Yoga and Wellness Retreat at a Restored Tuscan Villa with Private Spa

The villa sits on a historic estate at Terzo di Danciano, restored by its owners and furnished with art, fresh flowers and open communal spaces. There are 10 bedrooms, all with air conditioning, sleeping up to 20 guests. The property has steps and no ramps or lifts, so it suits guests who are comfortable on stairs.

Retreat weeks here are run by the group that books the villa rather than by a fixed in-house programme, which means yoga sessions, meditation, workshops or simply time off are arranged around what the group wants. What is fixed is the food, the setting and the spa: an in-house chef handles breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, all locally sourced and seasonal, and the spa is set among ancient columns with a steam bath, plus a pool outside in the garden.

A typical day begins with a yoga session, then breakfast. The middle of the day is open — swim, book a massage (a professional masseuse has come to the property for guests), walk the grounds, or drive into Cortona for the afternoon. Late afternoon often brings a second class or workshop, then dinner in the communal dining room, which guests consistently single out as the best part of the stay.

Where this differs from a standard yoga retreat: you are not sharing a resort with other groups. The villa is booked privately, so the schedule is the group's, the spa is not on a rota, and the team cooks and hosts for one party at a time.

The hosts, Luca and Kriszti, live on site and are involved in the day-to-day running of the property. They handle transport arrangements, including airport and event transfers, and work with retreat leaders in advance on the week's shape.

Location-wise, the villa is in the Tuscan countryside near Cortona. Florence is about 1.5 hours away by road, Perugia-Assisi about an hour, and Rome and Pisa roughly 3 hours each — so most guests fly into Florence or Perugia. The property is open for booking all year, though spring and early autumn are the most comfortable for outdoor yoga and pool time.

What's included

- 6 nights accommodation at Terzo di Danciano (10 bedrooms, sleeps up to 20) - Full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner daily - Meals prepared by an in-house private chef using local, seasonal ingredients - Daily yoga sessions - Access to the private spa with steam bath - Access to the garden pool - Air conditioning in all bedrooms - Airport and event transportation coordination - Housekeeping of communal areas

What's not included

- Flights - Travel insurance - Airport transfers (arranged but not included in the rate) - Massages and additional spa treatments - Alcoholic drinks beyond those served with meals - Optional excursions into Cortona and surrounding towns - Personal expenses - Additional nights or nearby hotel accommodation