IMMERSION: IN THE TIME OF THE PALIO
Tuscany & Siena, Italy
August 14-20, 2026
Early Bird Doors Open to the Public January 28!
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A Wanderlust Women Retreat Inside Italy’s Most Iconic Celebration
There are moments in life when you don’t want another vacation.
You want an experience that moves you.
One that wakes you up.
One that reminds you what it feels like to be inside something alive, ancient, and real.
This is one of those experiences.
This year, Wanderlust Women gathers in Italy during the Palio di Siena — a centuries-old medieval festival unlike anything else in the world.
Not as spectators on the sidelines.
But as women willing to step inside the pulse of it.
More Than a Horse Race.
Step into a centuries-old tradition
The Palio isn’t just a horse race.
It’s a centuries-old celebration of identity, belonging, and devotion.
For days, Siena transforms into a living medieval festival — flags snapping against the sky, drums rolling through narrow stone streets, neighborhoods (contrade) dressed in their ancient colors, families celebrating traditions carried across generations.
There are parades and blessings.
Rivalries and reverence.
Ceremony layered upon ceremony.
It feels like stepping through a portal into another world.
And when the magic of the Palio meets the intentional container of a Wanderlust Women retreat?
What unfolds is a once-in-a-lifetime alchemy.
This Is Not a Tour.
This Is An Immersion.
We won’t be rushing from sight to sight.
We won’t be trying to “do” Italy.
Instead, we root ourselves in one place.
We let the culture come to us.
We allow time, ritual, and rhythm to do their work.
This retreat is designed around being inside Italian culture — not observing it from the edges.
You’ll feel the drums in your chest.
The heat on your skin.
The collective anticipation in the air.
And then — just as intentionally — we retreat back to our sanctuary in the hills to rest, integrate, and soften.
Our Home Base: Ebbio Tuscany
Our Tuscan escape
We will be staying at Ebbio, a 13th-century farmhouse and organic working farm tucked into the Tuscan countryside.
This is not a luxury hotel.
It is something far better.
Ebbio offers:
ancient stone and open sky
farm-to-table meals grown on the land
quiet mornings and long shared dinners
space to breathe, stretch, rest, and land
Ebbio becomes our counterpoint to the intensity of Siena — the place where the nervous system unwinds and the deeper work happens.
The Rhythm of the Week
This is a true retreat, anchored by simplicity and intention.
Our days will include:
Morning yoga to awaken the body and ground the nervous system
Unstructured time for rest, reflection, journaling, or wandering the land
Workshops rooted in transition, renewal, and embodied self-discovery
Nourishing meals shared communally
Evening practices to integrate and soften
And woven throughout the week:
1–2 intentional Palio experiences, chosen for depth and meaning rather than volume.
We move slowly on purpose.
So the experience can move you.
Who This Retreat Is For
This retreat is for women who:
Are drawn to ritual, culture, story, and embodied self-discovery
Crave a rare and intimate experience of Italy beyond tourism
Want to feel alive again — awake in their senses, present in their life
Are in a season of transition, renewal, or reorientation
Feel called to beauty, depth, and lived experience
Are ready to savor, soften, and re-enter their lives with clarity and courage
Are open to being part of something ancient, communal, and deeply human
You don’t need to have answers.
You just need to be willing to step into the experience.
What You May Leave With
Women often leave experiences
like this with:
A renewed sense of self and direction
A calmer, more regulated nervous system
A deeper connection to intuition and body wisdom
New friendships formed through shared intensity and beauty
A felt sense of belonging — to themselves and to something larger
Memories that become reference points for years to come
This isn’t about escape.
It’s about returning — changed.
Why this experience is RARE:
The timing with the Palio
The intimacy of the group
The depth of cultural immersion
The balance of intensity and rest
The place-based design rooted at Ebbio
This is not an experience that can be replicated or scaled.
It exists because of when we gather, where we gather, and how we choose to be together.
What this retreat is NOT
(Important to read)
The Palio Di Siena Events on this retreat are not for everyone — and that is intentional.
An authentic and iconic cultural experience, The Palio takes place in the heat of summer.
Events are outdoors, often crowded, rustic, and energetically intense.
This experience may include:
Standing for periods of time
Walking on uneven stone streets
Heat, noise, and dense crowds
A lack of modern comforts during Palio events
This is not a gentle sightseeing trip.
It is an adventure rooted in real culture.
While the palio events at this retreat are optional, please keep in mind that if you are looking for air-conditioned buses, curated comfort, or predictable ease at every turn, we offer that with other experiences, but the Palio experience may not be for you.
But if you are:
Physically able and comfortable navigating heat and crowds
Curious, adaptable, and adventurous
Willing to meet Italy on its own terms
Then this experience will likely be unforgettable.
A LOOK AT OUR WEEK
A Rhythm of Ritual, Rest, and Immersion
This retreat is intentionally paced to balance deep restoration at Ebbio with select,
meaningful experiences of the Palio di Siena.
Nothing is rushed. Nothing is overpacked.
Presence is the priority.
August 14 — Arrival & Welcome Into the Container
ARRIVE AND SETTLE into our rustic Tuscan Farm house
ORIENTATION & group check-in
MEET Brockell and your new friends for the next week
WELCOME circle
WELCOME DINNER — organic farm to table style
A soft landing. Time to arrive, exhale, and meet the women you’ll be sharing this experience with.
August 15 — Into the land & Toward Siena
MORNING YOGA with Brockell
BRUNCH at the farmhouse
GUIDED TOUR of Ebbio farm
AFTERNOON TRAVEL to Siena
PALIO DINNER EXPERIENCE (traditional menu; no vegetarian option available)
A bridge day — grounding in the land, then stepping closer to the energy of the Palio.
August 16 — The Palio
MORNING YOGA with Brockell
BRUNCH at the farmhouse
OPTIONAL DEPARTURE around 4:00 pm to experience the Palio di Siena from the Piazza (you are also welcome to have a personal day retreat at Ebbio)
SUGGESTED experiences: folklore parade, medieval pageantry, wandering the contrade, soaking in the atmosphere
DINNER on your own in Siena
A powerful, immersive day. Choose how deeply you engage — this experience is yours to meet in your own way.
August 17 — Integration & Restoration
MORNING YOGA with Brockell
BRUNCH at the farmhouse
FREE TIME at Ebbio
OPTIONAL herbal medicine-making workshop
STRETCH in the evening with a deep stretch practice
DINE farm to table and reflect on the days activities
OPTIONAL: Full return to the body, the land, and rest local wild hot springs
August 18 — Beauty, Movement & Medieval Villages
MORNING YOGA with Brockell
BRUNCH at the farmhouse
AFTERNOON WALK to Monteriggioni
WINE TASTING & dinner
EVENING deep stretch practice
A day of movement, beauty, and old stone paths — Tuscany at its most timeless.
August 19 — Nourishment & Pleasure
MORNING YOGA with Brockell
BRUNCH at the farmhouse
HANDS-ON cooking class
CLOSING CIRCLE
celebration of nourishment — through food, water, warmth, and
FAREWELL dinner
FIRE & goodbye
August 20 — Nourishment & Pleasure
BREAKFAST at the farmhouse
RETREAT CLOSING group shuttle to Firenze
A sacred closing. Time to reflect, integrate, and honor what has shifted.
Throughout the week, participation in activities — especially during Palio events — is always optional.
This retreat honors personal rhythm, capacity, and curiosity.
You are trusted to listen to your body.
You are supported in choosing rest when you need it
MEET YOUR GUIDE
Brockell Briddle (LMT, RYT 500) - FOUNDER- is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Therapeutic Registered Yoga Teacher, avid traveler, and Experienced Group Facilitator.
She is passionate about guiding others toward finding their deepest expression of themselves and uses a variety of movement, mindfulness, trauma-informed communication, and connection to the natural world to facilitate this process.
As an experienced yoga teacher and outdoor adventure guide for over a decade, Brockell is skilled at facilitating transformational experiences of all kinds. As a yoga teacher, she excels at offering accessible yoga classes that accompany all bodies, ages, and abilities.
She is deeply interested in yoga as a contemplative art and a tool for self-growth and transformation. She has been leading retreats globally since 2014 and has guided retreats in Costa Rica, the United States, Switzerland, Greece, and Iceland.
Now she currently lives in Kauai, HI. She's working daily on creating the best version of herself and her life. She loves surfing, horses, and adventures of all kinds
Take a Closer Look
Take a closer look at Ebbio, our beautiful, intimate 13th century farmhouse in the hills of Tuscany for the week. Our boutique accommodation offers a truly unique experience.
At the farmhouse you can expect farm to table meals made from the retreats self-grown produce. nearby the retreat are many quaint tuscan villages to explore and immerse yourself within.
ROOM AND PRICING DETAILS
All rooms are first come / first serve.
Most rooms have a private bath, however bathrooms are first come first served as well, and can be indicated on the final registration page after your check out.
To reserve your place, please pay a $450 non-refundable deposit to secure your booking.
Please note, all prices are per person, and are listed in Euros.
Your final cost in USD may vary slightly depending on currency exchange rates between now and the retreat start date.
The balance of your payment is due in full 120 days prior to the retreat.
At that time, the USD amount will be calculated and finalized based on the exchange rate on the day your payment is processed. Rooms are sold on a first-come, first serve basis, and with only 7 rooms total, availability is extremely limited.
2026 Early Bird Pricing Coming Soon!
Triples, Doubles, and Limited Single Suites Available
Only 7 Rooms Total - this Retreat will Sell Out Quickly!
If you do not have a friend or roommate that you are traveling with, and you choose a double or triple room, we will can help pair you with a bestie (or besties) for the week.
However, if we are unable to find someone to pair you with at the time of the start date, you will be responsible for paying the rate for a single room fee.
If you have any questions, or special rooming requests, please reach out to us with an email at [email protected]
What's Included In The Price:
Transport to and From Florence
6 Nights Accommodation
Morning Daily Yoga
2 Evening Deep Stretch Practices
2 (Optional) Palio Events
2 On the Farm Workshops (cooking class, and medicine making)
All Breakfasts, All Lunches, and 5 Dinners (including Palio Dinner on the 15)
Shared Group Transport and From To Palio on the 15
Shared Group Transport To Palio on the 16 (return transport is on your own via cab.)
What's Not Included In The Price:
Airfare
Massage and bodywork
Additional Tours
Travel Insurance
1 Dinner
Cab fair back to Ebbio on the 16th (for those of you going to the Palio)
Lodging Tax of 2 Euros per person, per night
REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
You can secure your spot right now by clicking on any of the "book now" or "save my spot" buttons with a nonrefundable deposit of $450.00.
Full balance payments are required at 90 days before the event start dates.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Nonrefundable deposit is required to secure your space at the time of booking.
Cancellations beyond 180 days from the retreat start date are eligible for a refund of all moneys paid minus the deposit.
Any cancellations within the 180-day window of the retreat start date are not eligible for any refund unless we are able to fill your spot with another participant.
Otherwise, a cancellation within 180 days you are responsible for paying the total amount due.
Due to the strict nature of vendor contracts, we highly recommend Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance trip plans, with full medical coverage.
This is a yoga-based trip and the property is not handicap accessible. This is a 13th century, stone farmhouse with hard floors and uneven indoor terrain. Moderate mobility to walk up and down stairs and walk on uneven surfaces, cobblestone streets, and rock path terrain is required.
Though all of our yoga classes are accessible to all levels but please note and understand the physical nature of this trip.
FAQ'S
How can I join?
Please secure your place by paying a deposit. Confirmation will take place via email. There is a limited number of places available on this retreat, so act fast.
How do I get there?
We will be picking up guests at 2pm on day 1 from an appointed spot in Florence. The closest airports are Firenze (55km away), Pisa (95km away) and Rome (250km away). Send us your flight details 30 days before departure.
What is an OPT IN activity?
These activities are optional and will be at an extra fee. You will be able to purchase your add-ons closer to the trip.
What is the rooming configuration?
The trip is priced room, per, room basis. Most rooms are sold as doubles or triples, so you will have a bestie or besties for the entire journey, unless you pay for a single room. If you request a double room and we cannot find you a roommate, you will be required to pay for the price of a single room upgrade at the time of the final payment. If you have specific questions regarding the rooms, please email [email protected] with your questions.
How can I pay?
To secure your space, a non-refundable deposit of $450 USD will be charged to secure your booking. Then, 2 additional payments will be required. On March 14, your balance must be brought up to 50% of the total balance due. And the Full balance must be paid 90 days before the retreat start date. Custom, monthly payment plans are also available. If you'd like a monthly payment plan, you can indicate this during your registration process on the final registration form.
What should I pack?
We will email you a full packing list 90 days before the event. Tuscany in the summer can be hot, but in our Ebbio house we will be cool, so plan to back layers, rain gear, and comfortable clothing for walking and sightseeing.
Will there be downtime?
YES! One of the things that we value the most while on retreat, is curating a schedule that allows for plenty of space. Our schedule has been carefully curated with plenty of activities to give you the best Tuscany experience, while also leaving plenty of down time for reflection, personal exploration, and rest.
Will I need a visa?
Obtaining a visa is the individual responsibility of the traveller. Please note that entry requirements can change at any time. Italy is in the European Schengen area. Most travellers can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Be sure to check with your government’s foreign travel advisories and consular websites to ensure you have the correct information.
Do I need to rent a car?
We provide group transport to and from the airport, and to the Palio dinner, as well as group transport to the Palio on the 16th. However, if you decide you are interested in additional sight-seeing or going to local hot springs on your own, we do recommend a few car rentals between the entire group. Once registration is complete we will help you coordinate amongst yourselves for those of you who may wish to have a shared rental car for extra excursions.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT!
@2024 Wanderlust Women. All rights reserved.
