Wellness Escape: 5-Day Pilates & Sicilian Food Retreat for Women

This is a retreat built around movement and food, set in northern Sicily at Villa Ginevra, a restored agriturismo with gardens, a pool and views across the countryside towards the sea. Each day starts with a Pilates class that wakes the body up, followed by a hearty brunch, then either an activity or free time. Evenings bring a restorative session before dinner.

Ruth Tongue has been teaching Pilates for over 15 years in London and across Europe. She trained with STOTT, has a background in sports science and dance, and also teaches barre, yoga and SUP Pilates. Her classes are planned so that beginners and advanced clients work side by side, with variations for each level. Guests in reviews note that her sessions are fun and that she creates an inclusive, no-cliques atmosphere.

The week includes more than Pilates. There's a Sicilian cookery class where you prepare regional dishes and eat them together, a guided hike through countryside at your own pace, a visit to the Capo Milazzo Nature Reserve with its volcanic coastal paths, and an olive harvest experience followed by a picnic under the trees. Optional extras include wine tasting and massages.

Villa Ginevra is a working farmhouse with comfortable, characterful rooms, each with an en-suite bathroom and a terrace or balcony. The food is cooked on site by local chefs, with menus designed alongside Ruth to keep things nourishing while staying true to Sicilian flavours. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets can be catered for with notice.

The retreat is deliberately unstructured in parts, so you can balance activities with genuine downtime. It suits people who want to move their body, eat well and experience a slower pace of life in a beautiful setting, rather than a packed schedule.

What's included

- Airport Pickup & Drop-off (group transfer from CTA and PMO) - 4 nights accommodation at Villa Ginevra - Daily brunch, snacks and authentic Sicilian dinners - Countryside picnic - Water, tea and coffee throughout the day - Twice-daily Pilates with Ruth Tongue - Optional HIIT/circuits classes on two mornings - Sicilian cookery class - Guided hike - Visit to Capo Milazzo Nature Reserve - Traditional olive harvesting experience - Optional local wine tasting - Wifi connection - Plenty of time to relax and enjoy the villa

What's not included

- Flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional treatments (e.g. massage) - Additional activities not included in the itinerary