Imagine immersing yourself in the powerful nature of Sicily, staying in the home of an artist surrounded by her rescue dogs, alongside volunteers and other like-minded guests. Whether you seek good company, inspiration, relaxation, or detoxification, Retreat-Yourself is the perfect sanctuary for you.
Relax and detox
Imagine immersing yourself in the powerful nature of Sicily and share the house of an artist with maybe other guests seeking for good company and inspiration or just relaxing and detoxing.
At Retreat-yourself, I offer time and space to focus on your personal projects such as writing, art or focussing on your online job in the inspiring peacefull environment os sicilian nature.
Nestled in the garden there is a yoga,meditation house that you may use to do your daily practise.
My name is Marina des Tombe. I love art and animals and have 30 years of experience in teaching artclasses. I am a lifecoach,specialised in horse assisted humanistic coaching.
More than a retreat, I aim to give a warm family feeling of being together in a beautiful healing environment, thanks in the first place to the powerful nature of Sicily with its colours, smells, beautiful sea, and mountains.
This is an unstructured retreat with guests free to organise their time as they please.
I think what's unique about my retreat is that you get to live the real experience of someone like me who moved to Italy 30 years ago. a My retreat is an unstructured retreat for people who share my values ,silence and peace are the characteristics of my place, as well as a warm atmosphere of sharing with and inspiring each other.
As a mother who grew up her daughters alone, I also really want to be a welcoming and safe place for women who want to go on an adventure on their own but still have nice company when they need it.
As an artist who has spent the last 30 years teaching and creating in painting, sculpture, and recently jewellery making, I am open to organise a personal workshop for you during your stay.
visit my sculpture website or take a look at my instagram jewellery page
www.instagram.com/marina_des_tombe
As a life coach, art counselor and mindfulness practitionar who works together with horses, I would love to introduce you to my herd and make a personal program for you of self discovering sessions during your stay (read more about this in the horse coaching section of this website).
Benefits
Experience a serene retreat in Sicily, where art, nature, and personal growth harmonize in a peaceful, inspiring environment.
Unwind in the serene beauty of Sicily, where tranquility and nature provide the perfect backdrop for complete relaxation and rejuvenation.
Find inspiration in the art studio, surrounded by nature. Whether you're painting, writing, or crafting, let your creativity flow freely.
Experience mindful connections with horses through guided sessions, enhancing self-awareness, emotional balance, and a deeper understanding of these gentle creatures.
Embrace a slower pace of life, allowing yourself to fully unwind, breathe deeply, and savor the peaceful moments that Sicily offers.
Join a community of like-minded individuals, sharing stories, experiences, and inspiration in a warm, welcoming environment that fosters genuine connections.
Explore & Experience
Apart from art workshops and horse coaching sessions, here are some ideas of other activities I can organise for you:
I am always happy to try to help you with special wishes that might not be on my list, such as cooking classes, cultural visits, Italian classes, exploring permaculture, olive picking, etc. Together we can explore and I can bring you into contact with the locals that I know in the area.
All these activities are not included in the package of your retreat but can be booked as an extra to your stay with additional costs.
From the 1st of November until the end of March, the prices are listed under the pictures of each room below. Please note that these prices exclude heating costs, which will be calculated based on consumption during your stay.
From the 1st of April until the end of October, the house is rented as a whole and can host up to 10 people. The following prices apply per night for the entire house:
€120 per room
The double green room on the first floor has access to the bathroom with shower, toilet, bidet and sink. It has access to a panoramic terrace with a small table and two chairs.
€120 per room
The double bedroom has a huge marble bathtub in the room and a fireplace. It also has a sink and a toilet. The room has an open staircase that leads up to the triple room, but if you book the double room, the triple room will stay empty.
€270 per room
The family suite is a combination of the double bedroom and one triple room connected by an open staircase. The room downstairs has a beautiful large marble bathtub, a fireplace, a sink, and a toilet. The room upstairs has doors that open onto a private panoramic terrace.
€80 p.p.
This bedroom has 3 single beds and access to a bathroom with shower and toilet, sink and bidet. The room is on the first floor.
We organise multiple events every year. Here are the upcoming ones.
Here are some more photos to get a better idea of the house and surroundings.
Equine Systemic Constellations
For Inner Harmony in Sicily
A gentle, intuitive process where horses reveal your inner system — without words, without placing people or objects. Just meditation and the wisdom of the herd.
We sit together in silence and connect with your question, theme, or what’s alive in you — whether it’s family patterns, relationships, work, a decision, or an inner feeling you can’t quite name.
After the meditation, something remarkable happens: the horses begin to move on their own. They walk, pause, turn toward or away from each other — forming a living, breathing constellation right in front of you.
Their positions, distances, and interactions become a reflection of your system. A horse standing alone might mirror a part of you that feels excluded. Two horses facing away might show a disconnection.
You don’t need to analyze or interpret. Simply notice what their movements awaken in your body, heart, or energy. Where do you feel tension? Where does something soften?
Through this felt experience, hidden patterns reveal themselves and often shift on their own. You might feel lighter, clearer, or more at peace — as if your inner system has found a new, more harmonious order.
Horses are prey animals and herd beings who have survived for millennia by sensing danger before it arrives. As herd animals, they constantly scan the emotional "truth" of their group. If there's unspoken tension, exclusion, or imbalance, they feel it immediately and respond to restore order.
This is why they move spontaneously: after meditation, with no direction from us, they reflect what's alive in your field. A horse stepping forward might show a suppressed part of you longing to be seen. A horse turning away might mirror a disconnection you feel but can't name. They feel before you know.
This is not therapy or coaching in the traditional sense. It’s a dialogue between your system and the herd, facilitated by presence and stillness.
Constellation Games at the Table are gentle, symbolic exercises to explore family and relationship patterns. Using small figures or objects on a table, we create a living map of your inner world and your connections with others.
These sessions support awareness and reflection, in a safe, non-therapeutic setting, suitable for adults and adapted for children and families.
Decoder energy work / Decoder game
By Mieke Spanhove
Reiki Treatments in the Herd are offered lying on a massage table, right in the middle of the horses’ natural herd. I give you the Reiki treatment lying on the massage table, gently placing my hands to support deep relaxation, emotional balance, and a sense of grounding.
The calm presence of the horses enriches the experience, creating a unique moment of peace and inner connection.
* These treatments are wellness practices, not medical or psychological therapy, and are always offered with your informed consent.
We have had many happy guests
“This was a rich experience that brought out emotions in me that were previously locked inside. It helped me reflect on some important questions in my life and work through them with the help of Marina and her beautiful horse. I will definitely be exploring more methods like this in the future. Would definitely recommend!”
“I had a brief but powerful coaching session with Marina and her horses. Marina guided me with sensitivity, while the horses helped reveal deep truths about myself. I highly recommend these sessions and look forward to experiencing them again.”
“The horse coaching provided a new perspective on my trauma, complementing traditional therapy. The subtle behavior of the horse allowed a freer interpretation of my experiences. I felt safe, empowered, and gained a deeper understanding of myself. Highly recommended!”
“I have no words for my 2 weeks with Marina. It has been such a unique experience and such a pleasure. Marina took me to see the beautiful area, and we spend a lot of time together, which was very much appreciated. We went to the beautiful beaches, the hot springs and visited her beautiful horses. She showed me a lot of the local area, and I feel like I really saw the real Sicily, which was amazing. The house is absolutely amazing, and I really appreciated waking up every morning, and look over the beautiful valley.”
“Horse coaching session was a great way to start exploring some things that were on my mind. It was really helpful to open up and just get things out there to improve my confidences and self awareness. I realy enjoyed this experience with Marina and would like to do it again.”
Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to book your stay.