Join us for a week of loafing and learning in the Italian countryside, 14–21 September 2024
In the company of the Idler‘s editor Tom Hodgkinson and Academy director Victoria Hull, we’ll learn about the history of idling and about the ancient philosophers who inspired the Renaissance. We’ll see some of the very greatest Renaissance art. We’ll practise the Renaissance techniques of rhetoric that will help us write well. We’ll do yoga, read, walk, loaf and feast together. There will be foraging excursions in the Umbrian hills and a trip to the beautiful medieval town of Arezzo to see the works of painter Piero della Francesca.
There’ll also be plenty of time for doing nothing.
Our tutors will be Idler art critic Tim Richardson, Idler editor Tom Hodgkinson, author John-Paul Flintoff, and yoga teacher Claire Whalley.
This Idler Renaissance Retreat takes place at Villa Pia on the Umbria/Tuscany border.
You’ll go home with new inspiration and great ideas, having had a lot of fun into the bargain.
“I don’t think I have spent so much time in the company of so many warm, easy-going souls. Thank you very much for organising this marvellous week. You are both the best of hosts.”
ABOUT VILLA PIA
Villa Pia sits on the border of Tuscany and Umbria on the edge of the medieval village of Lippiano. The villa has a swimming pool, tennis court with gorgeous views over the Umbrian hills, table tennis, yoga studio and extensive gardens in which to rest and read.
The Idler Renaissance Retreat is all inclusive. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all provided, and you’ll be free to help yourself to fresh fruit, coffee, tea, alcohol and soft drinks at any time of the day or night.
Villa Pia’s chefs prepare delicious local Italian cuisine with the care and attention to detail that Italians are known for. All of their ingredients are locally sourced wherever possible.
The simple elegant rooms are cleaned daily.
“Great venue… well organised without being too regimented… very enjoyable list of activities. Lots of interesting people and lots to learn from them in a safe and open environment.”
IDLER RENAISSANCE RETREAT PROGRAMME
The Idler Renaissance Retreat programme is designed to provide great ideas for living, lots of fun, good dining and plenty of time for idling. All activities, talks, walks and days out are optional.
Each day will start with a yoga class, followed by talks. Lunch is at 1pm. Afternoons are for napping, tennis, table tennis, table football, swimming in the pool and local walks. A further talk is generally given before dinner. Dinner is at 8pm.
Tom Hodgkinson will explore idling philosophy and how it can help you to live well. We’ll learn about Aristotle, Plato and Socrates and how they inspired the Renaissance philosophers Ficino, Thomas Aquinas and especially Montaigne.
Tim Richardson will give a talk on Arezzo and its art. We’ll discuss Piero della Francesca’s mastery of perspective and the structure of the medieval cooperative city state that encouraged such brilliant arts and crafts.
John-Paul Flintoff will inspire you to master the quintessentially renaissance skill, rhetoric, with a 21st century twist. He’ll talk about shaping ideas in writing, and spontaneously as they emerge from your mouth.
Claire Whalley will lead yoga sessions including meditation and yoga philosophy. We’ll have morning practices of invigorating yoga embracing a sense of positivity and vitality, working mindfully through the poses using the breath, and some restorative yoga practices.
Arezzo: There will be a day trip to the lovely medieval city of Arezzo, where we will see the artworks of Piero della Francesca.
Umbrian hill walk: we’ll ramble through the Umbrian hills and chestnut orchards and identify wild local food, including wild salad plants, mushrooms, nuts and herbs.
Walk to nearby Monterchi: here we’ll see Piero della Francesca’s Madonna del Parto, the radical painting of a pregnant Virgin Mary held up as an icon of feminism. Monterchi is a couple of miles’ walk from Villa Pia.
“I particularly enjoyed meeting a variety of interesting new people, time out in a beautiful part of Italy, the tennis and swimming.”
“The balance of the retreat was perfect. There was plenty of time for me to sit and think. I loved the physical exercise: tennis, table-tennis, walks. The talks were informative and genuinely inspirational and thought-provoking for me. The people were also great… Inspirational stories from varied backgrounds and generations. I learnt so much.”
IDLER RENAISSANCE RETREAT TUTORS
Tim Richardson is a long-time Idler contributor who specialises in gardens and art – and the point where they intersect. He is the author of a number of books on garden and landscape subjects as well as a volume of poetry and a world history of sweets and confectionery. He also writes for Country Life and the Daily Telegraph, and is the founder and director of the Chelsea Fringe Festival.
John-Paul Flintoff has written and illustrated seven books, published in 16 languages. He’s spoken about them on four continents specially these two: How to Change the World and A Book About How to Make A Speech. John-Paul teaches people to tell better stories, in words and pictures, in text and out loud. He is the tutor of the Idler Academy online course: How to Write.
Claire Whalley Claire Whalley has been practising yoga for over 25 years and trained as a teacher with Yoga Campus. With an interest in the therapeutic qualities of yoga, she introduces the mental & physical benefits of yoga through breath work, mindful movement and techniques to relax the nervous system while gaining more flexibility and space in the physical body. Claire weaves meditation and yoga philosophy into her classes. Her classes are accessible to everyone whether new or not to yoga.
Tom Hodgkinson is editor of the Idler and author of several books including How to be Idle, How to be Free and An Idler’s Manual.
Victoria Hull is director of the Idler Academy and founder of the Clerkenwell Literary Festival.
“A wonderfully convivial group of people with just the right balance of activities and ‘me time’.”
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Cooking Class: Villa Pia’s cooks are local women who learned to cook from their grandmothers. They’ll be teaching you to make pasta the traditional way or to make a dish that you have enjoyed during your stay. We’ll finish the class with Prosecco. Price around 30 euros.
Truffle Hunting: This has been exceptionally popular in previous years. Spend a morning ambling in the woods with a local truffler and his dogs and bring back truffles for dinner. Price around 60 euros depending on numbers.
Massage and beauty treatments.
“Conviviality, location, staff, atmosphere, variety, inspiration, laughter, catering setup, people being nudged out of their comfort zones but not forced, guests, ‘brain time’.”
IDLER RENAISSANCE RETREAT PRICES
£1,200 per person if sharing a bedroom with two other people, with en suite bathroom (there is only one room at this price)
£1,575 per person sharing a bedroom with en suite bathroom
£1,595 per person, single occupancy if sharing a bathroom
£1,795 per person, single occupancy with en suite bathroom
Pay a deposit of £500 now, the remainder being due on 14 June 2024, three months before the retreat.
Please then email mail@idler.co.uk to tell us which type of room you would like to book.
Please note the deposit is non-refundable.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
All talks, trips and yoga.
Dinner for six nights out of the seven including wine and beer. This leaves one evening free to explore as there are wonderful places to eat and drink nearby in Monterchi and Lippiano.
All breakfasts and lunches plus fruit, coffee, tea, cake, alcohol and soft drinks at any time of the day or night.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Flights and transport to Villa Pia. Where possible group transport can be arranged.
Tickets to galleries.
Massage, pilates, and beauty treatments.
Truffle hunting.
Cookery lesson.
TRAVEL INFO
We recommend flying to Perugia on the following flights for which we will organise a transfer bus to and from Villa Pia.
Saturday 14 September, Stansted to Perugia
Ryanair FR2497
Departure: 6:30am
Arrival: 9:50am
Saturday 21 September, Perugia to Stansted
Ryanair FR2496
Departure: 10:15am
Arrival: 11:45am
Transport between Florence and Villa Pia will cost around 30 euros each way per person depending on numbers. We’ll let you know when numbers are confirmed.
There are also flights to Florence, Pisa and Bologna. The journey from these airports to Villa Pia is longer but there is more choice of departure airports and flights.
You can also travel under your own steam and get to Arezzo by train. This is only 20 minutes from Villa Pia and there are plenty of taxis outside the station, cost approximately 60 euros.
FITNESS
Please be aware that retreat participants must have a good level of fitness and mobility as there will be a fair amount of walking. We will also be standing in churches and galleries for at least an hour at a time, and walking round uneven medieval streets.
Terms and Conditions
If your booking is cancelled less than eight weeks before the start of your holiday 100 per cent of the total price is forfeited. Please ensure that your travel insurance is arranged at the time of booking.
Holiday Insurance: It is a condition of accepting your booking that you have personal travel insurance, including cancellation insurance for Covid, medical reasons, redundancy, jury service etc. for all members of your party. Please note that the use of Villa Pia, its facilities, grounds, and swimming pool are entirely at the user’s risk.
For more information about any part of the holiday please email Victoria on mail@idler.co.uk
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