Tuscany, Italy
Living the Creative Life
May 24-30, 2026
““Thank you for providing the most beautiful backdrop imaginable and a trusted space in which to create.”
—SD
“Bring your open heart, your courage, your pain and your joy. Expect magic!”
—AE
“If you desire transformation, attend this retreat. Expect vulnerability to arise in the safety of a caring group. Expect to be opened wide so that your writing voice has space from the clutter to sing!”
—EV
“Very special group retreat to nourish your creativity.”
—SM”
BRAND NEW for 2026:
Writing is work and fun and a gateway to revising. But writers need a break to breathe out what they just wrote and breathe in new experiences. In the middle of this retreat, we will take a day off to do some local travel, explore the sights, eat food, drink wine, mail postcards. All the touristy stuff.
We will provide transportation to enjoy a full day exploring gorgeous Siena, a nearby classic medieval Tuscan city!
WRITING RETREAT PLUS YOU
If every year, when scoop about this retreat comes round, you’ve thought, “Hell yes I want to write in Tuscany!” but you’ve held off for whatever reason, telling yourself you’ll go next year, well this is the year.
With the exception of 2025, we have held this Tuscany retreat for over a decade. Like your favorite books, all great things begin and end. Meaning, this might be the last year for the WOW Tuscany retreat. So maybe it’s time you get in while the getting is good. This is an amazing place to probe your heart, mind, body, and soul to unearth and write your best words, ones that move readers to see what you see, feel what you feel. You know, all the things we writers set as our highest purpose.
THE LOCATION
The Castelnuovo Tancredi estate extends for nearly 1,500 acres on the rolling Sienese hills. The Venturini del Greco family has owned the estate since 1897. They produce organic whole meal flours as well as organic extra virgin olive oil and excellent wines.
Allow yourself to fall in love with Castelnuovo and celebrate your unique way of writing by doing more of it. With us. You will be grateful you did.
The Castelnuovo Tancredi estate
THE RETREAT
Wide Open Writing retreats focus not just on writing, but honing the art of living and maintaining the creative life. Daily, we hold two writing workshops, several evening salons, and one-on-one sessions. Through this transformative program, we immerse ourselves in all that the Italian countryside has to offer, making space and opportunity to break away from the routines that form ‘regular’ life, You’ll have the chance to connect with your senses and transform your writing—and then take that all home with you to bake into your everyday life.
For seven days, we will be writing in community and nurturing our creative visions. You don’t need to bring a novel plot or an exact idea of what you want to be writing. We will be working with prompts designed to help you find your story. But if you do have a project in mind, our daily writing and feedback sessions will allow you to enrich your manuscript-in-progress. In either case, you’ll be moving toward the power and the passion in your art. Our model for feedback is designed to empower what is strong and authentic in your writing in order to move your work forward meaningfully.
THE WEATHER REPORT
The mild Italian spring days are long and warm, and our schedule allows plenty of time for playing, hiking, exploring, finding some shade to hide out with a book, and of course sitting in a breathtaking spot to write in the great Italian outdoors. Flowers in bloom and cool nights all make for a perfect setting for inspiration and creativity.
COST
Prices include 7 nights of exclusive use at the recently renovated borgo, all workshop fees, group transportation by private coach to and from the Florence airport, breakfast, lunch, and dinner (including wine), wine tasting, and optional daily yoga.
Single Deluxe Room - $5,300
Single Room - $4,900
Double Room - $4,300
If you would like to register, a non-refundable deposit of $1000 is required to secure your spot. Please sign up soon if this retreat interests you as these spots tend to fill up quickly.
BEDROOMS and BATHROOMS
The retreat takes place in a villa, which is a gracious home, and the bedrooms and bathroom layout reflect large family living. There are 10 bedrooms, and 6 baths:
Single Deluxe 1 is a private room with an ensuite bathroom
Single Deluxe 2 is a private room with an ensuite shared bathroom
Single Rooms 1-4 are all private rooms with shared bathrooms
Double Rooms
Please select from the available rooms as you make your deposit.
