Aroma~Herbal Tuscany Retreat
Immerse yourself in the healing power of fragrance, herbs, and culture on this 12-day summer retreat in Tuscany (June/July). Stay at a 16th-century villa near Siena, surrounded by vineyards, lavender fields, and rose gardens, then continue to historic Assisi.
Discover wild and cultivated plant medicines on guided walks through historic botanical gardens and excursions through the rolling Tuscan hills. Delight your senses in fields of lavender, roses and helichrysum at an essential oil distillery in the Chianti wine country. Take a guided tour of a natural perfumery in Florence. See the garden and amazing mushroom display at the University of Siena. Step into a medieval fair in San Gimignano, once known for its saffron fields. Walk the countyside with an 4th generation, Italian herbalist. Experience hands-on herbal and aromatherapy workshops, harvesting aromatic plants. Tuscan herbal products using local wine, honey, and olive oil. Our home base is the 16th-century Villa Certano near Siena with its vineyards, olive groves, lavender, rose garden, and aromatic herb beds and surrounded by fragrant linden trees. Stay in a monastery hotel just outside the historic walled city of Assisi, where we visit the meditative hermitage of St. Francis and a medieval garden in the ancient city of Perugia.
Special Tuscany highlights include:
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Assisi Lavender Festival: Wander endless fragrant rows of blooming lavender with Assisi in the background at this artisan fair. Then have a guided tour and see a lavender distillation demo. See an essential oil distillation demo and savor lavender gelato.
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Summer Solstice & Herb Day (Fiesta di St. Giovanni): Harvest wild herbs at their solar peak, including St. John’s wort, linden, roses, and lavender right out the doors of our Siena villa. Create Solstice herbal products and ceremony following traditional Italian customs. Celebrate with herbal fizzy water drinks and Italian walnut cordial (Nocino).
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Historic & Cultural Immersion: Take a guide tour of Siena’s markets and the Duomo—a cathedral worth of being a museum filled with painting, stained glass, floor inlays, sculpture and history—and then through curvy streets to discover Siena's rich history on our way to an excellent restaurant. San Gimignano’s medieval towers and solstice festival, Perugia’s botanical gardens, and Assisi’s sacred sites, gardens, and monasteries.
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Rejuvenate at the Terme Hot Springs Spa Resort with mineral baths, mud treatments, and spa therapies. This ancient healing center has been a destination for pilgrims seeking a remedy for their ailments through the centuries not only for the waters, but for the clay on the bottom of the many hot pools that is known for his healing properties.
Throughout the trip, delight in Tuscan cuisine, from local trattorias to cooking classes, to home-style melas prepared in Villa Certano’s ancient kitchen. Italians love fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients.
Every aspect of the retreat blends holistic health, herbal education, culture, history, and sensory delight, leaving you with herbal creations, recipes, and unforgettable memories to bring home. You'll love traveling with a group of like-minded plant people. We make the trip comfortable and fun, as well as educational.
You start your day with the option to stretch with Natalie doing yoga and pilates in Certano Villa's own yoga studio. Choose what you want at the informal, home-made breakfast and sit down in the old dining room with its hand painted wall paper. Next, either make herbal products at the villa or travel in an air-conditioned bus to one of our various activities. Each day, you'll be treated to a delicious lunch or dinner—or both—at one of our favorite restaurants, always with vegetarian and gluten-free options. There's also free time for you to explore each city and the markets!