-village.

TRUFFLE HUNT & CHESTNUT FORAGING
We will head into the mountains in the company of a certified truffle guide and his dog, Tito, and with baskets in hand, we will wander into the woods to forage sweet chestnuts and roast them in the evening on a wood fire in the olive grove with a glass of warm spicy wine

CONNECT & COLLABORATE
One of the highlights of this retreat is the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for personal and professional growth. You'll be surrounded by a community of driven individuals who are eager to learn, exchange ideas, thoughts, and dreams, and support each other's journeys. The connections you make during this retreat can lead to lifelong friendships, partnerships, and collaborations that will continue long after the retreat ends.

ARRIVAL DAY
On the day of your arrival, we will pick you up at Pisa airport at 3:30 PM and drive you directly to our retreat location. If you decide to come in your own rental car we will provide you with the coordinates for La Concia, our retreat location. And if you decide ot come by train, we will be happy to pick you up at thee local train station (more about transportation below under ‘Details’).

When you have settled into your lovely room, our wonderful local Sisterhood team and I will welcome you for a 'meet-and-greet' with festive aperitivos and delicious Italian snacks at the terrace made by our heart-warming host couple, Maartje and Davide, who cook all our meals in the farmhouse, based on organic, fresh ingredients, some of them grown in their very own garden. After the aperitivos, we will serve you a homemade Tuscan welcome dinner and celebrate our first night together.

MORNINGS & EVENINGS
Each morning you will wake up to the scent and taste of the loveliest Tuscan breakfast served either in the courtyard with the most stunning view of the little, charming village, Codiponte, or we will enjoy a freshly brewed cup of espresso or latte and a ‘cornetto’ and blend in with the locals in one of the charming little bars or “pasticcerias” in the area.

In the evenings we will chat, laugh, and exchange dreams, ideas, and experiences about life, work, and all that makes our hearts beat a little faster around the dining table in either the farmhouse or at handpicked trattorias in the nearby villages driven by locals with a huge love for the Tuscan cuisine.

WHEN:
October 25th - October 30th, 2023

Pick up at Pisa airport on October 25th at 3:15 pm.
Check-in at the retreat location is from 4:30 pm on October 25th, where you will be introduced to each other and the program, receive a welcome goodie bag, and have time to get yourself settled in.
Aperitivos and Italian nibbles will be served at the terrace at 7 pm and a homemade, joyous welcome dinner at 8 pm
Check-out is around noon on October 30th. We will drive you directly to Pisa airport at noon so that we are there at 1:30 pm. If you need to catch a flight earlier, we will be happy to bring you there in one of our other cars.

WHAT:
5 nights of lodging in one of two wonderful old stone houses, all meals, drinks, and snacks during the retreat (both at the farmhouse + at local trattorias), guided facilitation, food- and lifestyle photography classes, hands-on-cooking-class in how to make and photograph fresh pasta with edible flowers and fresh herbs, visits at local producers and makers, a harvest feast in the olive grove, a photography trip to the magical and highly picturesque Tuscan seaside and all transportation during the retreat.

The retreat doesn’t include airline tickets, taxes & baggage fees, travel insurance (highly recommended), meals/items/activities bought when you’re not with the group.

WHO:
People from all walks of life are welcome.
Space is limited to 8-10 attendees.

TEACHER:
Your teacher during the entire retreat will be publisher, 7-time award-winning cookbook author + food-, lifestyle- and travel photographer, stylist, and founder of Sisterhood Retreats, Sif Orellana.

WHERE:
Your home for the 5 nights will be in one of two charming stone farmhouses drenched in history and set amongst olive groves and vineyards in the small beautiful medieval village of Codiponte in a quiet and unspoiled part of Tuscany. The houses are located within 8-minutes walking distance from each other and are both owned by our warm-hearted and in every way lovely host couple. They are both characterized by peace and tranquility, and you can choose between a beautiful single room or a shared double room.

HOW TO GET THERE: The nearest major airport is Pisa airport, about 1 hour and 15 minutes from the workshop location by car. A pick-up will be arranged on October 25th at 3:30 pm from Pisa airport to the property, and a car will drive back to Pisa Airport at 12 pm on October 30th (or earlier if you need to catch an earlier flight). If you wish to fly to Florence, Parma, or Bologna airport instead, you can either rent a car, or jump on a train, and we'll be happy to pick you up at the local train station in the little village ' San Lorenzo' called "Minucciano-Pieve-Casola" (it is named like that, since 3 villages are near to the station, but it's only one station). The pick-up is of course included in the retreat cost.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
Please bring the camera you normally shoot with (your DSLR or mirrorless) or/and your smartphone. If you normally shoot with your smartphone, that’s absolutely fine. Many previous attendees have only brought their smartphones to the retreat, and I have lots of tips and tricks on how to capture and edit beautiful photos with both a “big camera” and the one in your smartphone. So all camera types are absolutely welcome.

Note: In the unfortunate event that a guest teacher is unable to attend, Sif Orellana and Sisterhood Retreats will offer an alternative class or activity of equal standard and quality. We reserve the right to amend/evolve plans (for dinners, and excursions due to weather conditions, availability of venues, conflicting issues that might arise etc).