8 Days Spiritual Experience Meditation Retreat in beautiful Tuscany, Italy

During the retreat, you will receive 8 workshops in total. These workshops will guide you gently along a path of self-discovery, forgiveness, and healing, regardless of your faith or religious background. They are based on the universal principle that God is love and all humankind is connected. Whether you are just beginning your spiritual journey, or are an ‘advanced soul’, these empowering workshops will enrich your life.

Western Spirit Enrichment Center's interactive workshops may include discussions, role-playing, music, meditation, and other creative activities. The format, environment, and very small group setting ensure that you will receive the personal attention and time you need to feel secure, loved, and respected, as you bond through introspective, thought-provoking, and self-challenging exercises.

Your full and honest participation is necessary, for you will only receive value from the workshops if you are willing to invest of yourself in them.

Sunday Evening

• You will meet and share a wonderful evening meal as the group review the week’s agenda.

Monday

• 09:00 - 12:00 2 workshops
• 12:00 - 17:00 Lunch and tour of the medieval walled city of Lucca
• 19:30 - 21:00 Dinner at a local restaurant (ristorante)

Tuesday

• 09:00 - 12:00 2 workshops
• 12:00 - 17:00 Lunch and trekking on the Via Francigena trail, an ancient road and pilgrimage route traveling from Rome to the Alps of France. Dating back to at least the year 725, it was one of the most important roads of travel and commerce from Rome northward.
• 19:30 - 21:00 Dinner at a local ristorante

Wednesday

• 09:00 - 16:00 Visit to the Tyrrhenian Sea in Viareggio or Lido di Camaiore for sunning, swimming, and shopping
• 19:30 - 21:00 Dinner at a local ristorante

Thursday

• 09:00 - 12:00 2 workshops
• Afternoon and evening free time

Friday

• 09:00 - 12:00 2 workshops
• 12:00 - 17:30 lunch and tour of the exceptional Villa Reale, once the home of Napoleon’s sister, the Duchess of Lucca Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi and its numerous renowned gardens, waterfalls, and botanical rarities.
• 19:30 - 21:00 Dinner at a local ristorante

Saturday

• 08:30 Farewell breakfast and free time for the rest of the day

Sunday

• Departure

Disclaimer: Western Spirit Enrichment Center reserves the right to change any portion of this retreat program, as necessary. All retreat participants are required to sign Western Spirit’s liability release form prior to departure. A copy of the form will be furnished to you in advance and must be returned to Western Spirit before departure.

There will be tours of Lucca and Villa Reale; hiking on the ancient pilgrimage Via Francigena trail; a trip to a sea-side town; and five evening dinners at local, family-owned restaurants featuring outstanding typical Lucchese cuisine.

Tuscany

Tuscany (Toscana) is a region in central Italy, some say the most beautiful part of the country, comprised of lush green rolling hills, nature reserves, olive groves, vineyards and their wineries, mountains, including the Apennine Mountains, and the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, known for its history, traditions, culture, and artistic legacy of literature and music, as well as an area of Etruscan and Roman civilization heritage.

Lucca

Lucca, located halfway between Florence and Pisa, is a mid-size (89,000 population) ancient medieval city on the Serchio River in the Tuscany region of central Italy. It was first inhabited by the Romans in 180 BC. Known for the well-preserved Renaissance-era walls encircling its historic city center and its cobblestone streets, the broad, tree-lined pathways along the tops of these massive 16th-century ramparts are a popular pedestrian promenade for strolling and cycling.

It includes many medieval basilica-type churches, wide piazze (plazas), ornate palazzi (palaces), interesting museums, and, of course, numerous fabulous restaurants serving delicious local Lucchese cuisine. Giacomo Puccini, the great opera composer of La Boheme and Madam Butterfly, was born in Lucca and his house is now a museum.

Trip includes five evening dinners at local, family-owned restaurants featuring outstanding typical Lucchese cuisine.

Free time activity options

• Nearby Pisa and its iconic leaning tower and nearby Cathedral and Piazza dei Miracoli
• Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance and the home of the Uffiizi Gallery, the Accademia Gallery (home to Michelangelo’s David), the Santa Maria del Fiore Duomo, the famed Ponte Vecchio (bridge), and the Santa Croce Church, where Dante and Michelangelo are buried
• A winery and vineyard tour of some of the world’s most notable wines
• Puccini’s home in Lucca and his summer residence and burial site at Torre del Lago
• A day trip to visit one or more of the small, quaint hilltop villages in the area - Siena, famed for the annual Palio horse race, Collodi (home of Pinnochio), Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Pistoia, San Miniato, Bagni di Lucca and the nearby Ponte del Diavolo, or Vinci (Leonardo’s birthplace)

• 8 workshops
• Guided meditations
• Tours of Lucca and surrounding attractions, and Villa Reale
• Hiking on the Via Francigena trail
• Trip to a seaside town
• 7 nights accommodation in an authentic farmhouse
• 5 fabulous Italian dinners in quaint restaurants
• Transportation from your accommodations to tours
• Taxes included

• Airfare
• Airport transportation
• Alcoholic drinks
• Breakfasts
• Lunches
• 2 dinners
• Gratuities

Recommended Airports

• A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
• The deposit is fully refundable if the booking is cancelled up to 60 days before the arrival date.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on departure.