Sicily
Couples Only Retreat
June 13-20, 2026
An Old World Retreat for Couples Ready to Slow Down and Reconnect
Epona retreats are designed for couples who want to step out of the noise of daily life and spend intentional time together — couples who value presence, depth, and the quiet strengthening that comes from being truly with one another.
Held in places shaped by time rather than trends, these retreats combine meaningful relational inquiry with the lived texture of place. Sicily offers exactly this: an island layered with history — Greek, Roman, Arab, Norman — where life unfolds slowly, conversation matters, and presence is not an idea but a way of being.
Western Sicily, in particular, carries a quiet gravity. Wind, salt, stone, vineyards, and sea create a natural backdrop for couples to walk, talk, sit, and be together without performance. It is a place that supports honesty, devotion, and the kind of connection that becomes possible only when there is room to breathe.
The retreat is held at an 18th-century coastal farmhouse near Marsala, surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, and historic salt pans with windmills. Overlooking the Mediterranean, the property has hosted intimate retreats for decades and reflects the rhythms of Old World Sicilian life. Nothing is rushed here. Meals linger. Evenings unfold naturally. Every room opens onto land or sea.
Throughout the week, couples are invited into guided relational practices designed to support clarity, presence, and genuine connection — thoughtfully woven into the days rather than approached as clinical therapy. Time together is balanced with shared meals, optional excursions, and space for private moments. Couples are always free to participate fully or step away as they wish.
This is not a vacation, and it is not therapy as usual. It is an opportunity to step out of habit and tend your relationship in a landscape shaped by time — one that understands patience, rhythm, and is built slowly with care, presence, and attention.
Who is it for?
This retreat is designed for couples who want to tend their relationship with care and intention — not because something is broken, but because it matters. It offers protected time away from daily demands, distractions, and roles, creating space to slow down, reconnect, and remember what brings you together. Gentle, skillful guidance is woven into the days, supporting presence, meaningful conversation, and shared experience without urgency or intensity. Intentionally limited to six couples, the retreat preserves privacy, spaciousness, and the kind of unhurried time that allows connection to deepen naturally.
Investment: $6800. per couple
What's Included?
- 8 days and 7 nights accommodation at an historic 18th century masseria, farm, immersed in nature along the Mediterranean sea, surrounded by salt marshes, vineyards, and olive groves and dedicated to hospitality & preserving the ancient culture of the place.
- Stay in your own private room with old-world charm, en-suite bath, and a small kitchenette.
- 3 meals daily, plus snacks, of home-made Sicilian cuisine. Made from a variety of organic, nutrient- rich ingredients, lovingly prepared by our hosts who source many ingredients from their own gardens.
- Daily embodied practices that support presence, connection, and attunement.
- Coordination of every detail on a full day excursion to the enchanting Egadi Islands, including Favignana and Levanzo - spectacular islands known for their clean water and stunning coastline. (Appx $65.)
- Coordination of every detail on a full day excursion to the medieval town of Erice and Trapani a sun-washed, sea-facing town shaped by salt air, ancient streets, and the steady rhythm of the Mediterranean..(Addl cost appx $70.pp)
- Coordination of every detail on a full day excursion to the Archaeological Park of Selinunte home to some of the most intact Greek temples in the Mediterranean followed by some time in Marinella di Selinunte. (Addl cost appx $65. pp)
- Exclusive use of the retreat center for our small group.
- Insider guides to everything local for a full, immersive experience.
- Coordination of other optional excursions and price sharing among guests.
- Transfer to and from Palermo Airport (group transfer...times TBD)
- Opportunities for gentle, connecting experiences as a couple, with space for deeper emotional work for those who choose to engage it.
- And as always, many delightful surprises!
Do as much or as little with the group as you like - you get to choose!
Full-Day Excursions
Three full-day excursions are woven into the week, each offering a different way to experience the land, history, and rhythm of Western Sicily. These days are optional and designed to be shared experiences, both relationally and practically.
We’ll travel to the Erice, a stone-built medieval hill town perched above the sea, known for its narrow cobbled streets, ancient walls, and far-reaching views; the Archaeological Park of Selinunte, home to some of the most intact Greek temples in the Mediterranean, set dramatically between land and sea; and the Egadi Islands — including Favignana and Levanzo — wind-shaped islands known for clear water, rugged coastline, and a slower, elemental pace of life.
Transportation and logistics for these excursions are arranged as shared group experiences, which helps keep costs reasonable. Participation is always optional, and couples are welcome to join the group or spend the day on their own, following the rhythm that best supports their time together.
Erice and Trapani
Archaeological Park of Selinunte
Egadi Islands
Additional Ways to Explore
Beyond the organized full-day excursions, there are many other ways to experience Western Sicily through its landscape, craft, and daily life. Depending on interest and timing, couples may choose to explore options such as horseback riding along open land near the sea, a ceramic painting experience rooted in Sicily’s long tradition of craft, or time at an exceptional local winery and food estate, where land, agriculture, and table come together in a distinctly Sicilian way.
You may like to wander nearby historic villages at an unhurried pace — including Marsala, a working coastal town shaped by trade, wine, and daily Sicilian life, and Trapani, a wind-swept port city closely tied to fishing, salt production, and the open sea.
Getting There
Palermo Airport - Appx 70 min drive from our hosts.
Arrival, June 13: A group transfer is included in your tuition...the exact times will be decided on once we see everyone's schedule - typically afternoon. If you arrive outside of group transfer times, we can arrange a private driver for you at an additional cost.(appx $130.).
Departure: June 20: - Group transfer times will be determined once we have everyone's flight info.
Trapani Airport - Appx 15 min drive from our hosts...should you choose this airport we can arrange a private driver for your transfers, at an addl cost to you.
What's Not Included
Airline flights, travel insurance, and transfers to and from the airport. (Price sharing possibilities for transfers.)
Spa Services
Wine (a curated selection by our hosts of regional gems is available for purchase)
Meals at restaurants during excursions (Appx 2)
Added Excursions