Southern Lady Italy Retreat 2023
Southern Lady Italy Retreat 2023

Southern Lady Italy Retreat with Vietri Founder Susan Gravely

September 8-15, 2023


$8,750 single occupancy
$7,500 double occupancy per person
$9,500 participant + travel companion package (limited availability)

Experience Italy in wholly immersive fashion with our luxurious escape, which pairs an arrival night in Rome with three nights on the breathtaking Amalfi Coast and three nights amid the rich history of Florence. You’ll enjoy the companionship of Susan Gravely, founder of the fine Italian ceramics company Vietri and author of the brand-new book Italy on a Plate, as she introduces us to some of the artisans and locations most important to Vietri’s 40-year story. Between group activities, you’ll have plenty of time for shopping, sightseeing, and simply pausing to take in the scenery. This is an exclusive experience not to miss!

What’s Included
  • 5-star hotel accommodations in Rome, Sorrento, and Florence
  • Welcome reception in Rome
  • Visit to Vietri sul Mare, home of the original Vietri factory
  • Amalfi Coast excursion
  • Group dinner at Sorrento hotel
  • Florence group activities, including a curated walking tour with some of Susan’s favorite spots
  • Aperitivi and dinner at Agriturismo Casetta
  • Daily hotel breakfast 
  • Private coach transfers to/from all group activities and between Rome, Sorrento, and Florence
What’s Not Included
  • Airfare/travel to/from Italy
  • Airport transfers
  • Most dinners and lunches
  • Any admission fees or other costs for activities on your own
What’s Included
  • 5-star hotel accommodations in Rome, Sorrento, and Florence
  • Welcome reception in Rome
  • Visit to Vietri sul Mare, home of the original Vietri factory
  • Amalfi Coast excursion
  • Group dinner at Sorrento hotel
  • Florence group activities, including a curated walking tour with some of Susan’s favorite spots
  • Aperitivi and dinner at Agriturismo Casetta
  • Daily hotel breakfast 
  • Private coach transfers to/from all group activities and between Rome, Sorrento, and Florence

*Accommodations are shared with another participant. Please let us know the name of your roommate when you register.

What’s Not Included
  • Airfare/travel to/from Italy
  • Airport transfers
  • Most dinners and lunches
  • Any admission fees or costs for activities on your own
What’s Included

For participant, everything listed for “Single” is included.

  • 5-star hotel accommodations in Rome, Sorrento, and Florence
  • Welcome reception in Rome
  • Visit to Vietri sul Mare, home of the original Vietri factory
  • Amalfi Coast excursion
  • Group dinner at Sorrento hotel
  • Florence group activities, including a curated walking tour with some of Susan’s favorite spots
  • Aperitivi and dinner at Agriturismo Casetta
  • Daily hotel breakfast 
  • Private coach transfers to/from all group activities and between Rome, Sorrento, and Florence
What’s Not Included
  • Airfare/travel to/from Italy
  • Airport transfers
  • Most dinners and lunches
  • Any admission fees or other costs for activities on your own

Space is limited and filling fast. Don’t wait! Register today.

Have a question about this retreat? Contact us.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

If you’d like to register, please email events@southernladymagazine.com.

Reservations will be taken in the order in which we receive emails. Please include the following information in your email:

Your registration type (Single, Double, Participant + Travel Companion)

Phone number (so we can contact you to take your deposit)

Your name and travel companion’s name, if applicable.

Friday, September 8
Arrive in Rome and get settled into the SINA Bernini Bristol Hotel, a short walk from the city’s famed Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Villa Borghese. Meet and mingle with your travel companions, as well as Vietri founder Susan Gravely and members of the Southern Lady editorial team, at an informal evening welcome reception at the hotel. 

Saturday, September 9
Travel by private coach from Rome to the charming town of Sorrento at the western edge of Italy’s Amalfi Coast. After checking in at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, perched on a bluff with views of the sea, you’ll have the afternoon and evening to get acquainted with the hotel and town on your own. 

Note: For Sunday and Monday, we will divide into two groups. You may be in a group that does the same things in different order. 

Sunday, September 10
Travel by private coach with Susan Gravely to the Amalfi Coast town of Vietri sul Mare, home to the original Vietri factory, where you’ll see artisans at work and hear Susan share insight into Vietri’s story. 

Monday, September 11
Enjoy an excursion on the beautiful Amalfi Coast, with its stunning views, local shops, and signature sights. At the end of the day, we’ll gather for a group dinner at the hotel to celebrate our last night on the coast. 

Tuesday, September 12
Travel by private coach from Sorrento to Florence, stopping in the Umbrian hill town of Orvieto to explore its streets and splendid cathedral. Upon arrival in Florence, check in at Ville Sull’Arno, just outside the city’s bustle on the banks of the Arno River, and enjoy a relaxing evening on your own.

Wednesday, September 13
Have your walking shoes ready—this morning is all about exploring central Florence, as Susan shares some of her favorite spots and hidden gems. Take the afternoon to rest or sightsee, and as evening falls, a private coach will take us to Agriturismo Casetta, a 270-year-old farmhouse just a short drive from Florence. Owner Xenia Lemos will welcome us with aperitivi and a casual dinner as we admire the views over the olive groves and rolling hills of the Chianti region. 

Thursday, September 14
This morning brings a special only-in-Florence experience to be announced closer to the time of travel! Afterward, enjoy lunch on your own at a local restaurant, and take advantage of the chance to visit Florentine highlights of your choice.

Friday, September 15
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before you check out and depart Florence.

Accommodations in Rome
The 5-star SINA Bernini Bristol is located on Rome’s historic Piazza Barberini, a short walk from the famed Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese, and other iconic sights. Rooms are modern and comfortable, with sleek design and marble bathrooms.

Accommodations in Sorrento
Dating back to the 19th century, Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria is one of Sorrento’s premier luxury properties. This 5-star hotel is perched on a cliff overlooking the Bay of Naples; rooms are done in classic and elegant style.

Accommodations in Florence
Ville Sull’Arno is a unique 5-star hotel on the banks of the Arno River, just outside the bustle of central Florence. Housed in a former country home for nobility, its recently restored rooms are decorated in distinctive fashion with a touch of Old World flair.  

Booking
To ask questions or initiate registration, email events@southernladymagazine.com. Messages will be answered in the order received, and a Southern Lady staff member will take your payment by phone.

To be confirmed, the retreat cost is due in full within 48 hours of booking. We accept payment by American Express, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and Amazon Pay. Trip prices are in US dollars.

Travel to and from Italy
Guests are responsible for getting themselves to Rome and to the SINA Bernini Bristol Hotel on Friday, September 8, 2023, when the retreat commences. Guests are responsible for getting themselves from Ville Sull’Arno to the airport or their next destination on Friday, September 15, 2023.

Costs
The price of the trip includes all hotel accommodations, daily breakfast, private coach transfers, and group meals and activities as specified. It does not include airfare, ground transportation to or from the airport, activities during your free time, and most dinners and lunches.

Single occupancy, double occupancy, and participant + travel companion guest rates are available.

Your credit card will be charged by Hoffman Media, the parent company of Southern Lady.

Cancellation
Since the trip is nonrefundable, we suggest buying trip insurance.

If you don’t purchase travel insurance, you agree to indemnify us against any charges that might have otherwise been covered by your insurance. You further agree that we are not responsible for any costs of cancellation or costs related to COVID-19. Due to COVID-19, there may be limitations relating to activities. Certain services and amenities may be reduced or unavailable as a result of changing circumstances. Please know that we are working closely with our partners in Italy to plan and execute a safe retreat for our guests, but there is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 when traveling. By booking this retreat, you acknowledge and assume these risks associated with travel. 

If a mandatory quarantine for visitors is in effect for travel to Italy during the retreat, the retreat will be cancelled and your money will be refunded in full. If quarantine is required of you due to not meeting entry standards such as a COVID-19 vaccination, you are responsible for adhering to Italy’s quarantine regulations and will not be offered a refund. You are responsible for following all travel protocols to enter Italy. This may include proof of vaccination, a health visa, and negative COVID-19 test. (We will help you navigate this process, don’t worry.)

Is breakfast included?
This retreat package includes daily breakfast at the hotels in Rome, Sorrento, and Florence.

I want to bring my travel companion, but they don’t want to participate in the group activities. What can they do?
We offer a “participant + travel companion” package for this very reason! This package allows you to participate in all retreat activities while your travel companion explores our destinations on their own. As a part of this package, hotel accommodations, the welcome reception on arrival night, the group dinner in Sorrento and the dinner at Agriturismo Casetta are included for your companion. Participant + travel companion packages are limited.

Are children able to attend this retreat?
All participants must be 18 years old or older to attend this retreat.

What will the weather be like in Italy in September?
On average, Rome, Sorrento, and Florence are all quite warm in September, with highs in the low to mid-80s. Although rain should be minimal, it is possible and we recommend bringing a small umbrella and waterproof outerwear.

What should I plan to wear?
We suggest wearing lightweight, comfortable clothing. While Italy is not formal, shorts, tennis shoes, and athleisure wear are uncommon among locals. Comfortable walking shoes are essential. Please note that most cathedrals and other places of worship require visitors to have knees and shoulders covered.

How much physical activity can I expect?
Although we will have a private coach to transport us to most of our activities, walking will be required for tours and other sightseeing. Participants should be able to walk approximately ½ mile in less than 15 minutes and/or to climb a flight of stairs without extreme shortness of breath or other physical ailments. 

While Sorrento is relatively flat, the towns of the Amalfi Coast are vertically oriented along the cliffs and can require some climbing of stairs. You will also be navigating cobblestone streets in Rome and Florence.

You should be able to lift and carry your luggage on your own if assistance is not available. 

If I book a double-occupancy package, will the hotel room have two beds?
We will do our best to arrange for double-occupancy rooms with two beds, but due to the uniqueness of the hotels where we will be staying, we cannot guarantee separate beds. If there are not two beds, guests will be provided with two sets of linens on one bed.

Will we have any free time?
You will have free time in each destination to explore on your own. We will also equip you with our list of favorite restaurants, local sights, general tips, and more.

To reserve your spot, email events@southernladymagazine.com. You will be required to pay in full within 48 hours. Reservations will be taken in the order in which we receive emails.

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Southern Lady Italy Retreat 2023
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