Fully hosted, small-group retreats in Italy — designed so you can relax into the experience without planning or managing the details.
A Thoughtfully Hosted Italian Retreat
Che Vita is a fully hosted, small-group retreat in Umbria designed for guests who want to enjoy Italy without planning, coordinating, or managing the details themselves.
Accommodations, meals, transportation, and a carefully curated set of experiences are arranged in advance. We’re present throughout the week to host, guide, and support — while still leaving plenty of space to rest, wander, or opt out as you wish.
This is not a tour or a packed itinerary. Shared meals and meaningful experiences fill the days, but the pace is intentionally relaxed. Guests are never expected to participate in everything, and quiet time is respected.
The retreat is hosted by us, Shaye and Stuart Elliott, in collaboration with local Italian cooks, artisans, and guides we know personally. Many of the experiences are private and not publicly bookable, chosen to preserve quality, connection, and ease.
Che Vita takes place in the Umbrian countryside, a region known for its slower rhythm, beautiful landscapes, and deep food traditions — active enough to engage your curiosity, and quiet enough to allow real rest.
Our Week Together
Over the course of the week, we’ll share long meals, explore nearby villages, and spend time enjoying the simple pleasures of being in a beautiful place. Some days include guided experiences; others are intentionally left open for rest, wandering, or quiet time on your own.
The week is thoughtfully planned to feel rich without being rushed. Shared meals and a handful of special experiences anchor the days, but there is no expectation to do everything. Guests are always free to participate as much — or as little — as they like.
You’ll stay in a private boutique hotel in the heart of a hilltop village. Accommodations, meals, transportation, and experiences are coordinated in advance so you can relax into your week without having to plan or manage the details yourself.
Many of the experiences we include — from cooking and tastings to visits with local producers — are arranged through personal relationships and are not publicly bookable. The group is intentionally small to preserve ease, connection, and quality of experience.
Arrival & Transportation
For guests who prefer not to navigate trains on arrival, we can arrange direct pickup from Rome or Florence.
Food As A Way Of Life
Food is one of the great pleasures of our week together — a natural way to gather, connect, and enjoy our location.
We cook, eat, and share meals the way people here do: with care for what’s on the table and plenty of time to savor it. Meals aren’t rushed or staged, but generous and unhurried, shaped by seasonal ingredients, delicious wine, and great conversation.
Some meals are prepared together in relaxed, informal ways; others are cooked for us by people we know personally — local cooks, farmers, and friends who care deeply about what they make and where it comes from. Ingredients are fresh and local, and recipes are often shared more as stories than instructions. Food here is meant to be eaten, enjoyed, and passed around.
Guests experience meals in different ways — lingering over conversation, joining in casually, or taking quiet time when they need it. Everything is offered with care, and nothing is required. The rhythm is generous, flexible, and unhurried.
Who This Week Is For
This retreat is for people who want a week in Italy that feels engaging and well thought out, without needing to plan or manage the details themselves.
It’s a good fit for those who enjoy good food, thoughtful conversation, shared meals, and time spent exploring beautiful places at an unhurried pace. You’re curious and open, but you don’t need every moment to be scheduled or every experience to be maximized.
This week tends to suit guests who value quality, comfort, and clarity — and who appreciate having the logistics handled so they can simply show up and enjoy the experience.
This retreat is a great fit if you:
enjoy small groups and shared meals, without pressure to participate in everything
value good taste, care, and thoughtful hosting
want a trip that feels rich and interesting, but not rushed or exhausting
prefer to bypass the stress and uncertainty of planning a vacation in a foreign country
Throughout the week, accommodations, transportation, meals, and experiences are coordinated through personal relationships with local hosts, cooks, and guides — including several experiences that aren’t available to the general public.
Guests are always free to participate fully or take time to themselves. The rhythm is flexible, the group is small, and the details are handled throughout.
2026 Trips Available: June 13-19 and September 7-13
Hosted by Shaye & Stuart Elliott
Italy has become part of the rhythm of our family life — a place we return to for its beauty, its food, and the way it invites people to slow down and pay attention.
Our role during the week is simple and intentional: to host you well. We take care of the details, set a comfortable pace, and remain present throughout so the experience feels both special and easy — allowing you to settle in, connect, and enjoy your time here.
We work closely with local cooks, artisans, and guides we know personally, and we’re attentive to how the week is unfolding for each guest. Hosting, for us, means paying attention — not rigidly following a plan.
Our promise is this: if at any point during the week something isn’t working as expected — whether related to pace, comfort, or logistics — we want to know. We’ll address concerns promptly and thoughtfully so the experience remains enjoyable and respectful of your time and investment.
We’d be glad to spend the week with you in the Umbrian countryside, introduce you to our friends, and welcome you into a village that has become a home-away-from-home for us.
Details & Pricing
We’ve designed the week so you can focus on enjoying Italy without having to plan, coordinate, or manage the details.
Your time with us includes six nights in a boutique village hotel, transportation to and from designated pickup points, private transportation for planned excursions during the week, most meals, and all guided experiences and activities we share as a group. Planning and coordination are handled in advance so you can settle in and move through the week with ease.
A few practical notes:
International flights to and from Italy, travel to the designated pickup locations (such as by train), and travel insurance are not included. We strongly recommend travel insurance for peace of mind.
Because food, local schedules, and daily life shape the rhythm here, plans may occasionally shift. We ask guests to arrive with a spirit of flexibility — it’s part of what allows the week to feel natural, relaxed, and enjoyable.
Price & Requirements
The rate for the week is $7,250 for single occupancy, or $6,995 per person for double occupancy.
To reserve your place, a 20% deposit is required. An additional 40% is due six months prior to travel, with the remaining 40% due three months before departure.
Guests must be at least 18 years old. If you have any health, mobility, or dietary considerations, please reach out — we’re happy to talk through what will make the week most comfortable for you.
2026 Trips Available: June 13–19 and September 7–13
About Your Hotel
During our week together, you’ll stay at the Vannucci Hotel, a comfortable four-star hotel located in the heart of the medieval village of Città della Pieve. The hotel blends historic character with modern comfort, and offers wide views across the Umbrian countryside and into nearby Tuscany.
Mornings begin with a generous Italian breakfast — fresh pastries, fruit, and made-to-order coffee — before heading out for the day. Because of the hotel’s central location, cafés, shops, pharmacies, and restaurants are all within easy walking distance. It’s simple to step out for an espresso, a short stroll through town, or a quiet moment on your own.
Rooms are reserved for both single and double occupancy, each with a private ensuite bathroom. We work closely with the hotel staff to accommodate individual needs whenever possible and to ensure the week runs smoothly.
The hotel also offers a small gym, sauna, and a heated outdoor pool — available for guests who enjoy a swim or some quiet time between activities.
Space is intentionally limited to preserve the intimate nature of the week, and rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We look forward to welcoming you to this beautiful corner of Umbria.
Request More Information
If you’d like a closer look at the details, you’re welcome to request additional information below.
We’ll send a short overview with dates, pricing, and what the week looks like — so you can review everything on your own time. There’s no obligation, and no expectation to respond unless you’d like to continue the conversation.
If questions come up, you’re always welcome to reply or ask for a brief call. We’re happy to talk things through when it’s helpful.
2026 Trips Available: June 13–19 and September 7–13