An italian food EXPERIENCE
by Teressa Johnson & the Fraticelli Family
October 2025
Le Marche, ITaly
Beauty in
Reverie
A slice of everyday italian life, on the east coast of italy
BEAUTY IN REVERIE: A RUSTIC ITALIAN FOOD EXPERIENCE
WELCOME TO beauty in reverie, bespoke experiences CRafted FOR THE ROMANTIC At HEART AND CREATIVE IN SPIRIT. THIS 5 day retreat will provide attendees with a true taste of local food, the richness of family tradition and heritage, and authentic experiences in a little known town, but perfectly positioned between rambling valleys and the coast of the adriatic.
You Need to Be Here
BEAUTY IN REVERIE: A RUSTIC ITALIAN FOOD EXPERIENCE
HEMMINGWAY, ON PARIS, BUT REALLY, ON LIFE.
“Paris was always worth it and you received return for whatever you brought to it."
During our time together, Teressa and the Fraticelli family will guide you in all ways italian. Inspired by her own experience with the hospitality and thoughtfulness of this family, we are building and programming five days that include cooking classes, built in time to find quiet and peace in pockets of heavenly vistas at the villa, dining in nearby towns by the glow of golden hour in the heart of fall, exploring markets from an insider view, learning basics of italian to order and interact with confidence, and learning bits of trivia and history that will likely open up an entire new knowledge of Italy.
"This is not a typical tourist resort. It is a beautiful family owned villa in the Le Marche countryside. it is real life; the kind of real life that captures the essence of what we might all long for; what draws us in when we soak up the european rom coms that inspire us to pack up and become ex-pats. At least, it did for me. Almost all of italy does that for me." - TERESSA
WHAT TO EXPECT
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What Will it Be Like
BEAUTY IN REVERIE: A RUSTIC ITALIAN FOOD EXPERIENCE
Day 1: Arrival to the Villa by way of private transfer, settle in to new Italian life, join us for dinner on the centuries old hand laid brick patio.
Day 2: Wake up slowly and join us in the kitchen for buffet style breakfast. Stroll the property, read a book, make a new friend, prepare for a cooking class with the Fraticelli family together to make lunch. After lunch, freshen up for a 20 minute drive to the beach town of Fano. Either stroll the spiaggia (beach) of the Adriatic, or wander through the citta vecchia (old town). Meet up for dinner out when the sun starts to set. If we're really lucky, we'll be met with live music.
Day 3: Get in that groove of morning breakfast hour and relaxation... decide if you want to join the group for a nature walking tour Of furlo gorge, replete with a pristine lake and history-filled cathedral of towering mountains, or lounge in your room or by the pool, or search for the fruiting pomegranate trees. After this, and more espresso of course, we plan to meet our hosts with a hearty lunch to help recover the calories lost. (It's actually more like a 2 mile leisurely walk on a flat road, but still... lunch!) Afterwards, we are planning to have a crash course lesson in speaking the language, so you're armed with confidence as you interact with this very authentic, not heavily touristed pocket of Italy. Intentionally chosen for ambience, location, and food, we will enjoy dinner together.
Day 4: Breakfast again! Or maybe not if you stayed up too late with your newfound friends and endless glasses of wine. Either way, after breakfast we are headed to the market in Fano to shop and stroll and attempt those new language skills. After the stroll, we will have lunch in the old town, and head back to the villa. Between this excursion and dinner, we will likely sneak in some olive oil or wine tasting. Depending on thew group, we could also do a little floral demo as we prepare to set the table in the olive grove and enjoy dinner overlooking the valley. This will likely be a diner en blanc, en rose, or en noir... whatever we choose, it will be photo worthy and unforgettable!
Day 5: The days here will continue to go on in sublime relaxation and pleasure... This day will provide us with breakfast and another cooking class, after which we will enjoy lunch together and retire to rooms to prepare for another city on a hill experience, finished with a beautiful meal as our final farewell.
Day 6: Breakfast and goodbyes and let's do it again next year and every year!
BEST WAY TO GET THERE: We suggest flying into Bologna, spending a leisurely night to shake off the much despised travel day, and taking a train to Fano, where we will organize a pick up time and have a driver ready to collect the group and arrive at Villa tombolina. Conversely, you can arrange you own transportation if you prefer.
Included in price: The pricing includes all meals, all lodging, all pre-arranged group transportation, and all excursions during the retreat days.
lodging: Each room is very different, but they all contain their own en suite bathroom. the rooms within the buildings are easily sharable for two or more guests, making it a very fun option for a sleepover with friends, an intimate couple's nest in a private cottage, an easy room to share with a new fellow retreater, or in perfect solitude alone. Beds are european, and therefore similar to U.S. sizes, but not quite as large. some with new mattresses, some with thick mattress toppers. Each room offers Air conditioning and heat.
HELPFUL FAQS
Important Info
These are just a few snapshots of a couple of the rooms. ONce booked, we can chat about what type of room is right for you.
Where Will I Sleep
single
double
Double
private cottage
september, 2024
le marche, Italy
meet your
hosts
Teressa has an eye for cultivating the most inviting experiences adorned with magical florals and an unmatched sense of food creations that pair with any setting. Whether it’s creating a beautiful feast or a stunning table setting no one is soon to forget, she weaves her talent into every last detail. Her work has been featured on Sunset Magazine, Camille Styles, Seattle Bride, Arch Digest and many more.
CO-HOST AND DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Teressa Johnson
Allow us to introduce ourselves: we are the Fraticelli family, a family with a rich history spanning over 100 years. The estate has been a cherished family asset throughout generations, serving various purposes in our family's endeavors.
Initially, it served as a residential center intricately linked to our farming activities. Later, it became the designated location for curing the delectable meats produced by our family. Eventually, it transformed into our beloved summer retreat, where we spent cherished moments together.
However, driven by our deep-rooted passion for cultural exchange and a desire to share our knowledge, we embarked on an ambitious endeavor to renovate the entire estate. Our goal was to create a welcoming space that could host guests from all corners of the globe, allowing us to expand our understanding and appreciation of different cultures through the art of hospitality.
Currently, the day-to-day management of the estate falls under the capable guidance of Paola and Adriana. However, true to the values of an Italian family, where collaboration is held dear, every member, from the eldest to the youngest, is always ready to lend a hand when needed.
Our sincerest hope is to make you feel like a part of our extended family, even if just for a brief moment. We warmly welcome you to our estate, eager to share our heritage, traditions, and the warmth of our hospitality.
CO-HOSTS & VENUE
