Join us for a week of Idling in Italy
In the company of the Idler’s editor Tom Hodgkinson and Idler Academy director Victoria Hull, this September’s Idler Retreat will explore the music and philosophy of the Renaissance. We’ll visit a Renaissance palace and see some of the very best Renaissance art. We’ll do yoga, read, walk, loaf and feast together. There will be walks in the Umbrian hills and a trip to a medieval town where the work of local artist Alberto Burri is displayed.
We’ll learn how both ancient philosophers and Renaissance philosophers saw idling as an important part of living well, and we’ll consider how important it is today to step back and bring some idle time into our lives.
There will be live music from the Lute Society’s Chris Goodwin and singer Jeni Melia, leading us through a thousand years of idling in song, and we’ll learn about the rich and complex symbolism of the lute.
And there will be dancing! We’ll learn some of the easier dances from the Wolf Hall era – of high folk and low folk alike.
The detailed programme for this retreat is now complete. Email victoria@idler.co.uk for details.
We hope to inspire a renaissance in your own life.
Visit Città di Castello
We’ll visit the historic town of Città di Castello, described by art historian Vittorio Sgarbi as “the capital of the Renaissance”.
We’ll wander around the Palazzo Vitella and see works by Raphael, Luca Signorelli, and Piero della Francesca among other great Renaissance artists. We’ll take a guided tour around the piazzas, gardens and churches of the elegant town centre.
We’ll see a stunning collection of work by the contemporary artist Alberto Burri who was born here.
We’ll be shown around an orchard where fruits that were grown locally in Renaissance times are still cultivated.
Villa Pia in Lippiano
Villa Pia sits on the border of Tuscany and Umbria on the edge of the medieval village of Lippiano. The villa has views over the Umbrian hills, a swimming pool, tennis court, an art studio and extensive gardens in which to rest and read.
The 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 cooks 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 cooks are excellent and their creations and ingredients delicious. What a well-run team. All are so happy; there was never a mobile in sight! The cleanliness everywhere was impressive.”
Hosts and Tutors
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.
Chris Goodwin is one of Europe’s foremost lute players. He runs The Lute Society and is an expert on the history and symbolism of this fascinating instrument.
Jeni Melia is a qualified music therapist. She is a talented soprano with many years of concert experience and of leading group singalongs. Jeni will also talk to Idler retreaters about the importance of music to our mental wellbeing.
Michela is a yoga teacher and masseuse with 700 hours of certified training and over ten years’ experience of teaching. Her classes emphasise alignment, breath, and mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health. “I focus on creating an internally nourishing practice that is challenging but accessible, safe and fluid,” she says.
Victoria Hull is director of the Idler Academy, producing online courses, events, retreats, and the Idler Festival. She founded the Clerkenwell Literary Festival in the 1990s and has been involved in programming events ever since.
“A wonderfully convivial group of people with just the right balance of activities and ‘me time’.”
Optional Extras
Truffling Morning: Join local trufflers and their dogs in a secret location rich with truffles. Price around 60 euros.
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. You’ll finish the class with Prosecco. Price 40 euros.
Wine Tasting: Learn about local wines from the cheap and cheerful to the most revered. Be careful: quantities will be generous. Price around 30 euros.
Massage and Beauty Treatments. Book on arrival.
“Conviviality, location, staff, atmosphere, variety, inspiration, laughter, catering setup, people being nudged out of their comfort zones but not forced, guests, ‘brain time’.”
Testimonials
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Crafted brilliantly with daily learning and treats.”
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