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We pride ourselves on our attention to detail and excellent service before, during and after our retreats, as well as curating unique experiences to make our guests feel at home while tapping into their adventurous and creative sides!
After over ten years of traveling throughout Italy and four successful summers of hosting retreats, we're grateful to be able to offer these retreats year after year, and humbled by the reviews our new Wanderful friends have offered after their time under the Tuscan sun! Read below to hear more about past retreat attendees' adventures with Chelsea and Wanderful Retreats! |
I signed up for the Lucca week retreat. It was so much MORE than I expected. The months/weeks before the retreat I had several questions. Chelsea was always available to help me with my questions/concerns.
The accommodations were spacious, clean and convenient to lots of shops and restaurants. The host, Chelsea, was a spectacular tour guide. Her fluency in Italian was a huge benefit. All our tours were educational but not over the top and certainly not boring in any aspect. I loved the off-site cooking class, and then another afternoon of wine-tasting, which included a short walk through the orchard of 2,000 olive trees.
We were a small group, which I really enjoyed. There was a loose schedule so I never felt rushed or tired. Art is part of the retreat, but you can do as little as you like. I'm more a stick figure artist - haha - but enjoyed learning some basic techniques and about colors. I highly recommend Wanderful Retreats for a wonderful vacation.
- Maria, Lucca Summer 2023
The accommodations were spacious, clean and convenient to lots of shops and restaurants. The host, Chelsea, was a spectacular tour guide. Her fluency in Italian was a huge benefit. All our tours were educational but not over the top and certainly not boring in any aspect. I loved the off-site cooking class, and then another afternoon of wine-tasting, which included a short walk through the orchard of 2,000 olive trees.
We were a small group, which I really enjoyed. There was a loose schedule so I never felt rushed or tired. Art is part of the retreat, but you can do as little as you like. I'm more a stick figure artist - haha - but enjoyed learning some basic techniques and about colors. I highly recommend Wanderful Retreats for a wonderful vacation.
- Maria, Lucca Summer 2023
Finally got to do BOTH retreats this past June. Wish I could say which of the two I like best, but they are both truly wonderful!! The villa out in the countryside is absolutely gorgeous and all the activities in that area were fantastic. The apartments in the center of Lucca are amazing and perfectly located, and once again, the activities for that week were fabulous.
Chelsea has thought of everything and yet is very flexible in terms of any changes her guests would like to make or anything a guest might need along the way. You can do as much or as little art as you would like and it's not remotely intimidating. The customized, handmade sketch books given to each guest are beautiful and a terrific way to journal the experience through art, with as much or as little assistance from Chelsea as you would like. The food everywhere we went was delicious, including all the meals that Chelsea prepared for us! Do yourself a favor and book for next year before she is sold out!
- KC, Villa & Lucca Summer 2022
Chelsea has thought of everything and yet is very flexible in terms of any changes her guests would like to make or anything a guest might need along the way. You can do as much or as little art as you would like and it's not remotely intimidating. The customized, handmade sketch books given to each guest are beautiful and a terrific way to journal the experience through art, with as much or as little assistance from Chelsea as you would like. The food everywhere we went was delicious, including all the meals that Chelsea prepared for us! Do yourself a favor and book for next year before she is sold out!
- KC, Villa & Lucca Summer 2022
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I had a fabulous time. Lucca was exactly what I needed… an escape. Chelsea was a fabulous host. We ate great food, drank wonderful wine and laughed our way through the week.
- T, Lucca Summer 2022 |
Chelsea knows how to treat a girl. I had never been to Castiglion and she made me feel right at home. I embraced my creative side with her great teaching of watercolors. I truly didn't want my week to end with Chelsea. If you have never been to Italy and want to immerse yourself in culture and creativity, Wanderful Retreats are for you! Thank you Chelsea!
- Katie, Villa Fall 2021 |
Wanderful Retreats was perfection! I wasn’t sure how traveling abroad would be during a pandemic, but it was a breeze with Chelsea’s guidance. She did all the research on what was needed to get to Italy, while we were there, and on our way home. Every day was planned out with things to do, sites to see, and art to learn! The villa we stayed in had an incredible view of the town and the amenities were great. Being able to lay by the pool and sip Prosecco was a hard activity to beat at times. I know very minimal Italian and how to watercolor but Chelsea made me feel comfortable trying to learn both and taught me along the way. She is a fantastic teacher! So all I’m trying to say is if you are thinking about booking a retreat to Italy, book with Wanderful Retreats!
- Elizabeth, Villa Fall 2021
- Elizabeth, Villa Fall 2021
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The week spent in Castiglion Fiorentino was so incredibly healing and restorative. Quiet morning painting sessions and delightful dinner conversations over bottles of wine is exactly what a retreat should be. I’m so grateful for the week spent with Chelsea and the little group of gals who are now life long friends. Italy stole my heart years ago and continues to hold on to it. Everyone should get to experience it’s beauty and light.
- Sara, Villa Fall 2021 |
The Lucca tour was like a dream come true. The hostess was very organized but still offered spontaneous time to explore. I especially loved the Chianti region with our private tour guide arranged through our hostess.
- C, Lucca Summer 2019 |
Wanderful Retreats is the best way to visit Italy! You get to spend a week with someone who knows the cities and a lot of history that goes with them. You also get the chance to learn how to sketch and paint the beautiful Italian scenery around you. You can't go wrong booking a week with Wanderful Retreats. My only regret is not participating in both weeks!
- Haylee, Villa Summer 2019
- Haylee, Villa Summer 2019
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Both of my retreats in Italy have been fabulous. Chelsea does an amazing job leading her groups through Tuscany and making you feel at home. She organizes everything so you get a taste of Tuscany but still have the freedom to explore solo if you want. Our weeks were filled with exploring gorgeous towns, eating delicious food and learning how to paint under Chelsea's guidance. Chelsea also speaks Italian so it's great to have someone by your side to help translate and navigate this beautiful country.
Can't wait to join Chelsea again on another retreat in Tuscany! - Holly, Villa 2017 and Lucca 2018 |
Looking through my pictures from the Tuscany retreat and wishing I were back in Italy right now! It was an amazing week with amazing people. We had time for ourselves and time to be social. There was a perfect balance of painting, relaxing, and sight-seeing. We shopped, cooked, ate, traveled, and laid by the pool. The activities were well planned out and so enjoyable.
Chelsea’s sweet demeanor and attentiveness really made the trip perfect. Since she speaks Italian we were able to speak with everyone and feel at home in Italy! - Lauren, Villa Summer 2017 |
"My Italy art retreat was some of the best money I've ever spent. Chelsea organized it perfectly. It was stress-free in that everything was planned and ready to go - the amazing apartment, food in the fridge, an awesome itinerary - and yet, throughout the week, I still had the freedom to branch off and do other things I wanted.
The best part is Chelsea is practically an Italian herself so you get much more than a surface tour. After a week, I knew the good spots to get coffee and where to find a killer sandwich, which restaurants would give me free Limoncello if I stayed late enough, and how to do a decent watercolor to boot.
I made new friends, made memories with old friends, and came home with a handmade sketchbook full of art. Overall, it was a perfect adventure!
- Kendal, Florence 2016
The best part is Chelsea is practically an Italian herself so you get much more than a surface tour. After a week, I knew the good spots to get coffee and where to find a killer sandwich, which restaurants would give me free Limoncello if I stayed late enough, and how to do a decent watercolor to boot.
I made new friends, made memories with old friends, and came home with a handmade sketchbook full of art. Overall, it was a perfect adventure!
- Kendal, Florence 2016
"Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls."
