Art & Wellness Escape
31st August - 6th September 2025
Join us on this fantastic Art & Wellness retreat at the beautiful sea-side at Italy’s Riviera delle Palme. We will spend six days painting, learning about the best ways to increase our creative brain and physical energy through the mediterranean diet brain-health focused exercises practicing beach Qui-Gong and Tai Chi. No Wellness retreat would be complete without a spa visit with reflexology of course. Deliciously healthy, fresh food is key to maintaining and improving creativity in all stages of live. So hop on board and get creating your own brain and body healthy meals on our special mediterranean brain-food cooking class and reap the rewards by letting your artistic creativity flow throughout this unique retreat.
We will get inspired by the infinite beauty of the classic Italian scenes that surround us from vineyards surrounded by ancient hill-top towns and panoramic coastal scenes. Here is all of Italy in magnificent panoramic views.
Of course, we will indulge with a big helping of the all-important, La Dolce Vita in timelessly stylish surroundings, when relaxing and dining in our fabulous lodging’s very own sea-side restaurant with private beach and selection of health and massage treatments. Our ‘escape’ sea-side lodging is, oozing with timeless and effortlessly stylish charm. Strolling along the palm-tree and colourful oleander-lined sea-side promenade, the magnificent villas of the Italian Liberty, the Italian Art Nouveau era complement the sensation of the grandeur of Italian style and beauty that make this location so unique. Everyone knows, Italians love keeping a good secret, and the Riviera delle Palme is no exception, as of the Italians’ preferred summer escape locations, the region is known as ‘Italy’s best kept secret’.
THE ART
Daily painting demonstrations and classes are undertaken in our studio space and we will capture impressions on our sketchbook sessions on our excursions. There will be opportunities to make studies and paint on our outings from the seaside, vineyards, olivegrows and abciebt hill-towns. Our carefully curated painting program, is designed to suit complete beginners to experienced art practisioners alike. Your expert tutor John, who has trained at art academies in both Florence, and Paris, will guide you through the artistic processes to capture the ‘scorcios’ and panoramas surrounding you and will help you take your painting skills to an all new level.
John has guided many former and returning participants on their path from complete beginner to exhibiting and selling artist. He also runs an on-line program, allowing participants to continue their art practice after attending an in-person retreat with us.
Painting in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere, we will be capturing the stunning and inspiring views that surround us. John’s expertise and supportive approach, will give the perfect support for every new and experienced painter to take their work to a new level. John has been trained as a classical realist painter at Art academies in Florence and Paris. He has a Fine Art degree and has over 30 years teaching experience. John’s distinguished teaching approach, provides an individual focus on each participant’s artistic needs in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere. There are daily demonstrations, practical time and constructive critique.
All materials are provided, so there is no need to bring anything. This allows beginners to get an understanding and insight into the media and learn about the materials first. Experienced artists may wish to bring materials out of personal preference for specific brushes, etc.
MEET YOUR TUTOR
DETAILS & COST
7 days / 6 nights
€ 2.400 twin/double* p.p. based on two people sharing standard room with bathroom
€ 2.500 single occupancy single room in standard room with bathroom
Superior room up-grade: € 120
Deluxe room up-grade: € 240
Deposit: €600 p.p. non-refundable booking deposit it required to confirm your booking
Final course fee due 40 days prior to retreat start
Full details and cancellation policy in our Terms and Conditions
Something for every budget: Please see the different room options available in the accommodation gallery. To chose a room up-grade option, please include this in your message. Early booking is recommended.
Maximum number of participants: 8
INCLUDED
· 6 nights Hotel accommodation (standard with own
bathroom, deluxe room available for supplement)
Daily breakfast and daily lunch or dinner
· All art materials and equipment
· Daily art demonstration and classes
· Plein-Air sketchbooking
· Cooking class
· Qigong/Tai Chi on beach*
· Reflexology massage
· Spa visit
· Apericena with sunset panorama or historic cafe
· Guided tours and excursions to historic and inspiring locations around the area
· Beach bed and umbrella, use of pool and hotel beach facilities
· Minibus transportation throughout the course
· Pick-up/drop-off at coach/trainstation at specified times
*outdoor activities will take place indoors or be replaced by an alternative activity in case of adverse weather conditions. Alternative activities are carefully selected for your optimum experience
**airfare not included
WELLNESS
Qigong is a gentle form of exercising that holds clues for expanding and enhancing our creativity. Have you ever experienced that feeling of being ‘stuck’ when approaching a creative project, then it’s time to overcome the ‘fear’ that causes your creativity to stall. Excercising Qigong will help you get from ‘stuck’ mode to creative flow, enhance focus, inspiration and creative productivity. All execrises are gentle and suitable for all ages and provide a fantastic opportunity to experience and try out simple exercicising techniques.
This retreat includes a spa visit and a relaxing massage to release any physical tension and boost vitality for an improved physical and mental harmony. A relaxed body and mind is important for finding inspiration and releasing creativity.
COOKING FOR THE CREATIVE BRAIN
We all have to eat! There is no arguing with that. Eating great food on a retreat is key to a great holiday experience also. How and what we eat influences how well we think and create. Did you know, that 20% of all energy of the foods we consume goes straight to the brain? So, let’s make that the best energy vibes to charge our creative batteries, and support your artistic, professional and personal goals. The rich tapestry of flavours, textures and colours of the Italian and mediterranean diet, are the perfect palette for creating brain-and body-healthy dishes. Your cooking instructor Jana, will take you on a culinary journey through and prepare delicious meals from around the med with you. She has many years experience preparing guest meals on many of our retreats and above all, teaching cooking mediterranean cuisine for brain and physical health.
ACCOMMODATION
Our retreat location is the beautiful Mocamba sea-side hotel in the romantic and charming Liberty styled town of San Benedetto del Tronto. Known for its ‘thousand-palms’ sea-side promenade stretching along the Liberty Style Villas. The grand 1900s century Italian Art Nouveau architecture and flair is a trade-mark of this classic and charming riviera atmosphere. A dream location for stepping outside and taking a walk on quaint and pristine sandy beaches, or for taking a morning dip to jumpstart your creative energy for the day’s artistic and cultural endeavours.
COURSE LOCATION
- Nearest international airports, Ancona (AOI), Pescara (PSR), Bologna (BLQ) Rome Fumicino (FCO) and Rome (CIA)
- Main trainline arrivals to San Benedetto del Tronto on FrecciaRossa or InterCity from Florence, Bologna, Bariand all other mainlines.
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/RJxHFVB1nLyntt7m8
THE AREA
Steeped in Roman and medieval history, it is nestled next to Tuscany and Umbria and easily reached from all of Italy. Home to world-heritage sites, here you will find Italy’s finest and most beautiful Travertine Renaissance squares, undisturbed panoramic views with olive-groves, vineyards and bright yellow sun flower fields which all adorn the rolling hillsides that run between the sea and the mystic mountains of the Le Marche region, known as ‘all of Italy in one region.’
Traditionally, a region popular with mainly Italian holiday-makers seeking to escape the busy towns and regions of Umbria and Tuscany during the sweltering heat and busy tourist season, foreigners from around the world have settled here to find a more exclusive and quaint part of Italy to call their home. It is for that reason, Marche is known amongst Italians and the discerned traveller as ‘Italy’s best-kept secret’.
Maybe, you’ve done Italy’s bucket and tick-list and seen all the ‘must do’ locations and are done with the crowds? Then you are definitely ready to enjoy the real Italy on this exclusive art and wellness retreat.
Here, food, wine and olive oil production is still smallscale and family run. Home to the largest organic food production in the country, it offers its visitors some of the best and healthiest foods in Italy – understated, healthy and simply delicious.
RECOMMENDED PACKING
We recommend packing light and focusing on essentials… so you have space for all those Italian goodies… but make sure, you have
· Comfortable, casual clothing
· Comfortable Walking or sport shoes, sandals
· layered clothing
· digital camera and/or smart phone for image capture
· travel adaptor and chargers for 220V
· sunscreen, hat, long sleeves for sun-protection are recommended. Adequate clothing for painting, clothes may get stained. Aprons will be provided.
· All art materials are supplied, but you may want to bring specific materials, etc out of personal preference
· a fun-loving attitude … after all you’re heading for some La Dolce Vita
Does this retreat suit me?
If you’re looking for the perfect combination of creative art retreat, cultural discovery topped with a generous portion of well-being thrown in, then this retreat is for you.
No prior experience of any of the included activities is required. A fun, have-a-go attitude is all you need. An average degree of mobility and the ability to walk short distances is essential. All activities are optional.