A Soulful July in Umbria: Women’s Retreat Highlights, Reflections & Our Favourite Tiramisù Recipe

Here’s a quick recap of our unforgettable week in Umbria, filled with laughter, delicious food, and new friendships. P.S don’t miss Laura’s famous tiramisù recipe at the end, it’s the perfect sweet taste of Italy!

What a Week in Umbria!

Eleven women of all ages, from all around the world. One beautiful corner of Italy. And a week that none of us will ever forget.

This July, we gathered in the peaceful countryside of Umbria for an unforgettable summer escape. For some, it was their first retreat, for others, it was their first time travelling solo, and for many, it was the first time in a long time that they said yes to themselves.

I’m always reminded how courageous this step is. Booking a retreat, flying solo, showing up for yourself without knowing who else will be there. It takes strength, grace, and a leap of faith.

But that’s what makes it so special.

Sisterhood, Shared Stories & Sacred Space

Being so used to travelling, it’s always a good reminder that for a lot of women, taking the step to join a retreat and travel solo is a BIG deal. It’s a powerful thing, to step out of your comfort zone and try something completely new. Not knowing who you’ll be surrounded by, how you’ll feel, or how you will have changed by the end of the week.

Each time I host a Serenità Retreat, I’m blown away by the women who show up. Strangers become sisters. Shared stories become healing. And the week becomes a co-created experience of laughter, wisdom, tears, joy, and deep connection.

It is such an honour to meet such amazing women who come from vastly different walks of life, have diverse experiences, and who are all experiencing different joys and life challenges. The stories and wisdom shared by each woman is a gift to each one of us and allows for a magical co-creation of this experience we call a retreat.

I thank each and every woman from the bottom of my heart for showing up for herself and for the group collectively, and for sharing their heart. It truly feels like we’ve gained a new family!

From Yoga to Pasta Making: Highlights of Our Italian Retreat

From grounding movement to meaningful connection, here’s a glimpse into our unforgettable week in Umbria:

Morning Yoga – Gentle flows to start the day with clarity and calm

Wine Tasting – Sipping local wines with sweeping hilltop views

Cooking Workshops – Pasta-making with our chef Laura, followed by shared meals

Journaling & Reflection – Moments to go inward and connect in circle

Horseback Riding – Exploring Umbria’s countryside from the saddle

Creative Play – Pottery and lavender bundle making

Poolside Afternoons – Sun, rest, and soul-nourishing conversation

At Serenità, it’s essential that each woman is able to flow freely throughout her day, and to participate in as little or as much as she feels called to. The week is completely hers to curate as she wishes, with as much rest, downtime, or activity as she wants. That’s the beauty of the feminine flow!

What Women are Saying about their Serenità Retreat Experience

Curious what it’s really like to step into a week of stillness, connection, and self-discovery? Here’s what past guests have shared about their Serenità Retreat experience:

"This retreat was more than I could have asked for. Olivia creates such a beautiful space to open up and be at peace with one’s greatest potential. I felt taken care of in every capacity, there was no room for stress or worry. Every aspect of my stay was excellent and kept me feeling so comfortable. I would choose this trip every time if I could. A wonderful way to experience Italy, relax, tune in, and connect with others on your own terms." - Cameo V.

“Olivia’s retreat was everything my soul didn’t know it needed. The food was absolutely incredible, nourishing, fresh, and crafted with so much love. Every meal felt like a celebration. But what truly made the week unforgettable was the space to simply be, to reconnect with myself without pressure or distraction. I left feeling lighter, more grounded, and surrounded by the most beautiful new friendships. There’s something undeniably magical about the way Serenità brings women together, an authentic Italian experience that you can feel comes straight from Olivia’s heart. She pours so much care and intention into every detail. I’ll carry this experience with me forever." - Cass. S

Ready to feel it for yourself? Whether you're dreaming of your own Serenità moment or reminiscing on your time with us, we believe the magic is in the little things, like slow mornings, shared meals, and meaningful connections.

Which brings us to one of the most loved (and delicious) highlights from our time together...

Savour the Moment: Laura’s Famous Tiramisù Recipe 🇮🇹

As a little something sweet, we wanted to share the beloved Tiramisù recipe from our dear friend and in-house chef Laura at the SWR retreat!

Tiramisù, literally translated to ‘pick me up’, is one of our favourite desserts at the retreat, and yes, we love to sneak into the kitchen to “help” Laura (but really, we're there to assist with taste tasting). 

Note: While traditional Tiramisù is made with Savoiardi (ladyfinger) cookies, Laura's Tiramisù is made with Pavesini cookies, which are thinner, allowing for thicker layers of mascarpone. 

INGREDIENTS 

• 500g Mascarpone

• 4 eggs

• 80g sugar

• 150g Pavesini biscotti

• 100ml espresso

• Unsweetened powdered cacao

  
  

RECIPE

• Prepare the espresso with a stovetop moka or coffee machine, pour 100 ml into a bowl, let it cool.

• Break the eggs, separating the yolks from the whites and collect them in two separate bowls; pour in the sugar into the bowl with the egg yolks and whisk with an electric whisk until the mixture is fluffy.

• Add the mascarpone at room temperature and mix with the electric whisk.

• Separately, whip the egg whites until stiff; then incorporate them into the egg and mascarpone mixture, slowly mixing with a spatula from bottom to top to keep it light and fluffy.

• Spread a generous layer of mascarpone on the bottom of a baking dish

• Dip the Pavesini biscotti in the cold coffee, dip on each side  fairly quickly, don't let them soak or they'll fall apart).

• Create your first layer of biscotti on top of the mascarpone, keeping them tight together. Add another layer of mascarpone, sprinkle cacao, and continue layering.

• Finish either with a layer of biscotti, or mascarpone, and refrigerate for at least two hours. Sprinkle with cacao before serving- and buon appetito!