Il Dolce Far Niente: From Overdoing to Overflowing
A Retreat for Women in Their Wild, Mid-life Unfolding with Brooke Hofsess
What if the most radical thing you could do right now is... nothing? Not one more thing to check off. No more proving. No more twisting yourself into a version of who the world expects you to be. What if, instead of pushing, perfecting, and producing, you could unfurl, receive, ripen—just like sunflowers expanding in the Tuscan light? What if you could be seen, held, and nourished on every level? This retreat is your invitation. Your permission slip. Your reckoning. A call to step out of the exhausting loop of "not yet, not enough" and into the sacred ease of your own becoming.
If this speaks to you, maybe you are also ready. Ready to surrender to the current of abundance and enoughness. Ready to feel your power and depth as a fully actualized being. Ready to turn toward beauty, magic, and the pleasure of your own company.
Come with me to Tuscany. Six slow, luxurious days in a landscape that insists you soak in its abundance. Imagine looking back, knowing you said yes. Will you join us?
October 4-10, 2026 | Tuscany, Italy
MAKE A $1,500 DEPOSIT TO SECURE YOUR SPOT TODAY.
Brooke Hofsess
Hi there, I’m Brooke Hofsess—a Midlife Midwife for women who are done waiting to feel at home in their own lives. I guide women back. Back to their desires, their creativity. Back to the callings that won’t let them go.
Through coaching, workshops, and retreats, I hold spaces where women can exhale. Where they can listen. Where they can remember. Where they can step toward what matters, not with urgency, but with devotion.
For over 20 years, I have shaped spaces of transformation—as an author, scholar, and coach. Through gentle movement, creative writing, and soulful reflection, my work is about revealing what has been there all along—the wild wisdom inside you.
I believe in the potency of sweet idleness. In the quiet magic that unfolds when we stop striving and allow ourselves to simply be. Writing is one of the ways I listen. A way to soften into what is most true. This is the spirit behind Dolce Far Niente—a retreat devoted to the sweetness of doing nothing, where creativity and clarity arise not from effort, but from ease.
Come write, play, gather, be.
"You're out of breath, not courage."
-Brooke Hofsess
Pause. Breathe. Join us in Tuscany.
What if this week in Tuscany is the moment everything shifts? What if you leave not just with memories but with something truer, something deeper—a knowing that settles into your bones? A knowing that you are enough. That you have always been enough. That your worth was never meant to be measured by how much you accomplish, how well you perform, how much you give before you let yourself receive.
After this retreat, you will… feel deeply restored, like you've reclaimed parts of yourself that have been waiting to exhale.
Know how to tend your desires, creativity, and truth without guilt.
Experience a shift in your relationship with time—less rushing, more presence. Leave with a full heart, kindred friendships, and the tools to weave the art of doing nothing into your daily life.
I invite you to a retreat so rich, so deeply stitched into the fabric of time and place, that the only thing you’ll need to do is remember how to breathe. Pause. Breathe. Your spot is waiting. Join us in Tuscany.
A Journey of Rest, Reflection, and Renewal
Creative/Relational Studio: A space to write, reflect, and create from a place of ease. No pressure, no performance—just words unspooling like silk, as you learn to write from an unhurried connection.
Gentle Coaching & Mentorship: Intuitive guidance that meets you exactly where you are. Together, we’ll create space for your inner wisdom to rise, helping you navigate your unfolding path with clarity, ease, and trust.
Soul-Nourishing Conversations: Gather with women who see and honor the fullness of who you are. This is a space for deep, unhurried connection, where every conversation invites you to lean into your authenticity without judgment, offering insight and companionship on your journey.
Deep Rest: Nap by the pool, linger over a meal, watch the sunlight change, and listen—really listen—to your own quiet knowing.
The Art of Doing Nothing: Because idleness isn’t laziness. It’s an opening—to pleasure, wisdom, and creative potential.
Slow Down. Listen Deeply. Be Fully Present.
Every day, I’ll guide you through workshops designed to bring you face-to-face with the heart of Il Dolce Far Niente—the art of doing nothing, of being fully present, fully at rest, and fully yourself.
Our "classroom"? A beautifully renovated barn perched on the hills, where you'll look out over vineyards that stretch into eternity, and the medieval village of Trequanda sits like a quiet, wise witness.
We’ll weave together the rhythm of fall—and the rhythm of mid-life itself—a season of transition, shedding, and nourishment deep in your bones. This seasonal flow will guide our creative/relational studio, where we’ll explore how the art of slowing down nurtures our ability to listen to ourselves. From this place of rest, we will let the words flow—wild and abundant.
Be seen, witnessed, and loved upon.
A Day on Retreat May Look Like…
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Morning: Wake up slowly. Strong coffee, long breakfast, and soft morning light.
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10–12:30: Guided creative rest and coaching. Let your full-bodied expression flow, without forcing. Be seen, witnessed, and loved up.
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12:30: A long, gorgeous lunch. The kind that reminds you that pleasure is essential.
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2–6: Time for Il Dolce Far Niente. A vineyard tour. Pasta-making. A nap in the sun. Journaling. Dangle your feet in the pool. Reading. Deep conversation. Or simply being.
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7: Dinner. Candlelight. Wine. Soulful connection.
Magical.
“On the other side, I learned that not only am I good enough, but I really do have gifts that are magical, that no one else (or few others) have. So I'm going to design my life to use and grow them as much as possible.” ~ Maureen
“Real community is no small thing. Brooke created a space of warmth, safety, and belonging, where each person felt like a friend. I left not just inspired, but deeply connected.” ~ Katherine
“Brooke weaves together a breathtaking range of modalities—creative writing, embodiment, and more—in a way I’ve never seen before. The experience was unlike anything else.” ~ Whitney
"This Retreat Is for the Woman Who Is Done. Done muscling through. Done making decisions that push her past capacity. Done denying her own pleasure, her own potential."- Brooke Hofsess
Nestled in Tuscany’s Chianti region, Fattoria Del Colle sets the stage for our unforgettable retreats in the heart of the Tuscan countryside. Home to Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s trailblazing, all-female-owned winery, this estate—with a winemaking legacy dating back to the 16th century—combines history, passion, and tradition in every corner.
Bella Vita retreats invite you to connect with the land and yourself. Stroll through sun-drenched vineyards, savor award-winning wines paired with exquisite meals at the renowned Osteria di Donatella, and immerse yourself in the beauty of a 16th-century villa and charming chapel. Enjoy breathtaking views of rolling vineyards and the medieval village of Trequanda—an unforgettable backdrop for every moment of your retreat.
Included in your Bella Vita retreat:
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Group transfer to and from the Rome airport
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6 nights lodging at Fattoria del Colle
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Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner
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Daily classes with your retreat leader
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Wine tasting, winery tour & and ancient chapel
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Pici pasta making class
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Excursion to Pienza - UNESCO heritage village
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Restorative yoga & guided hikes
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State of the art classroom studio
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Daily concierge and office staff
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On-site laundry-available at your own cost
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Massage-available at your own cost
**Airfare not included
Come enjoy 6 nights in wild Tuscany!
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$4,900 - Private Accommodations
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(Completely Private Apartment w/ Private Bedroom and Bathroom)
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$4,600 - Shared Accommodations
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(Shared Lodging in an Apartment w/ Private Bedroom)
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Please note:
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There are only 4 Completely Private Apartments available!
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Airfare is not included.
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Since our retreats explore local food traditions, much of what we are discovering, learning and eating will be very challenging for vegans. Unfortunately we cannot provide substitutes.
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Please inquire with us directly at info@vitabellaretreats.com for plus-one special pricing
MAKE A $1,500 DEPOSIT TO SECURE YOUR SPOT TODAY.
