The Awakened Muse: Women's Poetry Retreat in Umbria, Italy

Five Days to Write, Rest, and Remember

The Awakened Muse is not a writing conference. There are no panels, no pitching sessions, no pressure to produce anything polished. It is five days at a private estate in Umbria — one of Italy's least-hurried regions — built around the idea that creativity doesn't arrive on command. It arrives when you slow down enough to let it.

Hosted by poets and retreat leaders Anne Marie Brown of Alpenglow Travel and Christi Steyn, the retreat runs October 6–10, 2026, with a transfer departing Rome at 9am on the 6th. No prior writing experience is expected or required.

The Shape of the Days

Guests arrive in Rome by October 5th — Anne Marie can help arrange a hotel night if you'd like to make an evening of it before the group departs. On the morning of the 6th, the group transfers together from Rome to the Umbrian estate, a two-hour drive through countryside that earns its reputation. Lunch is waiting on arrival, and the afternoon opens with a welcome yoga session — a gentle way to arrive in your body after travel.

Days 2 through 4 follow a rhythm that takes less than a day to love. Morning yoga with Christi, breakfast together, then a writing session. Poetry lessons move between the page and the place — the estate's gardens, the surrounding hills, the quality of Italian afternoon light. Evening sessions might be a second workshop, a guided exercise, or simply a reading. The writing prompts are designed to open rather than direct; what you put on the page is yours, and there is never any obligation to share it.

Meals are prepared from locally sourced ingredients and accommodations are within the estate. The historic property has no air conditioning — which, in October in Umbria, is rarely a concern. Evenings cool to the kind of temperature that makes sitting outside with a glass of wine feel like the only reasonable thing to do.

On Day 5, the group transfers back to Rome. Flights should be booked no earlier than 3pm.

Who This Retreat Is For

The retreat is designed specifically for women — and designed broadly within that. You don't need to be a poet, a regular journal-keeper, or someone who considers herself creative. Christi and Anne Marie have built the workshops for women who want space more than instruction, and connection more than curriculum. Beginners find the prompts accessible; experienced writers find the environment generative.

Yoga sessions are suitable for all levels. If you've never been on a mat, Christi will meet you there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need writing experience to attend?

No. Writing here is a tool for self-discovery, not a performance. There is no expectation that you arrive with a manuscript, a practice, or even a favorite pen. You bring yourself.

How many women attend?

The group is kept intentionally small to preserve the intimacy of the workshops and the quality of the shared meals. Registration is first-come, first-served based on room type availability.

What are accommodations like?

You'll stay in a historic estate in Umbria — stone walls, comfortable beds, an atmosphere that encourages you to slow down. Rooms are available as single occupancy (private room) or double occupancy (shared). If you have a preferred roommate, you can request them at registration.

What's included in the retreat cost?

Four nights at the Umbrian estate, daily breakfast on days 2–4, lunch and dinner on days 1–3, all yoga sessions and writing workshops, and group transfers between Rome and the estate. Alcoholic beverages, airport transfers, additional hotel nights in Rome, and travel insurance are not included. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.

What is October like in Umbria?

October is one of the most quietly spectacular months in central Italy. The harvest season is wrapping up, the tourist crowds have thinned, and the light has that particular golden quality that photographers come from everywhere to find. Daytime temperatures typically run between the low 60s and low 70s Fahrenheit. Pack layers for evenings.

What should I bring?

Comfortable clothes for yoga and walking, one slightly nicer outfit for the final evening, and whatever helps you write — a favorite notebook, a specific pen, a playlist. Leave the agenda at home.