2025 RETREATS

Bland Badger’s retreats in Umbria, Italy
hosted by charlotte bland and ros badger

Designer and maker Ros Badger and photographer Charlotte Bland joined forces in 2018 to create Bland Badger, producing creative house party retreats at Villa Pia in the Italian countryside. The aim of the retreats is for people to step away and reconnect with their creativity in a beautiful location with a relaxed programme of optional workshops.

There is a balance between relaxing and enjoying the villa’s stunning setting and taking part in creative workshops and excursions to local museums and markets, in a peaceful area rich in Renaissance art and architecture.

Bland Badger guests travel from all over the world, often returning year-on-year to spend time in this nurturing environment.

A Bland Badger retreat is a holiday and we like to remind you during your stay that nothing is compulsory. In 2025 we have a series of creative workshops, including silver clay making, collaging, floral and cooking classes, painting and photography, with a maximum of 20 guests in each week.

The spring retreat includes an excursion to Florence and in the autumn we take you to the oldest antiques market in Italy Fiera Antiquaria di Arezzo.

“The best part is the creative freedom the retreat offers. You can do as much or as little as you like.”  Caroline Craig, British Airways’ High Life magazine

FROM OUR GUESTS

“One of the most influential weeks of creative workshops I’ve attended came packaged as the Bland Badger retreat. I cannot begin to describe the impact it had on me as an artist and as a person”.
Haley, South Carolina, USA

“I am a repeat customer because this retreat is just amazing! The creative classes are the perfect antidote to my busy mind. A place to be inspired and to relax in equal measure. I highly recommend”.
Amanda, Edinburgh, Scotland

“I have been indulged 6 years in a row by the magical Bland Badger retreat. The workshops are run by an amazing team of tutors. Do as much or as little as you wish. A week at Villa Pia extends the summer in beautiful surroundings and the warm and joyful atmosphere creates a very special experience”.
Caroline, London, England

LIFE AT VILLA PIA

The kitchen is the heart of Villa Pia, in true house party style you will often find your fellow guests there, making early morning coffee and tea in pyjamas, sitting by the fire after a swim or putting the world to rights with a late night digestif. There is 24 hour access to snacks, fruit, aperitivos, wine, beer and soft drinks and unlimited use of the wonderful Villa Pia coffee machine (you will be an accomplished barista in no time).

In the main house there are communal rooms for dining, and space for you to relax and chat or read a book in the library. The house opens out onto the courtyard – perfect for time outdoors, with an aperitivo. 

You are welcomed as a friend into the environment of the villa, nothing feels off limits and nowhere is out of bounds. The villa’s staff take care of everything so you can immerse yourself in the week and leave feeling creatively fulfilled and relaxed.

THE FOOD

It’s hard to describe just how good the food is at Villa Pia. The local cooks create dishes with seasonal, local produce, using recipes that have been passed down to them for generations.

Continental breakfast is served in the dining room, lunch is buffet-style with an extensive selection and plenty of vegetarian options.

Dinner is four courses, served by the friendly Villa Pia staff. Don’t be fooled by the pasta course as that is just the ‘primo’, the main course or ‘secondo’ is still to come.