The Program
In the morning, Laura Lynne Jackson will lead the group in profound sessions focused on intuition, connection, and expanding your awareness of the signs and messages that surround us every day. These are not lectures — they are intimate, experiential, and profoundly personal.
Afternoons belong to Tuscany. Guided by our Italian travel liaison Vincenzo Lauria, you will explore the region's most magnificent towns, vineyards, and culinary traditions — returning each evening nourished, inspired, and alive.
Morning & Afternoon: An Intentional Flow
This retreat is designed so that what you learn in the morning carries directly into the afternoon. After opening sessions on presence and awareness, you'll walk the ancient streets of San Gimignano and Siena with new eyes — noticing what you're drawn toward, and what the landscape seems to be saying. After sessions on signs and connection, you'll find yourself in the Val d'Orcia, one of the most profound landscapes in the world, or around a long dinner table at a Tuscan farm — practicing presence, gratitude, and joy in real time. The food, the wine, the art, the light — all of it becomes part of the teaching.
Teaching Sessions with Laura Lynne Jackson
Laura will teach on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings from 9:00–11:30am — a total of 10 hours of intimate instruction. Sessions are held at the monastery and are included in your cost.
Your Week at a Glance
Sunday, May 30 - Arrival & Welcome
Your journey begins with a scenic three-hour drive from Leonardo da Vinci International Airport through the Italian countryside — with a stop along the way at an Autogrill, the beloved Italian roadside institution where a perfectly pulled espresso, a fresh cornetto, and gourmet savory slow food are practically mandatory. Arrive at the Certosa di Pontignano, settle in, take in the stunning grounds, and join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner to kick off what promises to be an extraordinary week.
Monday, May 31 - Teaching + Monteriggioni & San Gimignano
After your morning session with Laura, we head to Monteriggioni — one of Tuscany's best-preserved medieval walled towns — for lunch. The afternoon unfolds in San Gimignano, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of soaring towers and ancient piazzas. Free time to wander, visit the cathedral, and make a mandatory stop at the world-famous Gelateria Dondoli. Dinner will be at a local agriturismo.
Tuesday, June 1 - Teaching + Siena & Montalcino
After your morning session, a short ride to Siena for lunch at a local trattoria, then time to explore the magnificent Piazza del Campo and the breathtaking Duomo. Coffee and pastries at the beloved Nannini café, then on to Montalcino — home of the legendary Brunello wine — for a tour of its 14th-century fortress and a tasting dinner at Angelini Winery.
Wednesday, June 2 - Florence
The group heads out after breakfast for a full day in Florence. Everyone has free time to explore the city at their own pace — the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery, Michelangelo's David at the Accademia, the Duomo, Santa Maria Novella, and the San Lorenzo market are all available for your exploration. Dinner will be back at the Certosa.
Thursday, June 3 - Teaching + Val d'Orcia & Cooking Experience
After your morning session, we journey through the Val d'Orcia, stopping in Pienza for Pecorino cheese and Montepulciano for Renaissance architecture and sweeping panoramas. The afternoon culminates at the farm of Chef Sabrina Giuliacci in Città della Pieve, where the group will make fresh pasta, cook Tuscan sauces, grill meats and vegetables, and sit down together for a long, joyful dinner with wine and scrumptious desserts.
Friday, June 4 - Teaching + Chianti & Farewell Dinner
After your final morning session with Laura, lunch at a local pizzeria, then an afternoon in the Chianti hills visiting Barone Ricasoli — one of the oldest wineries in Tuscany — for a tasting and tour. The week closes with a beautiful farewell dinner at the Certosa.
Saturday, June 5 - Departure
Breakfast at the Certosa, check out, and transfer back to the Leonardo da Vinci airport. You leave with a full heart, new friendships, and a deepened connection to yourself and the world around you.