OVERVIEW

LUXURY WELLNESS + CUISINE

Join us for our newest addition in Italy as we partner with the Caruso Belmond hotel in beautiful Ravello for this shoulder-season wellness getaway. 5* accommodations and impeccable service will abound as we indulge in the time after the crowds have disappeared, the hustle and bustle has slowed down, and we can experience a quieter Amalfi Coast in all its splendor.

HOTEL

This luxury retreat will be held at one of the Amalfi Coast’s most exclusive hotels - the Belmond Caruso in Ravello. A heavenly retreat between sea and sky, set on a cliff edge 1,000ft above sea level, Caruso is your private balcony over the Amalfi Coast. This former 11th-century palace boasts all the worldly luxuries anyone could desire. Marbled hallways lead to rooms brimming with antiques and paintings by old masters. Cascading down the mountain, past lemon groves and olive vines, is Ravello, the mesmerizing ‘city of music’. Paradise, found. Plus, its gorgeous rooms, heated swimming pool over the cliff, and wellness spa will leave us feeling pampered all week.

This sprawling edifice, perched high above the hilltop town of Ravello overlooking the Bay of Salerno, is one of Amalfi's most romantic boltholes. It began life as an 11th-century palazzo, and its location is matched by the traditional Italianate charm of the décor. Caruso is the best located hotel in Ravello, set in immaculate terraced gardens on its own little rocky spur high above the coast, with jaw-dropping views from just about everywhere. It feels removed from its neighbors and has a much more extensive grounds.

Occupying a splendid, rambling palazzo originating in the 11th century, the Caruso is a hotel in grand style with marble hallways, sweeping arches and vaulted ceilings, weathered old floors, frescoes and chandeliers. Its grand salons are furnished with precious antiques, and walls are hung with prints and old master paintings. But it is far from being pompous, thanks to the carefully pitched management style and delightful staff.

The original ivy-clad building dates to the 11th century, but it didn’t become a hotel until the late 1800s, when Pantaleone Caruso ran it as a pensione, drawing Virginia Woolf and other Bloomsbury types, and later Jackie Kennedy, Humphrey Bogart, and Greta Garbo. The Belmond group took it over in 2000 and began a four-year period of renovation, bringing in art historians and archaeologists while updating its design.

SURROUNDING AREA

Our day trips will allow us to experience the many unique landscapes and activities that this area has to offer. We will begin our week in Ravello for a visit to the famous Cimbrone Gardens, with the iconic manicured views over the cliffs above Amalfi, before venturing further up the mountain to Tramonti for a visit of one of the areas known wineries - complete with a tour and tasting lunch. The next day we’ll have a guided hike down towards Scala and Amalfi to visit the ruins of Sant. Eustachio and guided tour of the Ferriere Valley before ending in Amalfi for some free time to see the town and the sites. Towards the middle of our stay, we’ll take a private boat along the coast to see the towns from the sea, with the views of Positano, Praiano, and the beautiful coves and hillsides. Our week will end again with a day exploring the beauty of Ravello - from food classes to learn about the cuisine to a ceramics class to try our hand at the area’s famous artisan craft.

CUISINE

Healthful, vegetarian food is part of the retreat experience, including breakfast and dinner daily, as well as selected lunches. We've carefully chosen delicious and fresh meals from renowned restaurants and chefs to give guests an expansive experience of the cuisine. Our dinners will include a few multi-course tasting menus as well as tastings of the regional specialties throughout the week. We'll experience tastings from where certain local delicacies are produced, like rocky vineyards and small family kitchens. And while on-site, we'll dine in the hotel's dining room or outside sea-view terrace. Our week includes a winery visit with tour, tasting and lunch, as well as a pizza lesson, food course with the chef, a spritz class with the bar’s mixologist, and plenty of opportunities to learn about this area through our tastebuds.

YOGA

A daily meditation and yoga class will be offered at the start of the day in a way to relax, stimulate, and help guests grow in their own personal practice. Classes are open to all levels, beginner to practiced, and can range from gentle, restorative, and more vigorous vinyasa flow and ashtanga styles.* Style and class levels will be determined and moulded to fit participating students' needs, and with a small intimate retreat class size, students will be able to get personalized attention and comfortability to deeply explore their practice. On this FORM+FLAVORS retreat, during the other time in the day we'll enjoy various walks around the area, and focus on classes and experiences to learn about the region and the cuisine/wine. This combines with the asana practice to deepen our mindful experience during the week in a balanced way.

* Participation in classes and activities is optional throughout the retreat. All levels welcome!

DETAILS / PRICING

• 6 days / 5 nights (Oct 28-Nov 2, 2022)

• Inclusive Retreat Price = $3,595 (shared room*), +$1300 (single room supplement)

• Deposit to hold space = $950

• Max # Guests = 12
  Many of our guests come alone and we match up based on guest profile
  ** Final balance due 60 days before retreat start date.
  Read full cancellation policy in our Terms & Conditions.

INCLUDED*:

• 5* luxury hotel accommodation (spacious bedrooms, each with private bathrooms, linens)

• Daily Breakfast and Dinner

• Selected Lunches

• Transportation to/from day trips

• Daily meditation and yoga class

• Use of hotel amenities (pools, relax rooms, etc.)

• Tasting menu dinner + wine pairings

• Regional Tasting Tours - wine, cheese

• Chef cooking class

• Pasta & wine tasting dinner

• Visit to Amalfi

• Visit to winery for tour, tasting, and lunch

• Ceramics class

• Boat ride along the coast to Positano

• Meditation at the ruins of Sant. Eustachio and guided tour of the Ferriere Valley

• Pizza class/demo

• Group transfer from Naples on start/end days of retreat

• 2 spa days with treatments

• Taxes

* airfare not included
** all meals are vegetarian. special dietary restrictions can be accommodated
***activities may change based on weather or unforeseen circumstances

TRAVEL:

• Located in Ravello, just above the town of Amalfi, a convenient drive from the Naples train station.

• AIRPORTS: Naples International Airport (NAP), Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

SUGGESTED PACKING:

Besides the basic packing and travel needs, here are a few things to think about bringing with you.

• * YOGA MATS ARE PROVIDED *

• Bathing suit (on-site pool, spa)

• Yoga clothes

• Plug adaptors / converters

• Comfortable walking shoes

• Journal