Meet Gianluca Avanzato
Gianluca brings a background in spiritual care and interfaith studies to this retreat, along with experience working with people from a wide range of cultural and religious traditions.
He has participated in educational programs and cultural exchange experiences in Germany, Italy, India, Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi.
Gianluca is also the founder of Viandante Journeys, through which he creates opportunities for meaningful travel, cultural exploration and personal reflection. He teaches at the university level at SUNY Oneonta, bringing his academic background and international experiences into the classroom.
His approach to spiritual exploration is welcoming and inclusive, inviting people of all faiths, backgrounds and beliefs to reflect, write and discover their own connections to the places and stories we'll encounter throughout the week.
Learn more about Gianluca and his work at Viandante Journeys.
Inside the Retreat
Seven Nights of Sacred Places, Writing & Village Life
Vallo di Nera: A Village to Call Home
For seven nights, the medieval village of Vallo di Nera will be our home. Surrounded by the green mountains of the Valnerina, it's a place of winding stone lanes, ancient churches, morning coffee at the café and friendships that make visitors feel like part of village life.
Jessica will introduce you to the people and places she has come to know over the years. We'll explore the village, visit its historic churches, stop for coffee with our friend Franca and enjoy meals together. Between outings, there's time to relax in the garden at Casa della Zia, take a walk or simply enjoy the slower pace of life here.
Sacred Writing Circles: Finding Your Own Story
Throughout the week, Gianluca will lead Sacred Writing Circles, using writing as a way to reflect, explore and connect with ourselves and one another.
We'll each have a personal Italian journal, a quaderno, to accompany us throughout the retreat. Through gentle writing prompts, conversation and quiet reflection, we'll explore themes of belonging, personal history, hope and the experiences that shape our lives.
No writing experience is necessary. This isn't about becoming a better writer. It's about making time to listen to yourself, put thoughts into words and perhaps discover something unexpected along the way.
Assisi: Following in the Footsteps of Francis and Clare
Assisi: Following in the Footsteps of Francis and Clare
We'll spend a day in Assisi, exploring the remarkable history and spiritual traditions of Saints Francis and Clare.
With a local guide, we'll visit the Basilica of Saint Francis, admire its extraordinary frescoes and learn about the people and events that shaped this important pilgrimage destination. We'll also visit the Basilica of Saint Clare and have time to wander Assisi's medieval streets.
Gianluca will offer reflections on simplicity, compassion and our relationship with the natural world. Later, we'll travel through the beautiful Valnerina to the riverside village of Scheggino for dinner before returning to Vallo.
Cascia & Norcia: Stories of Hope, Faith and Resilience
Our journey takes us into the mountains to Cascia, home of Saint Rita, whose remarkable life has inspired generations of pilgrims.
We'll visit her sanctuary and learn about her story of perseverance, forgiveness and hope. Gianluca will help us explore how these themes connect with our own experiences.
From Cascia, we'll continue to Norcia, birthplace of Saint Benedict and his sister, Saint Scholastica. We'll visit Piazza San Benedetto, learn about the Benedictine tradition and enjoy the foods and specialties for which Norcia is famous.
Fabriano: The Art of Paper and the Written Word
We'll travel to Fabriano, a town with a special connection to Gianluca's own creative and spiritual journey.
At the Paper and Watermark Museum, we'll discover the centuries-old tradition of handmade paper and the craftsmanship behind the pages that have carried people's words, stories and prayers for generations.
We'll also explore one of the area's historic spiritual sites, either the hermitage of Santa Maria di Valdisasso or the monastery of San Silvestro at Montefano.
With Gianluca's personal connections to Fabriano, this visit offers an opportunity to discover another side of central Italy, where creativity, history and spiritual life have long been intertwined.
The Abbey, the Kitchen & Life Around the Table
Some of our most memorable experiences happen close to home.
We'll visit the beautiful Abbey of San Pietro in Valle, a historic Benedictine abbey surrounded by the wooded mountains of the Valnerina. Its ancient architecture and frescoes offer a glimpse into centuries of monastic life and the traditions that shaped this region.
Back in Vallo, we'll make traditional Umbrian dishes alongside our friends at Locanda Cacio Re, prepare focaccia in the historic outdoor wood-fired oven at Casa della Zia and gather for long meals around the table.
Just a couple of minutes' walk from the house, we can also visit local cheesemaker Fabrizio Pucciotti in the morning to watch him make cheese using traditional methods.
Between the sacred places, writing circles and excursions, it's these simple experiences, the food, conversations and friendships, that make a week in Vallo di Nera something special.
