Brain Health, Food, and Fun in Puglia, Italy

This Brain Health Retreat includes daily yoga at our farmhouse in the countryside

Puglia is famous for its veg- and seafood-forward rustic Italian food.

Hello, brain health ambassadors. Last year I sent out a poll to all of you about your choice for brain health retreat destinations. Italy was at the top of the list! Many of you have also been asking me to create a trip that combines Italy travel with yoga and lots of walking. 

Well, ask and you shall receive! I am excited to share the details of my latest collaboration with

Elizabeth Minchilli

: a brain health retreat at a charming restored farmhouse in Puglia, the heel of the boot of Italy. We will start the days with gentle movement (walking or yoga amidst the olive trees), then head out to explore the foodscape of Puglia’s off the beaten track towns, shopping for ceramics and food products along the way.

Let’s go to Puglia!

The Brain Health Retreat in Puglia
When: April 27 to May 3, 2025
What: A 6-day yoga-focused brain health retreat
Where: Manduria, Puglia, Italy
Who: Annie Fenn (your host) + 12 of you food-loving people
Curated by: Elizabeth Minchilli, author and Italian food expert

The last Retreat group to Puglia never stopped smiling.

For more information, including pricing and the complete itinerary,
visit my partners at Via Rosa here. To book, tap the button below.

Why Puglia?

Dolce far niente, an Italian phrase meaning "the sweetness of doing nothing," embodies a lifestyle and mindset that celebrates the joy of savoring the present moment. This concept is deeply rooted in Pugliese culture, where life is often slower-paced and more connected to nature and tradition. The warm, welcoming Pugliese people have much to teach us about slowing down, enjoying a leisurely meal with family and friends, and living in harmony with the natural rythms of the day.

Puglia is a place of astounding beauty, a land of rolling olive groves, pristine beaches, and ancient, white-washed towns. This provides the perfect backdrop for soaking up the dolce far niente philosophy while learning about all the things you can do to take care of your brain.

Here are a few highlights of the trip:

Morning yoga amid the olive trees: Each day begins with a yoga class for all levels by our Italian instructor. We will lay our mats in the light filled greenhouse or—if weather permits—amid the olive trees. 

Breakfast from the farm: Our masseria is also a farm, which means we will enjoy fresh produce and farm-baked goods each morning.

Culinary field trips: We’ll explore the food and traditions that make Puglia unique—from learning all about olive oil by visiting olive groves to trying our hand at making local cheeses and pasta.

Shopping and culture: We’ll visit some of the prettiest towns in Puglia—Galatina, Gallipoli, Locorotondo, Alberobello (famous for its conical trulli homes), and Grottaglie, a white-washed village full of workshops with artisans practicing the ancient tradition of hand-painted ceramics.

Brain health topics: Throughout the week, we’ll explore what it means to cultivate a brain-healthy life. We’ll discuss brain health topics while traveling, at meals, during “Aperitivo Talks” in the late afternoon, and with printed riassuntos (recaps). I am also offering optional one-on-one brain health consultations while at the retreat or once you are back home (via zoom) for an additional fee.

Downtime: The days will be full but we’ve also built in lots of time to relax. Go for long walks and enjoy the beautiful grounds on your own.  Read a book by the pool. Enjoy the masseria’s small spa with a steam room and soaking tub. Book a massage.

Meet Angelo, our local Pugliese guide

Angelo and me at the last spring’s Puglia brain health retreat.

I can’t wait for you to meet Angelo Calianno, our Pugliese guide for the week. A licensed guide with deep knowledge of the culture and history of Puglia, Angelo will be taking us around his hometown, Cisternino, where we’ll drop by his mother’s bar for a coffee and a treat.

If you want to experience the dolce far niente lifestyle in Southern Italy, all while delving deep into brain health topics and staying active, then this is the trip for you. Angelo and I can’t wait to show you around Puglia!

Love,

Annie

PS: One of the perks of being a paying subscriber is that you are the first hear about brain health retreats. With just 12 spots, Puglia and Sicily often fill shortly after they are announced. If you’d like to join me one of these days, please consider upgrading your membership to paying or Founding Member.