The Retreat Experience
Meditation, pilgrimage, reflection,
and the simple peace of Assisi.
A Gentle Rhythm
6 days, 5 nights
Each Assisi retreat unfolds over six days and five nights, with a gentle rhythm of heart-centered meditation, contemplative walks to sacred sites, shared time together, and spacious afternoons for rest and exploration.
There is time to read, wander through gardens and olive groves, discover quiet back streets, or simply receive the peace of this ancient hilltop town. Our small groups create an intimate experience while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds.
Pilgrims have journeyed to Assisi for centuries, drawn by the peace associated with Saint Francis and Saint Clare and by the countless prayers offered here across generations. We enter into that tradition in our own simple way: with gentleness, openness, and a willingness to receive.
May the special peace of Assisi give us shelter to discover life’s true treasure: peace and love in the depths of our hearts.
Your Home in Assisi
In the heart of Assisi
Our retreats are based at Hotel Posta Panoramica, just steps from Piazza del Comune in the historic center of Assisi. From here, the town unfolds around you on foot: ancient cobblestone streets, quiet gardens, medieval pathways, cafés, churches, and views across the Umbrian countryside.
When you arrive, you’ll receive a personal welcome from your retreat leader, along with directions through the hotel’s garden to the secret gate that leads to our meditation center.
As you settle in, the retreat has already begun. Slow down from your travels. Breathe. Wander the ancient streets. Watch the sunlight move through the olive trees. With each day, there is an invitation to become more present to the special peace of Assisi.
A Day on Retreat
Practice, explore, rest, and receive
Each day unfolds with a gentle rhythm of heart-centered meditation, contemplative walks, spacious afternoons, and time to experience Assisi in your own way.
Mornings begin with breakfast and meditation at our retreat center, followed by a gentle walk to one of Assisi’s sacred sites. Along the way, we pause in quiet chapels, gardens, and olive groves to continue our practice surrounded by the beauty and stillness of this ancient town.
Afternoons offer a balance of meditation, another sacred walk, and spacious time to rest or explore on your own. You may return to a favorite chapel, wander the back streets, sit in a café, attend Mass or Vespers, listen to the sisters sing at Santa Chiara, or hear the monks chant at San Damiano.
Evenings bring us back together for meditation, with time afterward for dinner and rest. Three shared group meals are included during the retreat, while other meals offer an opportunity to enjoy Assisi’s cafés and restaurants at your own pace.
The exact daily rhythm varies as we allow time for the experience of Assisi itself.
Walking the Sacred Landscape
Pilgrimage through the places of Saint Francis and Saint Clare.
Along with daily heart-centered meditation at our retreat center, we take gentle walks to Assisi’s sacred sites, pausing along the way to meditate and receive the particular beauty and spirit of each place.
(Taxi transportation is available for those who need or prefer it.)
San Damiano
Bascilica di San Francesco
Basilica Santa Chiara
Porziucula, Santa Maria degli Angeli
Mountain Hermitage of St Francis ~ Eremo delle Carceri
Birthplace of St. Francis
A Home for Many Paths
As a nonprofit organization, Assisi Retreats is dedicated to creating a welcoming contemplative space that honors each person's own path. From the beginning, our inclusive retreats have welcomed people of many faiths, spiritual traditions, and backgrounds.
Assisi itself embodies this spirit. Inspired by the radical simplicity and open heart of Saint Francis and Saint Clare, we gather here not around a particular doctrine, but around the shared human capacity for presence, peace, love, and the sacred.
MEET OUR INTERFAITH TEACHING TEAM →
LEARN ABOUT HOW WE BEGAN →
How to Be a Pilgrim
Listening from the Heart
The resident doves above our meditation room.
The Practice of Receiving
The essence of sacred pilgrimage is to practice receiving. To become gentle, open, and present to what is here: to nature, to one another, and to the quiet presence of Assisi.
The Practice of Listening
Whatever you are doing, practice listening instead of thinking. When you walk, listen. When you eat, listen. When you rest, listen to the sounds of Assisi.
Perhaps Assisi is Calling You
Explore upcoming retreat dates and begin planning your journey.