A four-day retreat where writing, cooking, and stillness grow from one root, the ground beneath your feet and the memory in your senses.
Writing • Culinary • Mindfulness
Retreat Monferrato, 1 Via panengo Piemonte, 14026 Italy
12–17 September 2027
Maximum 16 guests
One retreat, woven from many threads.
Led by award-winning food writer and holistic creativity coach Dr. Julia Skinner, these four days weave together writing, culinary experiences, mindfulness, and a deep relationship with place. Through thoughtful workshops, shared meals, local traditions, and moments of stillness, you’ll discover a creative practice that feels natural, sustainable, and deeply personal.
Rather than separating creativity from everyday life, this retreat invites you to experience writing through the senses, finding inspiration in the landscape, the kitchen, and the quiet moments between.
You’ll leave with practical tools, renewed confidence, meaningful connections, and a creative rhythm you can continue long after returning home.
- This retreat is for you if…
- You long to reconnect with your creativity in a slower, more meaningful way.
- You enjoy writing, whether professionally, personally, or simply as a form of self-expression.
- You're curious about the relationship between food, memory, culture, and storytelling.
- You seek moments of calm that nourish both your creative practice and your well-being.
- You love authentic travel experiences rooted in local traditions.
- You value intimate groups, genuine conversations, and time to simply be.
A deeper connection
Reconnect with yourself through mindfulness, rest, and meaningful shared experiences.
New perspectives
Experience creativity as something that belongs not only on the page, but in daily life.
Three practices. One rhythm.
Each day gently moves between writing, cooking, and moments of stillness, allowing each experience to naturally enrich the next.
Thread 01 – Writing
- Sessions to build the practice
- Build a consistent writing practice that works with your life.
- Discover a rhythm you'll look forward to returning to.
- Use memory, place, and sensory awareness as creative companions.
- Explore new exercises designed to unlock imagination and confidence.
Thread 02 - Culinary
- Cooking as a way of seeing
- Join a hands-on cooking class with Retreat Monferrato's resident chef.
- Visit a local market and discover the flavours of the region.
- Experience food as a bridge between culture, storytelling, and memory.
- Share meals that become part of the creative process itself.
Thread 03 - Mindfulness
- Rest, reset, return
- Guided meditation sessions.
- Sound Bath experiences.
- Gentle creative practices.
- Moments of silence surrounded by nature.
- Space to slow down and reconnect with yourself.
Morning
- Breakfast surrounded by the hills of Monferrato
- Guided meditation
- Writing workshop
- Coffee break
Midday
- Creative writing session
- Seasonal lunch shared together
- Time to relax
Afternoon
- Cooking class or local market visit
- Free time to explore the property, walk through the vineyards, journal, or simply rest.
Evening
- Dinner featuring local cuisine
- Group reflections
- Sound Bath or evening mindfulness practice
Award-winning food writer, educator, researcher, and holistic creativity coach, Julia Skinner has dedicated her career to exploring the relationship between food, history, storytelling, and imagination.
Through the Culinary Curiosity School, Roots & Branches, and Root Kitchens, she has helped hundreds of writers, creatives, and curious minds build sustainable creative practices rooted in curiosity rather than pressure.
During this retreat, Julia brings together the writer’s discipline, the cook’s attention, and the coach’s compassionate approach to help you rediscover creativity in its most natural form.
Take your creative practice from where it is to where it’s going.
A UNESCO World Heritage landscape where vineyards, forests, and historic villages create the perfect environment for slowing down.
Hosted at Retreat Monferrato, this experience unfolds in a place designed for wellbeing, creativity, and connection with nature.
Here, long horizons encourage reflection.
Silence becomes part of the creative process.
Every meal celebrates the flavours of Piedmont.
Every walk becomes an invitation to notice more.
For four days, the landscape itself becomes your creative companion.
Monferrato is a place where tradition is still lived every day.
Its vineyards, local markets, family recipes, and slow rhythms create an atmosphere unlike anywhere else.
Here, creativity grows naturally from the land.
Food carries stories across generations.
Silence has space to be heard.
The beauty of the landscape invites you to observe more carefully, write more honestly, and reconnect with what truly inspires you.
Four-day residential retreat
Accommodation at Retreat Monferrato
Daily writing workshops
Guided mindfulness sessions
Sound Bath experience
Hands-on cooking class
Local market visit
Creative activities
Breakfast, lunches, and dinners
Tea, coffee, and refreshments
All retreat materials
Shared Quadruple Room
Community & Connection
Perfect for guests who enjoy sharing experiences with like-minded participants.
Included:
- Four comfortable single beds
- Shared bathroom
- Premium linens and towels
- Daily housekeeping
- Access to all retreat facilities
- Garden and countryside views
Ideal for participants looking for a social and affordable option.
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Early Access $2.290
First 3 Reservations
-
Early Booking $2.490
Reservations 4–10
-
Standard Pricing $2.690
Shared Double Room
Comfort & Balance
A perfect balance between privacy and community.
Included:
- Two comfortable beds
- Shared or semi-private bathroom
- Premium linens and towels
- Daily housekeeping
- Access to all retreat facilities
- Quiet and comfortable environment
Ideal for friends travelling together or guests seeking greater comfort.
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Early Access $2.690
First 3 Reservations
-
Early Booking $2.890
Reservations 4–10
-
Standard Pricing $3.090
Private Single Room
Privacy & Deep Rest
Your personal sanctuary during the retreat.
Included:
- Private room
- Premium bedding
- Dedicated bathroom
- Daily housekeeping
- Access to all retreat facilities
- Maximum privacy and tranquility
Ideal for guests who value personal space and complete rest.
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Early Access $3.390
First 3 Reservations
-
Early Booking $3.690
Reservations 4–10
-
Standard Pricing $3.890
The most meaningful creative work rarely comes from doing more.
It comes from slowing down, paying attention, and allowing inspiration to grow naturally.
Join us for four unforgettable days of writing, food, mindfulness, and meaningful connection in the heart of Monferrato.
No. The retreat welcomes writers of all levels, from complete beginners to published authors.
All sessions will be conducted in English.
To ensure a personal experience, the retreat is limited to sixteen guests.
Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.
Detailed travel information will be provided after registration.
