Writer's Digest Writing Retreat: Tuscany 2026

Escape to the peaceful Tuscan countryside to spend a week dedicated to making time for writing, improving your craft, and learning from publishing professionals, all while enjoying a taste of Italy.

Tour Complete

This tour occurred on April 7–April 14, 2026. Past tour information is preserved for informational purposes only. Visit Tour Highlights below to see a recap of this trip.

Itinerary

DETAILS

Day 1, Tuesday, April 7: Arrive in Florence

Tour members arrange their own transportation to Florence and to the hotel where a reservation has been made for you. Enjoy the night in Florence on your own.

Day 2, Wednesday, April 8: Morning: Travel to Tenuta di Spannocchia; Afternoon: Group Discussion

In the morning, after enjoying breakfast at the hotel (included in tour cost), the group will gather in the lobby and travel by hired coach to Tenuta di Spannocchia where we’ll spend our retreat together.

Upon arrival at Spannocchia, we’ll enjoy a buffet lunch (included in tour cost) together before checking into our rooms.* During lunch, we’ll introduce ourselves and learn more about each other’s writing and goals for the retreat.

After lunch, attendees will check into their rooms (reservations have been made for you). After a bit of down time to get settled, our Spannocchia coordinator will take us on a Castello Tour to share the layout, history, and current work of the property (included in tour cost).

Then, we’ll gather for an Ask Me Anything session with your hosts, literary agent Jessica Berg and Writer’s Digest editor Amy Jones. This session will also identify topics the group would like further instruction/information about throughout the rest of the retreat.

At 7 pm, all guests of Spannocchia are invited to gather on the terrace or in the villa living room for a glass of wine before dinner (included in tour price).

Dinner will be served family style beginning at 7:30 pm (included in tour cost).
After dinner enjoy down time chatting with other attendees, wandering the grounds, or writing.

*Please note, rooms will not be available for check-in before 2 pm.

Day 3, Thursday, April 9: Morning: Group Pasta Making Class; Afternoon: Group Writing Time

After a buffet breakfast (included in tour price), our group will participate in our own pasta making class! This will allow us to get to know each other better and experience part of the fun of staying at an organic working farm.

We’ll learn to make 3 different types of pasta and enjoy the fruits of our labor with lunch at the end of the class. (Pasta class and lunch included in tour price.)

After lunch, we’ll meet for dedicated writing time, discussions, and consultations. We’ll begin with an hour of self-directed writing time to work on whatever you’d like—an existing project or something new. Then we’ll gather back in a group to discuss the progress you’ve made and delve further into topics identified during the AMA. As time allows, Jessica and Amy will start half hour 1-1 consultations with participants.

At 7 pm, all guests of Spannocchia are invited to gather on the terrace or in the villa living room for a glass of wine before dinner. Dinner will be served family style beginning at 7:30 pm (included in tour cost).

After dinner enjoy down time chatting with other attendees, wandering the grounds, or writing.

Day 4, Friday, April 10: Morning: 1-1 Consultations and Writing Time; Afternoon: Optional Taste the Farm Tour

In the morning, enjoy a buffet breakfast (included in tour cost), then we’ll meet as a group to begin our writing session. We’ll begin with another discussion on a topic identified during the AMA session. Following that, Jessica and Amy will continue with the half-hour 1-1 consultations. While 1-1s are happening, make the most of writing time on your own or pair up with another attendee to hold each other accountable.

A buffet lunch will begin at 12:30 (included in tour price.)

After lunch, you can choose from one of two options. You could choose to participate in an optional group activity, the Taste the Farm Tour (not included in tour price) during which you’ll experience more of Spannacchia as a working farm, including trying their wines, olive oil, and a selection of 6 house-made salumi. Or you could opt for more individual writing time. Jessica and Amy will continue with half-hour 1-1 consultations as needed, lead writing sprints, and/or facilitate another group discussion on a topic decided during the AMA.

After dinner enjoy down time chatting with other attendees, wandering the grounds, or writing.

Day 5, Saturday, April 11: All Day: Trip to Siena

After a buffet breakfast (included in tour cost), a hired coach (also included in tour cost) will take our group into Siena for a day exploring this charming and scenic city.

Spend the day wandering the city on your own, people watching on the Piazza del Campo, or writing at the park at the top of the hill looking over the countryside. Enjoy lunch on your own (not included in tour price) before meeting the group for the ride back in the afternoon.

If you’d rather not visit Siena, you can opt to stay at Spannocchia for a relaxing day to yourself.
At 7 pm, all guests of Spannocchia are invited to gather on the terrace or in the villa living room for a glass of wine before dinner. Dinner will be served family style beginning at 7:30 pm (included in tour cost).

After dinner enjoy down time chatting with other attendees, wandering the grounds, or writing.

Day 6, Sunday, April 12: Morning: Writing Time; Afternoon: Group Discussion and Open Mic

In the morning, enjoy a buffet breakfast (included in tour cost) before group writing time. We’ll begin with one hour of self-directed writing time to work on whatever you’d like. That time will be followed by a group discussion on a topic chosen during the AMA or something that has come up during the week.

At 12:30, enjoy a buffet lunch (included in tour price).

After lunch, we’ll gather for a final group chat to discuss the progress made and enjoy a happy hour Open Mic during which, anyone who would like to share a piece of their writing with the group may do so.

After dinner enjoy down time chatting with other attendees, wandering the grounds, or writing. Don’t forget to pack your bags!

Day 7, Monday, April 13: Morning: Travel to Florence; Afternoon: Explore Florence on Your Own

After enjoying a buffet breakfast (included in tour price), a hired coach will take us to our hotel in Florence where a reservation has been made for each attendee.

Check into the hotel in Florence, then venture out into the city to enjoy lunch on your own and time exploring or finding a piazza or garden to write in.

Enjoy dinner on your own.

Day 8, Tuesday, April 14: Departure

As our retreat comes to a close, we hope you continue to find writing inspiration from our time together. Tour members can choose to return home or continue traveling on their own. (Transport to the Florence airport is included in the tour price; transport to any other destination is at your own expense.)

Hotel Accommodations:

April 7: One night at a hotel in Florence
April 8 – 13: 5 nights at Tenuta di Spannocchia
Tenuta di Spannocchia is a historic estate dating back to 1225. It is currently a working organic farm and retreat center focused on the arts, culture, writing, etc., located 12 miles from Siena. The coordinators of Tenuta di Spannocchia describe the property in the following way: “Accommodations, facilities, and services at the Castello are designed for comfort and convenience but are not luxurious. The primary goal of the entire estate of Tenuta di Spannocchia is the preservation of its historic and rustic character; as a result, visitors will enjoy one of the most beautiful and tranquil spots on earth, but should understand that Spannocchia is truly rural and not a vacation resort—it is a working historic farm, a wildlife preserve, and an educational center.”
April 13: One night at a hotel in Florence

Food & Dining:

The restaurant at Spannocchia highlights the local cuisine, where the fruits of the earth are treated with care and respect, enjoyed in a relaxed and convivial setting. Breakfast and lunch are set up as a self-service buffet while dinners are multi-course, family-style service, with a fixed menu that changes daily and one seating time.

Please be aware Spannocchia has one small kitchen and is not set up to provide special meals or prepare meals in isolation in the case of allergies.

They always offer nonmeat dishes for vegetarians and can provide gluten-free alternatives as needed.

If you have questions about allergies or dietary restrictions, please email writersdigestretreats@aimmedia.com or include a note on your registration form.

Accessibility:

Some of the guest rooms at Spannocchia are solely available by old, relatively steep stairs. Please let us know on your registration form if you have special accessibility needs or email writersdigestretreats@aimmedia.com with questions.

Likewise, the historic city center of Siena is formed mostly of very hilly cobblestone streets and includes strenuous walking. The day trip to Siena is optional, but please let us know if you have questions.

Coach Travel:

Transportation will be provided by a modern, comfortable coach operated by an experienced driver.

Tour Highlights

Tour Hosts

Amy Jones

Editor-in-Chief, Writer's Digest

Amy Jones is the Editor-in-Chief of Writer’s Digest and the former managing content director for Writer’s Digest Books. She is the editor of the Novel and Short Story Writer’s Market and the Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market. Prior to joining the WD team, she was the managing editor for North Light Books and IMPACT Books. When she’s not reading, Amy can be found, working on her first novel, daydreaming about Italy, or volunteering at the Ohio Alleycat Resource, her local no-kill cat shelter.

Jessica Berg

Literary Agent, Writer

Jessica Berg is a literary agent and the founder of Rosecliff Literary, a boutique agency dedicated to discovering and nurturing exceptional talent. With a Master’s in Fiction from Spalding University, Jessica brings over a decade of developmental editing experience to her work, offering a nuanced understanding of storytelling. Her career is marked by a passion for helping authors refine their narratives and find their unique place in the literary market.

At Rosecliff Literary, Jessica’s approach to agenting is collaborative and comprehensive. She focuses on key elements such as structure, character development, pacing, and thematic depth to ensure each manuscript reaches its full potential. Her detailed feedback and strategic insights help authors craft compelling, coherent, and emotionally resonant stories. Jessica’s commitment to excellence has made her a trusted partner for writers seeking to elevate their work and achieve publishing success.

In addition to her role as an agent, Jessica is a dedicated educator. She regularly conducts master classes and workshops, offering personalized coaching sessions to empower writers with the skills they need to succeed. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes a supportive and inspiring environment where writers can explore the fundamentals of narrative structure, character arcs, and thematic exploration.

Jessica’s extensive experience includes roles with literary magazines such as Second Draft, Fractured Lit, and Uncharted Magazine, where she has honed her ability to enhance narrative appeal and connect authors with their audiences. Her involvement in the literary community extends to speaking engagements at writer’s conferences, where her insights on the agenting process and the importance of narrative craft are highly valued.