Total Tuscany & Amazing Amalfi: Hosted Luxury Italy Retreats: Tuscany & Amalfi Coast Experiences

There is a very different way to experience Italy — not as a tourist passing through, but as a welcomed guest.

We are Sandy and Phil Ferretti, originally from the United States and now living full-time in Montepulciano, Tuscany for nearly a decade. Over the years, we have built deep relationships with local winemakers, chefs, artisans, and families throughout Italy — relationships that have opened doors far beyond what a traditional travel experience can offer.

Our work and approach have been recognized internationally, including features in Rick Steves’ Italy and on CBS Sunday Morning, and our mission has always remained the same: to create meaningful, immersive experiences that allow travelers to truly connect with Italy.

From this philosophy, our fully hosted, small-group retreats were born.

We personally host each experience, welcoming just 10–12 guests at a time, creating an intimate and relaxed atmosphere where every detail is thoughtfully curated. From the moment you arrive until the moment you leave, everything is taken care of — allowing you to simply settle in and experience Italy as it unfolds naturally.

Our Tuscany experience is set in a beautifully restored boutique farmhouse in the heart of the countryside, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, complete with a pool and on-site dining. Here, your days are centered around the rhythms of Tuscan life — private wine tastings with producers we know personally, hands-on cooking experiences, truffle hunting in the hills, visits to cheese and olive oil farms, and long, leisurely meals shared at the table.

You’ll explore some of Tuscany’s most iconic and picturesque areas, including Cortona, Montepulciano, Pienza, and Montalcino, along with the breathtaking landscapes of the Val d’Orcia and Val di Chiana. But what makes these moments special is not just where you go — it’s how you experience them: through the people who live and work here, and the stories they share.

Along the Amalfi Coast, the experience shifts to the beauty and energy of southern Italy. You’ll stay in a boutique bed-and-breakfast perched above Positano, also with a pool and restaurant, where the views stretch endlessly over the Mediterranean.

Days here include private boat excursions to Capri, exploring hidden coves and grottos, visiting family-run lemon groves, enjoying meals in spectacular seaside locations, and discovering the towns of Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello with a local perspective. Behind every experience are the relationships we’ve cultivated — from boat captains to restaurateurs — ensuring every moment feels seamless and special.

What makes these experiences truly different is not just where you go, but how you experience it.

You are not following a guide — you are being hosted.
You are not observing Italy — you are participating in it.

You’ll find yourself welcomed into homes, introduced to families, and sharing meals that feel more like gatherings than reservations. By the end of the week, what began as a trip becomes something much more personal — a connection to a place, its people, and a way of life.

This is Italy, experienced from the inside.

TOTAL TUSCANY — RETREAT DATES
2026 (Wednesday – Wednesday | 7 nights / 8 days)

• July 15 – July 22, 2026
• September 2 – September 9, 2026
• September 16 – September 23, 2026
• October 7 – October 14, 2026
• November 4 – November 11, 2026
⸻
2027 (Wednesday – Wednesday | 7 nights / 8 days)
• May 12 – May 19, 2027
• June 9 – June 16, 2027
• July 14 – July 21, 2027
• September 1 – September 8, 2027
• September 22 – September 29, 2027
• October 6 – October 13, 2027
• October 20 – October 27, 2027
• November 3 – November 10, 2027

⸻
AMAZING AMALFI — RETREAT DATES
2026 (Monday – Monday | 7 nights / 8 days)

• October 19 – October 26, 2026

⸻
2027 (Saturday – Saturday | 7 nights / 8 days)

• April 24 – May 1, 2027
• September 11 – September 18, 2027