top of page
Villa in Sicily with Etna views

Journey of the Senses

Art, Wine & Yoga in Sicily

Join us on a once-in-a-lifetime journey of the senses! We invite you to join an intimate community of women for an immersion in art, wine, meditation & yoga. Led by a master sommelier, art historian, and wellness coach, we'll rejuvenate ourselves in a luxurious villa at the base of Mount Etna. Explore the dramatic volcanic landscape, admire the breathtaking Mediterranean coastline, and bask in the Sicilian sun. Climb to new heights and meditate at the crater of a volcano, igniting the fire within. Relish local flavors and delicious wines at artisanal Etna vineyards and sommelier-paired feasts. Connect with an intimate community of like-minded culture and yoga loving women and make lifelong friends. Use yoga and meditation to deepen your experience of your senses for a profound encounter with art & wine.
 

More than a retreat, this is a transformative journey -
a riot of color, flavor, scent and movement!

Maddy Jimerson, Master Sommelier & Italian Wine Expert

Taormina view of Etna

Rejuvenate in the Sicilian sun, hike up & meditate at the summit of magnificent Mt. Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe and a World Heritage site.

Syracuse, Sicily

Admire the beauty of Sicily’s majestic Baroque cities, ancient historical sites, stunning vineyards, and epic landscapes.

Lauren Jimerson

Expand your knowledge of art, wine, yoga and meditation directly from three experts: an Art Historian, Master Sommelier, and a Wellness Coach.

Villa in Sicily with Etna views

Relax & unwind in a Luxurious Villa & Spa with stunning views of Mount Etna. Deepen your yoga & meditation practice at the volcano's base.

Sicilian grapes

Journey of the Senses

Mount Etna, Sicily
April 29-May 6 2023
Save My Spot!

In the spring of 2023, we will come together as an intimate community of women to rejuvenate ourselves in the dazzling volcanic, Mediterranean landscape of eastern Sicily. We'll stay at a luxurious villa at the base of Mount Etna where we will practice yoga and meditation daily. We'll climb the volcano, sail on the Mediterranean sea and visit ancient and Baroque sites. We'll savor the local cuisine and taste magnificent wines.

Daily yoga includes all level practices weaving Hatha, Yin and Vinyasa Styles. Together, the courses are designed specifically to link the body with breath and reconnect all parts of yourself. You will learn simple breathing and meditation practices to cultivate presence, peacefulness for the mind, and to enliven the senses. You will meditate at the crater of a volcano to ignite the fire within.

You will learn to use yoga and meditation to deepen your experience of your senses, for an enriched encounter with art & wine.

Wine is incorporated daily into oenology lessons, wine-paired meals, and visits to artisanal vineyards on Mt Etna. You will learn from a Master Sommelier and Italian wine expert about the unique volcanic terroir of Mt Etna. We will have exclusive Sommelier-led experiences at Biondi and at other world-class vineyards not open to the general public for visits.

With our senses heightened, we will admire Sicilian art and archeology. We will visit ancient sites, including the Teatro Greco in Taormina, and admire the archeological remains in Siracusa as we learn about the history and influence of the Ancient Greeks on the island. We will see ornate Baroque art and architecture in Noto and Syracuse and a masterpiece by the renegade Baroque artist, Caravaggio.

This journey is hosted by three experts: Lauren Jimerson, an art historian, author, and licensed guide, Marisa Hallsted, a Sommelier, Yoga & Meditation Coach, and Maddy Jimerson, a Master Sommelier & Italian Wine Expert. In Sicily, we will guide you through an uplifting and enlightening journey that will ignite all the senses!

You're in good hands with an exceptional team of Experts!

Maddy Jimerson

Maddy Jimerson

Master Sommelier & Italian Wine Expert

Marisa Hallsted

Marisa Hallsted

Sommelier, Yoga, Meditation & Wellness Coach

Lauren Jimerson

Lauren Jimerson, PhD

Art Historian, Author & Licensed Guide

Maddy Jimerson is a Master Sommelier and wine director of Casa Tua Aspen. She holds a BA from Cornell University, where she studied Hotel Management and Italian. She has worked extensively in the wine industry – both on the floor as a sommelier and behind the scenes as an importer and distributor. She splits her time between Aspen, Colorado and Italy’s many wine regions. Maddy brings her passion and infectious enthusiasm to the world of Italian wine.

Luxurious Accommodation: Ramo d'Aria Villa & Spa

Connect with an intimate community of like-minded,
culture & yoga loving women. Make friends for life!

Included:  

  • Eight Magnificent Days with Guided Yoga & Meditation, Oenology Lessons, Cultural Activities & Experiences

  • Luxury Accommodation at Villa Ramo d'Aria & Spa with view of Mt. Etna (ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning, daily cleaning service)

  • All Wine, including Sommelier-selected wines at meals, vineyard visits &  wine-tastings

  • All Meals: daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, including seven wine-paired meals & culminating in a journey of the senses multi-course gastronomic dining experience

  • Round-trip Airport Transfer (if arriving on designated dates)

  • Daily Yoga, Meditation and Wellness Practices with Marisa

  • Master Sommelier Guided Winery Visits & Oenology Lessons with Maddy

  • Guided hike up Mt Etna with a Certified Naturalist Guide & Meditation Experience at the summit with Marisa

  • Culinary class where you'll learn to make an authentic Sicilian dish or dessert 

  • Private Historic & Cultural Tours of Ancient and Baroque sites with Lauren

  • All tickets and entrance fees on private-guided cultural site visits

  • Private guided day trips to Siracusa, Taormina, Mt Etna, vineyards, and more

  • Taxes, tips and fees

  • Exclusive live Italian lesson in preparation for the journey

  • Exclusive live session to meet your hosts and community of women before the journey 

  • Journey of the Senses yoga mat gift 

  • Sicilian Gift Box with Sommelier Selected Artisanal Etna Wine & Local Delicacies

Anchor 1
Villa in Sicily with Etna views
  • Oct 01, 2023, 9:00 AM – Oct 10, 2023, 9:00 AM
    Paris, Paris, France
    Paris & the Loire Valley!
    Share
  • Sat, Aug 26
    Aug 26, 2023, 7:00 PM – Aug 27, 2023, 7:00 PM
    Paris, Paris, France
    test
    Share
  • Jun 01, 2023, 10:00 AM – Jun 09, 2023, 10:00 AM
    Bilbao, Bilbao, Biscay, Spain
    Madrid, Bilbao & Beyond!
    Share
  • Apr 29, 2023, 9:00 AM – May 06, 2023, 9:00 AM
    Mount Etna, Sicily, 95018 Altarello CT, Italy
    Join an intimate community on a transformative journey in Sicily - a riot of color, flavor, scent and movement!
    Share
  • Apr 26, 2023, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM EDT
    Webinar
    Step into a world of stunning beauty and timeless elegance and explore the history of gardens from the Renaissance to the Nineteenth Century. Journey through the majestic gardens of Italy and France, and uncover the secrets behind some of the most exquisite outdoor spaces in history.
    Share
  • Apr 24, 2023, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EDT
    Webinar
    Step into a world of stunning beauty and timeless elegance and explore the history of gardens from the Renaissance to the Nineteenth Century. Journey through the majestic gardens of Italy and France, and uncover the secrets behind some of the most exquisite outdoor spaces in history.
    Share
  • Apr 22, 2023, 10:00 AM – Apr 28, 2023, 10:00 AM
    Mount Etna, Sicily, 95018 Altarello CT, Italy
    Join an intimate community on a transformative journey in Sicily - a riot of color, flavor, scent and movement!
    Share
  • Feb 22, 2023, 9:00 AM – 9:05 AM EST
    Webinar
    Join an intimate community as we trace audacious artistic responses to war, political oppression and injustice, from Francisco Goya to Pablo Picasso to Pussy Riot.
    Share
  • Feb 20, 2023, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EST
    Webinar
    Join an intimate community as we trace audacious artistic responses to war, political oppression and injustice, from Francisco Goya to Pablo Picasso to Pussy Riot.
    Share
  • Feb 08, 2023, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EST
    Webinar
    From Paris to New York, Modern masterpieces once rocked the art world. In this class we will examine rebellious artists who made statements about sex, politics, power and the meaning of art itself.
    Share
  • Jan 27, 2023, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
    Washington, Independence Ave SW &, 7th St SW, Washington, DC 20560, USA
    Complimentary in-person visit to the exhibition, "Put It This Way: (Re)Visions of the Hirshhorn Collection"
    Share
  • Jan 11, 2023, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM EST
    Webinar
    From Paris to New York, Modern masterpieces once rocked the art world. In this class we will examine rebellious artists who made statements about sex, politics, power and the meaning of art itself.
    Share
  • Jan 09, 2023, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EST
    Webinar
    From Paris to New York, Modern masterpieces once rocked the art world. In this class we will examine rebellious artists who made statements about sex, politics, power and the meaning of art itself.
    Share
  • Dec 26, 2022, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
    Online - Zoom
    Join me in celebrating Art with Friends highlights of 2022!
    Share
  • Nov 09, 2022, 9:00 AM EST – Nov 10, 2022, 10:30 AM EST
    Location is TBD
    Join an intimate community as we discover a leading contemporary artists from around the world featured in the 2022 Venice Biennale, "Milk of Dreams."
    Share
  • Nov 07, 2022, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EST
    Webinar
    Join an intimate community as we discover a leading contemporary artists from around the world featured in the 2022 Venice Biennale, "Milk of Dreams."
    Share
  • Nov 01, 2022, 10:00 AM EDT – Nov 02, 2022, 10:00 AM EDT
    Webinar
    Join an intimate community for five lively discussions on pioneering women sculptors. We will discover a group of ambitious Americans who pursued artistic careers in Rome and achieved fame on both sides of the Atlantic.
    Share
  • Oct 01, 2022, 11:00 AM – Oct 02, 2022, 11:00 AM
    Venice, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy
    Embark on an enriching and exciting cultural exploration with a focus on art and women in Venice! Immerse yourself in both the magnificence of the Renaissance and and astonishing Contemporary Art at the Venice Biennale.
    Share

Andiamo! Let's go!

Limited availability Secure your spot today!

Single Accommodation $8,900
Shared Accommodation $7,900
(limited availability)

Non-refundable deposit $500 at time of booking.
Full payment due February 15th 2023.

We understand the unpredictable nature of our times and have worked assiduously to offer the most flexible cancellation policy possible.
Click here to read it.

Villa in Sicily with Etna views

Yes, I'm In!

Save my spot:

  • LinkedIn
  • TripAdvisor

Lauren Jimerson, historienne de l’art & guide-conférencière, Paris, France


© 2024 by Lauren Jimerson, PhD

bottom of page