The villa, built in the 1700’s maintains a luxurious charm. The renovations and updates make it comfortable, while still feeling the past so rich of history. A gourmet restaurant, new pool and a unique Spa make this resort stand out. The Spa is out of the ordinary: outdoor/indoor and offers a unique, patented “Paper Treatment”, specifically developed with wood pulp, which has beneficial effects on the skin and body. This is the only place in the world where you can experience this treatment.

Giulio states: “This venue has deep childhood memories for me, as I used to go play in the haystack in the back of the villa, while my mother shared afternoon tea with the countess Anna, past owner of the property. In my teenage years we used to party in this villa. And an top of all that, this is where Eva and I celebrated our wedding. It’s integral part of my life, and it would be a honor to share it with the participants of Sense-ational Awakening”.

Choosing the Marche region and specifically Fabriano for our first Sense-ational Awakening program of 2026 was based on many relevant factors:

The Marche offers the same beauty of Tuscany and Umbria, with its rolling hills and the Appennini mountains, but it is also grazed by the Adriatic Sea. Many say the Marche are greener and more colorful in general than the usual regions more known to tourists. This region has many industrial activities to show, but its agriculture and winemaking are predominant in all provinces. The landscape is full of infinite sunflower fields in the summer, pastures, and protected natural forests throughout. The beaches range from white and pink powdery to rocky and cliffy, reminiscent of Northern California. A rarely found mixture, so easily accessible within a short distance. There are ski resorts in the mountains, and fishermen’s villages in the distance not too far. But the most fascinating aspect of the region is its historic background, from Paleolithic settlements, to Roman colonies, obviously built over the best geographic spots, to the influence of the Papal State, where up to the last century it has shaped the cities and the land with churches, monasteries and convents. There are sacred locations, and natural beauties, which make you dive into spirituality and peacefulness. The medieval look of most cities in the Marche is what you would expect in center Italy, more so than Tuscany or Umbria. It’s a region to discover. It has been kept under the radar for a long time. It is now described by many as the “New Tuscany”. Several foreigners have started to put their new roots in the Marche, appreciating its charm, its culinary excellence and its so far “affordability” as compared to the other more renowned and promoted regions. For the most demanding and discerning tourists, this part of Italy is a must see to experience, to enjoy, and to brag about.

“Why did I pick Fabriano as the host city for this wellness retreat? First and foremost, I am a Fabriano native, and currently, during the part of the year Eva and I spend in Italy, we reside not too far from Fabriano. Understandably, we know the area extremely well. Consequently we are able to to make you experience unique and unusual beauties and treats that most tourists wouldn’t know of. When we are in Italy, Eva and I almost every day take an excursion somewhere new within this region. Every time we are amazed by the beauty, the history, and the nature. And every single time we question ourselves: “Would this be a special place for one of our Sense-ational Awakening retreat excursions? Almost all the time we say yes, but there is only so much we can see and appreciate in the week of the retreat. Therefore, we decided to select only the “WOW” places, whether we are talking about cities, restaurants, excursion destinations, wineries or other activities. 

Fabriano is a well recognized city, part of UNESCO (United Nation Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), which offers many artistic and historic oriented activities, especially in the summer. Every year since 1995 a special event takes place on June 24th: The celebration of the city patron San Giovanni Battista (St. John the Baptist). The city goes into a “party mode” for the week leading to the event, with parades, games, rich traditions, culinary feasts, culminating in the Palio di San Giovanni Battista, a medieval district competition that ends in the main city square, attracting thousand of spectators coming from all over to witness this unique 14th century re-enactment. This is definitely one of the main reasons we chose this time of the year for this retreat. Aside from the peace and quietness that we can experience at the resort, if we feel like indulging in the festivities, we will have a chance to participate to a variety of memorable events in this uniquely vibrant city.

And what about the summer solstice? During this retreat we will be together celebrating June 21st, the longest day of the year.”