The Way of Da Vinci: A Creative Retreat in Florence
A 7-day immersion in Florence and the Tuscan countryside dedicated to restoring creativity through attention, presence, and relationship with the living world.
7 Days/6 Nights
Florence, Italy and Tuscan Countryside
8-12 Participants
The Art of Seeing
Creativity is a memory, not a task.
Creativity isn’t a goal to achieve or a task to check off. It’s a living capacity that returns when we remember how to be present, curious, and attentive. This retreat is about slowing down enough to notice what is already here: the play of light and shadow, the curve of a leaf, the rhythm of the city, the subtle textures of the landscape.
Throughout the week, you will practice observing with intention and openness, noticing not just the objects around you but the relationships between them, how nature, art, and human ingenuity intersect. The exercises, walks, and reflections invite you to approach the world as Leonardo did: with fascination, generosity, and an appreciation for the extraordinary in the ordinary. What emerges is less about results and more about attunement, receptivity, and the art of noticing, which are the seeds of sustainable, inspired creativity.
A Living Laboratory of Presence
Florence and the surrounding Tuscan hills serve as both studio and teacher. The week is designed to support discovery through observation, reflection, and gentle practice, with rhythm and spaciousness embedded in the structure.
We begin outdoors. Walks in gardens, countryside, and the hidden corners of Florence provide unstructured time to attend to your surroundings without pressure, noticing relationships between light and shadow, form and function, motion and stillness. Studio sessions offer a container for curiosity and experimentation: writing, photography, sketching, or simply observing quietly, tracing your attention and noticing patterns in perception, thought, and feeling. Reflection circles invite conversation, but sharing is always optional. Presence comes first.
Visits to Leonardo’s birthplace, museums, and lesser-known locations are approached not as a tourist but as a student of his methodology. Observation, patience, and curiosity guide the experience, offering insight into how he integrated art, science, and life into a seamless practice of noticing. Florence doesn’t just impress you here. It becomes the foundation for reconnecting with your own way of seeing.
Meet Your Guide
I’m Heather. I help people come home to themselves.
I’m Heather, and my work is about helping people come home to themselves, not by teaching a method but by offering a container for curiosity, attention, and reflection. My background is in strategic communication, but my heart is in the Italian Renaissance, where art, science, and spirit were never separate.
In this retreat, I hold the space so that your own attention and perception become the guide. I help participants notice subtleties, create gentle structure without rigidity, and invite curiosity and play to lead the way. My approach is rooted in presence, observation, and appreciation. The real teacher, though, is the environment itself: Florence, the Tuscan landscape, Leonardo’s works, and the attention you bring to all of it. My role is to help you slow down, notice deeply, and find your own rhythm of engagement with both the extraordinary and the everyday.
The Logistics
What’s included: 7 days and 6 nights in a curated villa, all meals, site visits to Vinci and Florence, studio materials, and guidance throughout the week. Flights, personal expenses, and travel insurance are not included.
Because this is an intimate, high-proximity experience, participants complete a brief application and call to ensure the group’s chemistry supports the week. Investment details are shared in the retreat prospectus.