Fancy SIX fantastic Nights in Italy Exploring Amazing Food, Culture and History?

Last minute I have decided to share my trip exploring Italy starting in 3 weeks.

DATES: starts Wednesday 6th October and finishes Monday 10th October

It includes 6 nights accommodation, 3 lunches, 3 meals and all tour costs.

NB: Alcohol, shopping, tips, flights, insurance and others (see under booking page) are at your expense.

Italy is a country full of passionate people. Being part Italian I resonate well with the culture and people and am very proud of the food, the arts and history and would love to share it with you.

It is the BEST place to fall in love with food, to create a positive relationship with life and happiness and learn why I DO NOT believe in dieting. I want to show you the real currency of food.

On this 6 night trip of a life time these are the highlights:

1. Visiting the The Vatican and seeing the famous Sistine Chapel, famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling.

2. Touring the Colosseum and hearing about the gladiator fights of yesteryear.

3. Visiting the Spanish Steps, the Trevi fountain and Pantheon.

4. Night tour of Rome, sampling local delights and wines

5. Full day visit to Umbria, exploring the hill top village of , a cooking class and wine tour

6. Full day trip to Ponza Island with a day cruise, blue grottos and snorkeling in the Mediterranean Sea

7. Visit the ancient underground Catacombs

8. Discover Egypt in Rome in a 2000 year old pyramid that is only open twice a month

9. Walk on the old Appian Way.

10. Experience the Three Tenors, inside the walls of St Paul’s an opera experience you will never forget

We will experience Italy through half and full day tours with some time on your own to explore the many piazzas at your own pace, or to sit with a cappuccino and watch the incredible fashion walk past.

I love Italy and particularly Rome.

It is an ancient history and has so many wonders to explore as well as being one of the fashion capitols of the world.

This is the program so far (subject to change but will involve these elements).

Wednesday 5th October

We arrive and check into our comfortable hotel. This will be base which is central and close to all the sights.

We kick start the retreat at 4pm for a welcome drink, then head off for our light night tour through Rome.

Exploring side streets and piazzas we discover incredible restaurants, bars and sample local foods. The Trevi fountain and Spanish Steps are beautiful at night, as is the Pantheon all lit up. You will realise by bedtime that you are in one of the most amazing cities in the world.

Thursday 6th October

Today is a serious day of Rome immersion.

Every time I go, it spins me out how many landmarks and wold events took place in Rome. From the Colosseum and gladiator fights in Julius Caesar’s Rein, to the Roman Catholic Church influence and home base in The Vatican.

Rome will inspire you through history – it is simply overwhelming at times.

The art works in the Vatican make it one of the richest museums in the wold and the tour around the Colosseum take you back 2000 years to a land that really did exist. Being amongst the well preserved ruins you can nearly hear the cheer of the crowds.

In the afternoon there is a some time off to do a spot of shopping before we meet for our “Food Tour” of Rome.

We will be guided by a local to all the secret eating places, sample many local foods and wash them down with delicious wines.

Friday 7th October

We head off nice and early to visit the incredible country side region of Umbria.

We have a full day visiting a working farm which produces wines, olives and foods. We visit a few towns, including the sensational hill top village of San to Umbria and visiting. On this day we get too cook some of the produce we gather from the farm, sample local wines and see a more relaxed side of Italy.

Tonight is free for you to discover your own trattoria or revisit one from the night before.

Saturday 8th October

Twice a month, the 2000 year old pyramid (that not many people know about) is open to the public. This will be a first for me so I am extremely excited.

In fact today is all a little bit, “off the normal tourist” map with some activities that I hope you love.

After the pyramid, we will walk on the famous Appian Way. Built in 312 BC it was a strategic road for the Roman Army.

Time permitting we will visit the catacombs, which gives a stunning insight into ancient Roman life. The Romans were actually quite short and seeing these well preserved catacombs is fascinating. If you have ever read the Holy Grail by Dan Brown, or other books about Rome, the Catacombs are a must.

Tonight we are treated to a Opera inside the walls of St Peters.

Recapturing the magic of Pavarotti and the three tenors, tonights voices will be accompanied with a string quartet.

Sunday 8th October

Today we have a sleep in…. you can experience a mass first hand if you like as our morning starts a little later.

Today we explore the lesser known ruins of Ostia down near Lido Beach.

The well preserved town gives a true insight to the Roman Empire and is easier to access than Pompeii.

The afternoon will be relaxed back in Rome to visit museums, art galleries, or to simply sit in a piazza and watch life go by. Dinner is at your leisure.

Monday 9th October

Today is a full day starting with a short drive, then ferry to local island Ponza. Less busy than the other Amalfi islands but just as pretty (if not more) we have the whole day to explore the island, swim through grottos, cruise on a boat and drink wine and eat local pasta. This is what the mediterranean is all about and for a day we will lap it all up. Optional snorkeling on this day (which I will definitely be doing).

Our tour and retreat ends back in Rome tonight. We can head out for a final drink or you can relax after a wonderful day on the Med.

This trip is perfect for people who want to find passion again! You will get to hang out with me for six days and over that time we will break through any fears, issues that may be holding you back in life.

Come on a trip of a life time with me and yes, while last minute this promises to be an amazing trip.

I am only taking a handful of people so book your spot now.

Since a child I can recall art, drawing and painting. Maybe it had been due in part to having a grandma who is an artist, or maybe it’s because I find it nourishes me. Either way I love art and the knack it has of allowing one to relax and get totally lost in the moment.

It’s a chance for one’s inner child to play.

So recently when I held my Nourishment Retreat in Ubud, an art class was an obvious activity.

Ubud is a very ” arty” place and there’s no shortage of artist teaching classes.

There was no need to fret though, as I knew I would be guided to the best teacher, and so I was.

Nyoman is a local artist and has a great vision to one day have a cafe where people can go and pick up some paints and have a puddle on the canvas.

On this day I took a group for some fun on the canvas. Some were a little trepid and worried that they would be doing it wrong. But soon realised that there was no “wrong” and everything was fun.

Nyoman is a wonderful teacher and gently encourages your inner child to play. He picks you up from your hotel and drops you back. To contact him directly send him an email here.

When you arrive you can chose what style of painting you would like to do. He has batik drawing out the back and next time I will be doing batik for something different.

We all chose a different style and easily and effortless Nyoman helped us bring our tiny vision to reality.

All our art pieces could be hung on a wall and it’s not often when you do something so pleasurable and get to take a memory and souvenir with you.

Thanks Nyoman! If you are interested in coming to Ubud with me, check out here for my next retreat.