Coastal Days, Candlelit Nights
Mornings begin with movement.
Days unravel by the sea.
Evenings gather around long tables.
Movement, food and slow living in Southern Italy
Programma del Ritiro
Day One
Benvenuti al Castello (Welcome to the Castle)
o Arrivals and private airport transfers to Castle
o Check-in amd time to unwind
o Welcome circle and gentle grounding stretch with Dru
o Aperitivo di Benvenuto in the Castello’s 17th-Century garden, bringing guests and hosts together
o Outdoor dinner in the main courtyard, hosted by in-house Chef and team
Radici e Ritmo (Root and Rhythm)
o Breakfast
o Morning Mat Pilates — “Root & Realign”
o Local market tour with Chefs Ben & Elizabeth, including street food tastings
o Traditional Pugliese Light Lunch prepared by the Castello house-chef
o Free Afternoon
o Group dinner prepared with Chefs Ben & Elizabeth, inspired by ingredients sourced at the market.
Day Two
Mare e Anima (Sea & Soul)
o Breakfast
o Pilates Flow — “Breathe & Lengthen”
o Full-Day Boat & Beach Excursion: Private boat experience (3–4 hours) exploring hidden caves and grottos, with swimming, snorkeling, and diving stops, accompanied by a relaxed aperitivo on board
o Seafood lunch featuring a curated set menu, paired with selected wines and mineral water, served at an elegant seafront restaurant set along a dramatic stretch of the southern Adriatic coast, overlooking crystal-clear waters and rugged cliffs.
o Afternoon relaxation at a beach club nestled among rocky coves, with sun-beds and umbrellas included
o Dinner at a local restaurant
o Sunset with local wines & acoustic music
Day Three
Day Four
Terra e Riposo (Earth & Rest)
o Breakfast
o Pilates for Posture & Core Connection
o Hands-on cooking masterclass with Chefs Ben & Elizabeth, followed by Lunch and Apulian Olive Oil Tasting
o Yin Massage Yoga with Dru
o Dinner by Chefs Elizabeth and Ben, elegant seasonal menu
Cultura e Connessione (Culture and Connection)
o Breakfast
o Mobility Mat Flow with Dru
o Excursion to Otranto with a guided visit of historical centre and bay. Italy’s easternmost city, shaped by Byzantine mosaics, Norman walls, and Adriatic trade winds
o Vineyard Tour with farm-to-table lunch and wine tasting at a Salentine Masseria blending timeless rural architecture with contemporary elegance, set amid acres of vineyards and quiet countryside
o Visit Grotta della Poesia, a stunning natural sea pool on the Salento coast, named either for poets said to gather there for inspiration or from the Greek poiesis (“creation”), reflecting its ancient role as a sacred and expressive place carved into limestone by the sea
o Dinner Pizza Party led by a Masterchef Pizzaiolo at the Castello with traditional Pizzica dancers. A leading voice for contemporary Apulian pizza, blending technical mastery with deep respect for local ingredients
Day Five
Day Six
Celebrazione e Chiusura (Celebration & Closure)
o Breakfast
o Beachside Mat Pilates & Meditation
o Guided tour of Lecce, known as the “Florence of the South”, through the Baroque city, where craftsmanship, pastry traditions, and southern culture converge. Includes a street food lunch for a blend of local flavors
o Free afternoon
o A Collaborative Final Dinner, multi-course celebration of land & sea by Chefs Ben & Elizabeth with the House-Chef
Arrivederci (Goodbyes)
o Breakfast & goodbyes
o Closing circle & gentle Yin stretch with Dru
o Private departures to Airport
Day Seven
