Plan your own Private Experience for 2026


Private retreats must have a minimum of four guests.

Stay: 1 night up to 4 nights

Build Your Own Experiences.

1 night and up to 4 nights. Create your own retreat experience. Whether it is cooking lessons or foraging and flower arranging with Annette. You can customize your retreat in any way you’d like. Perhaps Bio-Dynamic wine tasting, or balsamic vinegar tasting, truffle hunting followed by a four-course truffle lunch, morning yoga, and a Thai or Shiatzu or Reflexology massage. A private tour of the Carrara marble mines followed by lunch at the top of the mountain. A slow food purveyors tour or wine tasting at the local award-winning winery. Hiking to waterfalls or walking to our vineyard with a glass of vino in hand. Shop at the chic Forte Dei Marmi market, followed by lunch at the sea and an afternoon at the beach. Enjoy cocktail lessons or build the perfect charcuterie board with Annette. You can relax by the pool with a book and play a little bocce ball. It’s your retreat your way. Perfect for birthday and anniversary celebrations, girls' trips, or family holidays. Annette personally curates your entire “La Fortezza Experience” 40 minutes from the seaside, 1 hour and 15 minutes from Parma, 1 and 15 minutes from Lucca. It’s the perfect location to explore.

Gather your family and friends. Groups must be a minimum of 4 people (we can host up to 8 people with couples and shared rooms). Itinerary planning and accommodations, yoga, meals, cocktails, and wine are included. Not included are off-sight meals unless it’s one of our full-day excursions, Bio-Dynamic Wine Tasting and Tour, Balsamic Tasting and Tour, Truffle Hunting, and Coursed Truffle Lunch. Also included is a personalized signed copy of Annette’s cookbook about the region, At the Table of La Fortezza, and a bottle of La Fortezza wine.* Note you are responsible for your Transportation. Annette is happy to suggest a car service for day excursions pricing on request or a rental company. Make La Fortezza in Lunigiana in Tuscany your Italian vacation destination. We strongly suggest renting a car, giving you more flexibility and better excursion access. We suggest Sixt Car Rentals

Please email us to reserve dates and *Inquire about pricing for your retreat here:

Gen: at genesis.carlina@gmail.com

*Note Your deposit (which is half of the total cost) is due upon reserving and it is NON-REFUNDABLE, NON-TRANSFERABLE. We do however issue credits for other dates.

One Night Stay

 

 For a one night stay you arrive for lunch, cook with me and lounge by the pool.

Stroll to our vineyard with a glass of vino in hand and then dinner on the terrace.

We meet for 8:30am breakfast and goodbyes around 11:00am

3 Night Stay

  • Monday, Arrival Day (please plan to arrive after 3:00 p.m.)

    3:00 - 6:30 pm - Arrivals at The Fortress. Light lunch or snacks available. Unpack, shower, nap.

    6:30 pm - Meet and Greet Aperitivo on the terrace. Cocktails and nibbles will be served

    7:30 pm - Welcome dinner on the terrace 

  • Tuesday, Hiking and Picnic

     8:00 am – Breakfast, and we pack you water, snacks, and picnic lunch for your hike

    9:00 am - 12:00 pm - Hike to a scenic spot

    12:00 pm - Enjoy a leisurely picnic lunch

    1:30 pm - Head back to La Fortezza

    2:00 pm - Cooking class with Annette

    3:30-6:00 - Read and relax at the pool with a cocktail and snacks, play bocce ball. Massages can be booked, additional fee applies.

    6:30 pm - Aperitivo 

    7:30 pm - Dinner on the terrace

  • Wednesday, Shopping in Sarzana

    8:00 am - Yoga by the pool

    9:00 am – Hit the road, stop for breakfast at an auto grill

    10:00 am - 1:30 pm - Shopping and sightseeing in Sarzana

    1:30 pm - Lunch at a local restaurant in Sarzana arranged by Annette

    3:00 pm - Head back to La Fortezza and relax until dinner or explore the grounds. Massages can be booked, additional fee applies.

    6:30 pm - Pizza party!

  • Thursday and Ciao Ciao!

    10:00 am - Breakfast and Departures

 

Select Your Experiences from a Menu of Activities

We have loads of choices and options for excursions and experiences. This is just a sample.

Come cook, eat, drink with me.

You’ll get to know a little known beautiful part of Italy. My special place.

~Annette x

  • Food Forward Experiences

    Cooking Classes from my Cookbook

    Cocktails and charcuterie board lesson with me

    Truffle Hunting, with Four Course Truffle Lunch - *Fall only

    Slow Food Lecture and Cooking Class

    Panagacci Dinner

    Pizza Party* a must

    Testaroli Maker (Local Food purveyor)

    Tour of our Vineyard

  • City Tours

    • Tour of Fivizzano

    • Tour of Sarzana

    • Tour of Modena

    • Day at Cinque Terra, Portovenere* - Fall only

    • Tour of Pietrasanta

  • Special Excursions

    Hiking, caving, rafting , mountain climbing, biking

    Flea Markets

    Private Carrara Mine Tour with Lunch at the top of the mountain

    Forte dei Marmi Market* - Summer only

    Bio Dynamic Vineyard Tour Tasting and Lunch

    Private Boat rentals

  • Lessons in the Studio

    • Yoga

    • Foraging and Flower arranging

    • Styling and photography lesson

    • Wine and Watercolor Class

    • Inksperience with Betty Soldi

Email Gen