ITALY
Puglia – La Dolce Vita
with Jurian Hughes & David Wallace
October 3-9, 2026
October 10-16, 2026
Special invite early registrations now open
“La Vita è Bella” – Life Is Beautiful
Treat yourself to six nights and six spacious and delightful days in paradise, savoring the wonders of life at its best. Jurian and David welcome you to one of their favorite destinations, La Rosa dei 4 Venti (The Rose of the Four Winds), a remarkable retreat center steeped in the ideals of yoga and dedicated to providing its guests a truly nourishing space in which to retreat
Enjoy the southern Italian countryside in autumn. (October is harvest time, with dry, sunny, mild weather and fewer tourists.) Your hosts will offer daily dives into yoga and meditation, opportunities for dance and chanting, and lively conversations on thought-provoking
poetry and ‘matters of the soul’.
Italy, its people and food abound with beauty. Italians seem to understand so well how to create a life that is pleasurable, healthy, meaningful, relaxed and rooted in priorities that the rest of the world have forsaken.
During this retreat we’ll practice life “Italian style.” You’ll be guided on this adventure by two seasoned teachers who are both experts in their field as well as superb hosts:
Jurian Hughes – senior Kripalu faculty for e nearly two decades, expert retreat leader and movement master – will lead daily dives into yoga both enlivening and restorative, meditation, pranayama, and opportunities to dance.
David Wallace – interfaith minister, former senior teacher at One Spirit Seminary in NYC, well-known for his memorable lectures and spirited discussions – will offer nourishing “soul food”explorations into teachings from the ancient wisdom traditions.
There will be time to explore, play, and be in community; as well as quiet time for healing massage, private reflection and peaceful solitude. Immerse yourself in the restoring practices of yoga, dance, friendship and adventure – and rediscover the sweetness of life!
Very limited space available. We expect these retreats to sell out quickly.
The trip was fantastic Jurian and David are both gifted and authentic teachers who teach from their hearts. The place was “heaven on earth” all of my senses were nurtured and nourished! – Lucia
From the gorgeous, ethereal setting of the southern Italian countryside and the beautiful trulli-style, comfortable accommodations of the La Rosa masseria, to the unbelievable bounty of fresh delicious food offered each day, this spiritual yoga retreat will certainly awaken and delight all aspects of your soul! – Nancy
Your home will be at La Rose dei 4 Venti, the Rose of the four Winds, a community created and dedicated to cultural enrichment, spiritual teachings, retreats and healthful living.
La Rosa is an ancient 17th century “Masseria” (farmhouse), beautifully restored and renovated. The 14-acre property includes a manor house, beautifully appointed en suite rooms, several large common areas, a small chapel with original wall paintings dating back to 1689, a large yoga shala beautifully created from what was once the family farm’s barn, a modern glass gazebo overlooking the open garden, a private forest with meditation path, a large open patio for outdoor meals, a swimming pool and several relaxation areas.
La Rosa is located halfway between the Adriatic and Ionic Seas in Puglia, in the South of Italy. You’ll find yourself totally surrounded by peace and tranquility.
Prepare to be nourished by these surroundings, unbelievably delicious meals prepared with fresh local ingredients, and classes and explorations guided by Jurian.
During week one, we’ll visit UNESCO World Heritage Site, Matera, a 10,000-year-old city of limestone caves as well as the charming Apulian villages of Locorotondo and Polignano a Mare, famous for its sweeping seaside cliffs. In week two, we’ll visit Lecce, known as “the Florence of the South” for its exquisite Baroque architecture, and visit Locorotondo and Alberobello, another UNESCO Site, known for its unique collection of traditional stone trulli. Both weeks offer optional add-on excursions for those who wish to visit the ancient ceramic workshops of Grottaglie, make a half-day visit to a local winery, or hike the countryside.
Please book your travel to arrive in either Bari or Brindisi, Italy, by midday on your start date, and to depart mid- afternoon or later on the end date of your retreat. Check in at La Rosa is 4pm.
Week 1:
The retreat will begin with a 6:00 opening session and dinner on the 3rd and culminate with a closing dinner celebration on 8th. Check-out on the 9th is 10am. Departures will begin after breakfast.
Week 2:
The retreat will begin with a 6:00 opening session and dinner on the 10th and culminate with a closing dinner celebration on 15th. Check-out on the 16th is 10am. Departures will begin after breakfast.
From Brindisi, the drive to the center is about 55 minutes. From Bari, the drive to the center is about 1 hour 30 minutes. Many affordable trains and flights are available to both cities from Rome and other major airports.
If your schedule allows, consider flying in a little early and/or staying in the region a few extra days.
If you are flying or training into Bari or Brindisi, our hosts are happy to arrange transport to the retreat center and will divide the costs between the number of people sharing each car. Assuming you are sharing with at least one other traveler, please budget €40 – €60pp ($50–$80 USD) each way (possibly less with more riders).
Jurian Hughes
Jurian Hughes, E-RYT 500, YACEP, MFA, is a pathfinder. Through the gateway of the body, she guides students to connect with themselves in ways they had forgotten were possible, longed to revisit, or maybe never even knew were there. “I do my best to create a space in which people feel like they can be completely themselves. Through my own vulnerability, honesty and humor, I try to help us all find our way to greater joy.”
Hughes is founder of the Yoga of Voice; co-creator of the Yoga of Yes; a Let Your Yoga Dance® teacher trainer; voice coach; personal mentor; writer; speaker; and theatre performer known for her passionate, playful and engaging teaching style. As a senior faculty member of the Kripalu School of Yoga for more than a decade, Hughes has led thousands of workshops and programs and trained more than 1,000 Kripalu yoga teachers. In addition to her extensive teaching experience, Hughes has a long theatrical resume spanning Broadway, off-Broadway, Europe, film, television and voice-over. Through her own study and decades of practice she has developed a deep understanding of the ways in which the tools of yoga, dance, voice, mindfulness and play can be used to cultivate greater self-knowledge, freedom and joy. She leads inspiring workshops, retreats and trainings at Kripalu and around the world that promote whole-being wellness, increased creativity, and the ability to thrive. Find out more at www.jurianhughes.com.
David Wallace
Rev. David Wallace is a recently retired dean and senior teacher for One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York City, a faculty member of the spiritual direction program at the Rowe Center, and an active officiant and spiritual director. He is a graduate of St. John’s College in Santa Fe, NM, and has continued those studies as a lifelong student of the “great books” of philosophy and archetypal psychology. He offers teaching and retreats at spiritual venues worldwide, and specializes in poetics, contemplative practice, and the wisdom texts of both the Eastern and Western traditions.
Prior to his work in interspiritual ministry and teaching, David had an extensive career in publishing and marketing, as well as award-winning work through the Soho galleries he created in New York City, The Enchanted Forest and After the Rain.
Known for his deep and passionate teaching style, his recent seminars on the Tao Te Ching, the Parables of Rabbi Jesus, and the Upanishads have drawn a worldwide audience as one of One Spirit’s most popular teachers. He is currently working on a book, and shares a home in the Berkshire Mountains with his partner Jurian Hughes and their beloved terrier Smitty.
Jurian brings out the JOY. She is fun loving, sincere, grounding, and always keeps it real!!! She makes sure everyone feels cared for and included… and holds the space beautifully. My heart is so full! Thank you for helping me reconnect to my soul. I will cherish this trip and time we spent together for years to come. – Kim M.
October 3-9, 2026:
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY STANDARD ROOM
$3295 per person
SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$3895
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY BIGGER ROOM
$3595 per person
October 10-16, 2026:
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY STANDARD ROOM
$3295 per person
SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$3895
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY BIGGER ROOM
$3595 per person
NOTES: All rooms have private bathrooms.
To reserve you can place a $695 deposit (per person), or pay in full. If you place a deposit, your balance can be split to run in easy auto payments thouh June, 2026.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- 6 nights’ accommodations
- All sessions with Jurian & David
- 2 group excursions per retreat (please note the excursions are different each retreat)
- Two delicious meals per day (a generous brunch and lavish dinner) starting with dinner on arrival day and ending with breakfast on departure day. Early morning beverages and snacks available as well.
NOT INCLUDED:
- Travel to/from Italy (recommend arrival in Brindisi or Bari)
- Travel to/from Bari or Brindisi to LaRosa dei 4 Venti
- Gratuities to center staff
- Travel Insurance (highly recommended)
- Optional on-site massage (highly recommended, cash € required)
Refunds and Cancellations: Refund less deposit ($695) before June 15, 2026. No refunds after June 15, 2026. Due to arrangements made with our vacation hosts, there can be no exceptions to this policy. Participants will be required to sign the application and liability waiver to participate on this trip.
If you place a deposit, the balance due will be set to charge in equal installments starting the month after deposit through June 2026, unless other arrangements are made.
We HIGHLY recommend that you consider purchasing Travel Insurance. Travel insurance companies like TRAVEL GUARD offer policies that insure your investment in case you need to cancel (including “cancel for any reason” coverages), coverages for expenses incurred due to to weather & travel delays, personal property loss and emergency medical travel. Please review policies carefully to choose the coverage you need.
We recommend that you consider purchasing trip insurance to protect your investment. Trawick International and Travel Guard are two providers that we recommend. Please review policies carefully to ensure they provide the coverage you need.
