Women’s Mindfulness Retreat, Sicily

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Sept 5–12, 2026 · Completed

Women’s Mindfulness Retreat, Sicily

Eight days on the Gulf of Castellammare. Eleven women, most of whom arrived not knowing anybody.

Here is what it actually looked like.

Ran
Sept 5–12, 2026
Where
Castellammare del Golfo
Length
8 days
Group
11 women
Next
2027, dates soon
Join the 2027 waitlist See the October retreat
Carla on a terrace above the marina at Castellammare del Golfo
Our week. Castellammare del Golfo, above the marina.
The Sicily retreat group lined up together on the promenade at sunset
The 2026 group on the promenade, the last evening.

Most of them came alone. By the second morning you would not have guessed it.

The idea

A week in the part of Sicily people drive past

An hour from Palermo, wrapped around a harbour that has been there since the Arabs built it. Fishing boats, a castle in the water, and a nature reserve up the road that most visitors never reach.

September was deliberate. The sea still warm, the August crowds gone, and the light in the evenings is the reason people come back.

How the days went

A rhythm, not a schedule

One anchor most days and a lot of room around it.

1

Mornings

Practice on the terrace before the heat, then a breakfast nobody rushed.

2

The reserve

A guided morning in Zingaro. Coves, cliffs, swimming stops, a late lunch after.

3

Open afternoons

Beach, books, the market, or a nap. Not filler. The point.

4

Evenings

Aperitivo as the light went, then a dinner that took three hours.

A guest writing in a leather journal on a yoga mat
Day three. Nobody had checked a phone since breakfast.
Carla leading a session for the group on the rooftop terrace
Carla opening a morning session on the terrace.
The week in pictures

Eight days, three ways to look at it

Practice, partner work, journalling, and a lot of sitting on the floor talking.

Retreat guests sitting in a circle on the rooftop terrace during a morning session
The full Sicily retreat group seated together on the terrace
A guest holding a standing pose during rooftop movement practice
A candle and smooth stones arranged on cloth over patterned Sicilian tile
Two guests holding hands during a partner exercise on the terrace
Carla leading a session for the group on the rooftop terrace
A guest writing in a leather journal on a yoga mat
Three retreat guests laughing over wine and a bunch of grapes at the winery
Retreat guests raising glasses around a long table at a Sicilian winery lunch
Scheduled for two hours.
Day four

The winery afternoon

One long table, a family who have made wine on that hillside for four generations, and a tasting that turned into lunch and then into the afternoon. You don’t find this on a booking site, because it isn’t listed on one.

Nobody wanted to leave. So we didn’t.

The retreat group laughing behind the red Castellammare del Golfo heart sculpture
Castellammare del Golfo, the last evening.

Eleven strangers on the Sunday. Not strangers by the Friday.

Inclusions

What the week included

  • Seven nights’ accommodation at Ai Gradini
  • Daily breakfast plus most lunches and dinners
  • All mindfulness sessions and group activities
  • Airport transfers from Palermo
  • Ground transport for included excursions
  • The guided Zingaro reserve morning
  • Carla on site the entire week

Airfare to Palermo, travel insurance and personal spending were the guests’ own.

Sicily 2027

Same stretch of coast, next year! Dates and pricing are being set now, and the waitlist gets them before anyone else.

Put me on the list

Prefer to talk first? Call or text 904.323.2851

Before the next one

What people asked before they booked

Can I come on my own?
Yes! Coming solo is completely normal, and you’ll have a whole group of new friends by the end of the week.
Do I need to be experienced with mindfulness?
No. Sessions are built for people who have never done this and are slightly suspicious of it. Nothing is compulsory.
How much walking is involved?
Moderate. Zingaro is uneven coastal trail; everything else is flat and optional. Tell me about any mobility needs.
Do I need to speak Italian?
Not at all! I’m with you the whole time.
How do I get there?
You book your own flights into Palermo and I help you pick the right ones at no extra cost.
What will 2027 cost?
Pricing for next year isn’t set yet. The waitlist hears first.
Next stop: yours

Sicily 2027 fills from the waitlist

If next year is on your mind, let me know now and you’ll be first to hear the dates!