TUSCANY 2024
Terzo Di Danciano
Cortona, Tuscany, Italy
with Melanie Caines
Italy is calling! Join Melanie for a glorious week of yoga, food, and adventures under the Tuscan sun. Kick back and relax in the Tuscan countryside surrounded by mulberry trees and olive groves: enjoy yoga twice a day, take a dip in the pool, explore the town of Cortona, go wine tasting in Montepulciano, and enjoy incredible Italian home-cooking. Treat yourself to this delicious week of la dolce vita: you deserve it.
Yoga offerings can include Vinyasa Flow, Yin, Restorative, Yoga Nidra, Myofascial Release, Neurogenic Yoga, and Meditation.
*Your group will have exclusive use of the venue for the retreat week*
THE EXPERIENCE
Terzo Di Danciano is a small medieval hamlet immersed in a stunning rural setting. It overlooks the border between Umbria and Tuscany near the beautiful city of Cortona, renowned for its Etruscan origins.
We will have exclusive use of the whole property for our retreat week.
The spacious bedrooms and luminous living areas are made of natural handcrafted materials decorated with colors that radiate and maintain the patina and charm of centuries past. A stay at Terzo di Danciano unfolds as a journey in which all the senses are immersed in an experience of lightness and great beauty.
Our garden has ancient mulberry and olive trees from which we harvest olives to produce our own cold-pressed virgin olive oil. The garden unfolds in 3 cultivated terraces with stone wall perimeters and enjoys a breathtaking view of the valley.
The swimming pool located on the lowest terrace uses filtered rain water and is therefore particularly “sweet”. It is surrounded by a sunbathing deck of 100 mq paved in natural terra cotta and oriented towards the rising sun, offering an awesome daily spectacle.
The yoga studio is housed in The Bachificio. This beautiful building was originally created for the purpose of cultivating silkworms and wine production. The conservative restoration has preserved its original atmosphere giving it a feel closer to that of a castle than to an agricultural industrial construction. The yoga studio with its aged wooden floor and bare stone walls is remarkable for its beauty and impressive dimensions. The large, floor to ceiling windows allow retreat participants to enjoy the sunlight as well as the panoramic view of the lush green forest and rolling hills of the surrounding countryside.
The food: Mediterranean meals made with love, home-cooked food made with locally sourced, fresh, seasonal ingredients. Enjoy three incredible meals each day: a rich international breakfast, a buffet lunch, and a dinner on the large terrace under the stars (there will be meat and fish served a few time during the week as well as incredible vegetarian meals). We’ll also be treated to welcoming aperitivo with local Prosecco on our arrival day, a pizza party, and a festive celebratory dinner on our last night together.
The spa, nestled among the ancient stone walls of Terzo Di Danciano, is warm and welcoming. It is designed to pamper you in exclusive privacy, offering you our hot water pool made of travertine stone with hydromassage, the detoxifying hot-stone hammam, the infrared sauna, a spacious shower to cool off surrounded by plants and a relaxation area overlooking the forest outside. Each guest will enjoy two 90mins sessions during the week where they can use the Private Spa (whirlpool, infrared sauna, and Turkish bath).
Accommodations & fees
The main house is a magnificent 16th century construction. The floors, stairs, plasterwork, paint and vaults have all been renovated to preserve the unique radiant character of the environment rich in color and vibrant in identity. Each of the 8 bedrooms has an ensuite bathroom, accommodating up to 18 people.
All rooms have stunning views of the surrounding countryside with the exception of the ground floor accommodations that naturally have a somewhat more limited horizon.
RETREAT WEEK FEES:
10-13 ppl: €2725 pp
14-15 ppl: €2625 pp
16-18 ppl: €2525 pp
Ready to start planning your week in paradise? Submit the booking form above or email Melanie at novayogaretreats@gmail.com.
what you’ll love
Saltwater swimming pool
Spa onsite
3 incredible meals a day
Peaceful & private location
Exclusive venue use for you & your group
Yoga space with mats & props
Optional excursions to experience the culture
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Daily meditation
- Up to 12 yoga classes
- 7 nights accommodations
- 3 meals each day
- Half day guided excursion to Cortona
- Two 90min Private Spa sessions (use of the whirlpool, sauna, & Turkish bath)
- Wifi
- Taxes/HST
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:
- Airfare
- Ground transportation to Terzo di Danciano
- Optional excursions
- Massages and holistic treatments
- Alcohol (wine is available onsite for purchase)
OPTIONAL EXTRAS:
WINE TASTING IN MONTEPULCIANO
This will be an incredible full-day excursion. We’ll walk together to the historical center (leather bags, art, gelato, and more!) Our wine tour will take place in an Etruscan cave where we will eat, drink, and hear stories. After the wine tour we’ll have 2hrs of free time back in the historical centre where you can shop or enjoy the incredible view (€140 per person).
COOKING CLASS
MASSAGE TREATMENTS
How we can spend our days
Morning Yoga
Breakfast
Free Time/Relaxation/Optional Excursions
Lunch
Free Time/Relaxation/Optional Excursions
Evening Yoga
Dinner
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE TERMS & CONDITIONS
PAYMENT SCHEDULE:
€500 deposit pp (10 deposits) due to book
€600 USD pp due 9 months before
€600 USD pp due 6 months before
Final balance due 4 months before
CANCELLATION POLICY:
All deposits and payments are nonrefundable, no exceptions.
If you cancel the retreat week 6 months or more before the retreat start date all deposits will be forfeited. All other payments will be converted into travel credit that can be applied to a future Nova Retreats Inc. private or public retreat; this credit is transferable and expires two years from the original retreat date.
If you cancel the retreat week 6 months or less before the retreat start date all deposits and payments will be forfeited.
In the event that Nova Retreats postpones the retreat for any reason, including any force majeure event, all monies paid will be converted into travel credit that can be applied to a future Nova Retreat Inc. trip; this credit is transferable and expires two years from the original retreat date.
Nova Retreats Inc. is a small business that proudly works with intimate, family-run hotels and venues and we are unable to offer refunds of any kind.
If you require more security, please talk to an insurance broker about a comprehensive travel plan that will offer you the coverage you need.
Proof of Emergency Travel Medical Insurance AND Trip Interruption/Cancellation Insurance are both required by all participants in the retreat group.
Thank you for understanding.
TRAVEL
FLIGHTS
The closest airports are Rome and Florence.
TRANSPORTATION
Terzo Di Danciano is a 2hr drive from Florence and 2.5hr drive from Rome.
If you’d like us to arrange ground transportation for you please let us know.
YOUR host
MELANIE CAINES
VIEW BIO
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need a passport?
Yes you are required to have a passport. Please make sure that your passport is valid for 6 months after your expected departure date.
I don’t have anyone to go with and I don’t want to pay for single occupancy – can you find me a roommate?
Yes I can try to match you up with another solo traveller. You can pay your deposit and if a match cannot be made your deposit will be refunded..
I have dietary restrictions – is this retreat able to accommodate me?
Yes certainly; once you have reserved your spot please pass on any allergies, restrictions, or requests.
Do I need to be an advanced yogi to join this retreat?
Participants should have a regular yoga practice and be comfortable with a level 1/2 class; participants should be confident modifying when they need to and be open to exploring and adventuring on the mat.
Can I bring my kids?
This retreat will be an adult-only vacation.
TESTIMONIALS
In a word, Nova Yoga Retreats are delicious! Melanie and her co-leaders hold space beautifully, guiding the group through yoga and meditation practices and “off campus” excursions with gentle mastery. You can show up and know that everything has been taken care of. Her groups are always welcoming; I attended two retreats solo and left both with amazing friends. Melanie chooses retreat locations with natural and artistic beauty and most importantly–soul. Her love of travel and exploring new cultures adds so much to the experience. Last, but not least, the food and accomodations are always a delight!
It felt like a true escape from my normal life. I feel like I was able to connect to the area and the people who journeyed with me. Your ability to curate a safe space to be and a place to play for people is truly a gift, Melanie. Thank you.
I can’t recommend Nova Yoga’s retreats highly enough. Melanie put together an amazing week that stretched our bodies and our minds, and left both stronger and more restored. This experience was much more than “just” yoga — it was truly a reset physically and mentally, and a wonderful opportunity to restore and refresh alongside amazing and kind women.
From the moment I arrived, I knew it would be a transformative journey. Each class left me relaxed and rejuvenated. This, along with amazing food and people, made for an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for the perfect yoga getaway.
Melanie finds the best places and brings together the most amazing people.
I love the opportunity to get away from the tourist areas and get to know the local scene. The food was fabulous, staff and accommodations were excellent. The yoga was wonderfully therapeutic. And I really enjoyed getting to know the group. This was a wonderful experience for me and my first time travelling as a single. It gave me the confidence to try it again.
Melanie is the most incredible yoga instructor. Her retreats are absolutely amazing. A magical experience of a lifetime. If you haven’t done one of her retreats, you are really missing out!