What our guests are saying…
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Sandy Sousa
Our yoga retreat in Orvieto was truly unforgettable. This charming Italian town stole my heart with its breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and warm hospitality. Our retreat days were a perfect blend of excellent yoga practices led by Chiara and Suzy, exploration, and indulgence. We practised yoga overlooking the Umbrian Hills with its breathtaking sunrises and sunsets! Wandering through the narrow streets and getting lost often was the best part of discovering the towns hidden gems, indulging in delicious local cuisine, amazing coffee and my body’s weight in gelato! Some of the highlights of the retreat included a tour of the Mayors office, the magnificent Duomo and tour led by Chiaras father exploring underground caves, the Well and travelling to a vineyard where we practiced yoga in another spectacular setting. The people of Orvieto were incredibly friendly and welcoming, making our retreat a truly unforgettable yoga holiday as I have described it to many.
Thank you Suzy and Chiara Ben Fatto!!!!!
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Karen Catch
Tucked into the hillside of the Umbrian region, the charming town of Orvieto is a medieval treasure. This well-preserved walled city is accessible by funicular or car and offers a captivating blend of history and tranquility. My week at a yoga retreat in a historic monastery was truly unforgettable. It provided the perfect setting for my daily Ashtanga practice, surrounded by a space rooted in tradition, mantra, and peaceful routines.
During our leisure time, I enjoyed exploring the city’s rich history, learning why Orvieto was spared during the wars and discovering how the ancient caves played an essential role in daily life. Every street seemed to lead us to the stunning Duomo, and we were fortunate to witness a spontaneous medieval parade that added a touch of magic to our visit.
The local restaurants, shops, and their friendly owners made us feel very welcome, and the quaint market squares were full of character. Overall, this experience was incredibly special. It is a perfect blend of fellowship, culture, and serene beauty in one of Italy’s most enchanting regions.
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Charlotte Pragnell
Orvieto- a very special place where Italian tradition is in abundance with its culture , food, people , art , and architecture. One evening I spent behind the monastery watching the sun go down into the scenic valley and will always cherish that moment. The Opera house is a must do to see a concert or Opera. Lots of hidden gems. When I come back to Italy I will definitely stay in Orvieto and day trip into Rome and Florence as the trains were frequent and did not take long into major centers. If it wasn’t for this yoga retreat I would have never discovered this magical place. Thank you Chiara and Suzy for a fantastic experience .
….more from our guests…
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Terri Brophy
ORVIE-TO,…ORVIE-GO
YOU MUST GO HERE!!
A veritable feast for all of the senses…we loved and lived as locals
You had us at buonjourno…
We SHALL return💕
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Rebecca Lee
When I think of Orvieto, I don’t just think of truffle pasta or a glass of refreshing Orvieto Classico — I think of The Blue Bar, where we became instant locals and friends. I think of laughing with strangers, wandering down alleys lined with architecture worthy of a coffee table book, and feeling like the village adopted us on sight. Orvieto — I hadn’t even heard your name a year ago, and now you wander through my mind (and my dreams) often. Cin cin. 🇮🇹💙🍷
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Becca
Orvieto — a place that lingers in my heart long after leaving. Mornings filled with quiet light over the valley, laughter echoing through narrow stone streets, and meals that stretched into stories shared among friends. There’s a rhythm here — unhurried, soulful, and grounding — that reminds me what it means to truly be present. I’ll carry that spirit with me always. 🇮🇹💛
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Marianne Shamlou
This retreat could not have been more perfect for me. The experienceexceeded all my expectations! We stayed in a Monastery which was historic, reliable, safe, simple and clean. It became a cozy home base as we explored the town. Yoga was great! Energizing in the morning. Relaxing in the afternoon. orvieto was enchanting. Chiara and Suzy were accessible and became dear friends. I could go on and on how grateful I am for this opportunity.
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Melinda Lucas
The indulge in balance retreat in Orvieto. Italy was an incredible experience, Chiara and Suzy arranged a week of the perfect balance of yoga sessions with immersion in the Orvieto community and site- seeing activities. While also providing a supportive environment within our stay at the Monastery. Every day was a beautiful adventure. I would recommend this retreat to anyone wanting to experience Orvieto and wanting the addition of daily yoga practice from two incredible instructors.
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Devon Fik
Every detailed of the retreat was so thoughtful and amazing. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I cannot wait for the next one!
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Connie Shultz- Canada
My experience at the yoga retreat in Orvieto, Italy, was absolutely amazing and exceeded all my expectations! Orvieto was simply magnificent with its beauty, charm and unforgettable atmosphere providing the perfect setting for this experience. Chiara, our instructor and coordinator was fabulous in every way! Her warmth, enthusiasm, knowledge and attention to every detail made the retreat truly exceptional. She created such a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone felt comfortable and included. The women who attended were equally amazing! We shared so many wonderful moments, lots of laughter, meaningful connections and memories I will treasure. This retreat was so much more than yoga. It was an opportunity to recharge, explore a beautiful part of Italy and enjoy an experience that nourished both body and soul. I would wholeheartedly recommend this retreat to anyone considering attending. You will come away feeling refreshed, inspired and grateful for an unforgettable experience. Thank you Chiara for providing me with this wonderful experience that I will hold in my heart for a lifetime!💕
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Shelley Wishart - Canada
This retreat was so much fun! Chiara, our host, showcased her hometown of Orvieto with glowing enthusiasm—we all fell in love—with the architecture, sites, restaurants and people of the town. My fellow retreaters were the kindest group of women—just 5 of us. The small group made this retreat intimate and all of us quickly fell into a sense of ease with each other. We spent our days together wandering the town, exploring the food, wine, and sites of Orvieto. We stayed in a centuries old monastery—it was all truly magical! If you are curious about Italy, and you enjoy delicious food, interesting history, yoga, good people—you must go! And I can’t think of a better host than Chiara from Journey Home Retreats.
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Amber Lee Perez - USA
Your retreat came into my life at the exact right time. And the ladies in the retreat made my experience one thousand times more amazing. Life had thrown some pretty heavy things my way lately and your retreat was a great reminder for me to slow down, take care of me, and drink more wine! Thank you for being you and for coming into my life when I needed it most. I am so happy I have this group of women to always reach out to! 💕
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Rhonda Strussi - Canada
What a magical stay in beautiful Orvieto!!✨ I am over the top grateful, to have shared the MANY wonderful memories with a lovely group of like minded women! There are actually no words to describe what I experienced in that week! Each day was different and full of excitement! Chiara is a wonderful host who paid top notch attention to all details of the visit. It truly felt like I had lived there for some time!! I had always wanted to visit Italy to connect with my family roots and I sure did! If it wasn’t for this retreat I never would have! So thank you again Chiara for the unforgettable memories and new friends. I will be back next year!! Ciao Ciao!! 💖✨ PS. I highly recommend to whom ever is reading this to join in the next retreat!!
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Michele Carson - Canada
An Unforgettable, Life-Changing Experience in Orvieto, Italy
I truly cannot say enough wonderful things about this trip to Orvieto. It was a beautiful, unforgettable, and genuinely life-changing experience that will stay with me forever.
From my very first contact with Chiara, I knew I was in good hands. She responded promptly to all my messages, took the time to arrange a Zoom call so we could meet face-to-face, and made me feel comfortable and cared for even before the trip began. Her attention to detail was exceptional, and she was always available, day or night, to answer any questions and make sure everything went smoothly. Her warmth, dedication, and genuine care made the entire experience that much more special.
Staying in a monastery was an extraordinary experience and truly a highlight of the trip. There was something so special about being surrounded by centuries of history and experiencing a place with such character, beauty, and soul. It was an experience unlike any other.
And Orvieto itself is absolutely breathtaking! From its charming cobblestone streets and fascinating history to its wonderful shops and spectacular views, there is beauty around every corner. The town is wonderfully walkable, making it easy to explore, wander, and discover all the little treasures it has to offer. The food and wine were excellent, adding even more joy to an already incredible experience.
One of the most unexpected and beautiful parts of this journey was the connection I made with some truly wonderful ladies. Sharing this experience with them, getting to know one another, and creating memories together added another special layer to the trip. It reminded me that sometimes the most meaningful parts of travelling are not just the places we visit, but also the people we meet along the way.
What made this trip so meaningful was not just the beautiful destination, the history, or the wonderful food and wine. It was the thought, care, and love that went into creating the entire experience. Chiara made everything feel seamless and personal, allowing us to relax, enjoy every moment, and truly immerse ourselves in the beauty of Italy.
I left Orvieto with a full heart, beautiful memories, wonderful new connections, and an experience that touched me more deeply than I ever expected. I would recommend this experience to anyone looking for something truly special and meaningful.
Thank you, Chiara, for an incredible journey that I will cherish for a lifetime. ❤️
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MaryAnne Medved - Ontario Canada
This will probably be a lengthy review because I simply can’t do the Journey Home Retreat justice in three sentences!
This retreat was exactly what I wanted: yoga to begin and end each day in the beautiful, historic town of Orvieto. With its fascinating history, there was so much to see, explore, climb into, and learn about. And, along the way a group of strangers had become friends.
What I especially loved was that the retreat came with no expectations to journal, write a memoir, or bare my soul and shed tears about my life. It was simply pure joy: yoga in a fabulous Italian town, surrounded by wonderful people and memorable experiences. Sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
And then there was Chiara. She was so much more than our yoga teacher. Over the course of the week, she became our friend, tour guide, and, in many ways, the guardian of our entire trip. She brought everything together with warmth and care, ensuring that we experienced not only the yoga but also the history, culture, food, and special moments that made the week so memorable.
The experiences made this so much more than a yoga retreat. We loved the private history lesson from Chiara’s father, which was a special and personal touch. The vineyard experience was unforgettable: yoga under the sun in a spectacular setting, followed by a fascinating tour and a wonderful lunch.
The cooking class was so much fun, and staying in the monastery added another layer of history, character, and atmosphere to an already memorable week.
For me, this retreat was the whole package: beautiful surroundings, meaningful experiences, fascinating history, wonderful food, yoga, laughter, a little shopping, and the pleasure of connecting with lovely people. I couldn’t have asked for more.
Invest in yourself!
Our yoga retreats are the perfect blend of taking space and time for the self, exploring a new place and living like a local, and connecting with other travelers on your journey home to your heart.