The Way of St. Francis

A 7-day contemplative Florence walking retreat
for those ready to stop seeking and start arriving.

7 Days/6 Nights

Curated Historic Lodging

Daily Contemplative Practice

Deep Stillness & Inner Trust

Begin the journey

You’re not broken. You’re just tired.

You’re not broken. You’re just tired. Tired of the noise, the complexity, and the constant doing. You’ve read the books and tried the frameworks, hoping something would fill the void. But what you’re looking for isn’t in another teaching or another guru.

It’s already in you. St. Francis understood this 800 years ago. He practiced radical simplicity. This wasn’t as a punishment, but as a way to find freedom. Presence, not productivity, is what brings us home. This retreat isn’t about religion; it’s about remembering your own wholeness. You are invited to sit in the stillness and remember who you are beneath the noise.

Heather McDaniel, host of inclusive spiritual retreats and Florence walking retreats in Italy.

Meet Your Guide

I’m Heather. I’ve spent years rebuilding my own home.

I’m Heather. I’ve spent years rebuilding my own home. As a queer Christian, I’ve had to navigate what it means to belong to the sacred when the institutions don’t always leave a seat at the table. I haven’t walked away from my faith; I’ve just moved it into a wider, more honest landscape. I bring humor, a sharp wit, and a deep respect for your journey. I won’t preach; I’ll just hold the door open while you find your own way in.

Simplicity, Presence, and The Way of St Francis

We move beyond the “tourist” experience and into a contemplative rhythm that allows the nervous system to finally settle.

  • Contemplative Walking: Daily Florence walking retreat sessions through the Tuscan hills, using movement to return to the body.
  • The Franciscan Lens: We practice seeing the divine in all of creation—the trees, the art, and eventually, the mirror.
  • We visit Assisi and the quiet corners of Florence, not as sightseers, but as seekers encountering the holy.
  • Radical Simplicity: Identifying the attachments—to identities, outcomes, or “stuff”—that are weighing you down.
  • Spacious Circles: Morning and evening gatherings to share what’s arising, held with humor and deep care.
Get Early Access for 2026

For the Spiritually Hungry and the Dogmatically Done.

This is a sanctuary for those who want depth without the dogma.

A Note on Faith: I am a queer Christian. That is my reference point for The Way of St. Francis, but this retreat is inclusive and open to all. You don’t have to believe what I believe; you just have to be willing to encounter the sacred in your own life.

The Recovering Perfectionist

For those ready to trade the performance of “enoughness” for the freedom of being.

The Edge-Walker.

For the “spiritual but done” who seek an encounter with the sacred on their own terms.

The Weary Leader

For the space-holders who finally need a container held for them

The Logistics

What’s Included: 7 days/6 nights shared accommodation in a contemplative villa or retreat center, all meals, site visits in Florence, and daily guided facilitation.

What’s Not: Flights, personal expenses, and travel insurance.

The Process: We start with an application and a brief call to ensure this container is the right fit for your current season of life.

Get Early Access for 2026

FAQS

Florence was a significant crossroads in the Franciscan story. It’s home to early Franciscan communities, sacred artworks, and the Basilica of Santa Croce — one of the most important Franciscan sites in Italy. This retreat follows The Way of St Francis through the lens of Florence’s spiritual, artistic, and contemplative heritage.

I am currently hand‑selecting a location that mirrors the spirit of this retreat: a place of historic character, quiet beauty, and proximity to the soul of Florence. Whether it becomes a restored villa or a peaceful retreat center, it will be a dedicated sanctuary designed to support a week of deep rest and contemplation. Full details will be included in the 2026 Prospectus.

The “Way” is the same, but the “how” is different. Instead of walking between towns, we stay in one beautiful, historic location in Florence. We still move through the city and the nearby hills, but we return to the same bed each night. This Florence Walking Retreat is less about physical endurance and more about spiritual depth, presence, and contemplative rhythm.

Yes. We will visit the key Franciscan sites within Florence and the surrounding area (like the Basilica of Santa Croce), but we do so with a focus on contemplation rather than a distance-based goal. We use these sites as mirrors for our own inner landscape, not as bucket list or selfie-list items to check off.

Absolutely. This retreat is designed for the person who feels over‑extended or caught in a constant sprint. The Way of St Francis invites you into a slower daily rhythm with plenty of space for rest, integration, and wandering. It’s a pause, not a packed itinerary.

We’ll probably walk about 5-7km each day. You’ll definitely want comfortable shoes.

Yes. The Way of St Francis is an invitation, not an exam. We provide gentle guidance to help you navigate the quiet.

The daily rhythm follows a spacious, contemplative pattern: morning silence and somatic practice, a mid-day Florence walking retreat session, and evening circles for shared reflection.

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Find Stillness Within the Stone

For those who want the spiritual depth of the pilgrimage with the grounding container of a single location. We explore the Franciscan heart of Florence, utilizing the art, the hills, and the history to build a foundation of inner trust. Join the waitlist to receive the 2026 Prospectus and the daily rhythm for our time in Florence. Note: There is no commitment by joining the waitlist.

  • The Container: A slow-paced, high-proximity immersion in a historic Florentine sanctuary.
  • The Practice: Guided somatic stillness, shared silence, and regional exploration
  • The Result: A nervous system reset and a return to your own inner authority.