Duende Immersion | April 2027
Florence, Italy
From the Duomo to the David — Find Your Florentine Self
Florence has a way of drawing something out of you.
In April, as the city softens into spring and settles into a more spacious rhythm, it becomes the perfect setting not just to see, but to feel. Our program is built around shared experience: a small group moving through the city together where conversation, connection, and a deep sense of belonging shape each day as much as the place itself.
The Experience
Florence, Like a Local
The intention behind Duende Immersions is to enable you to discover a side of Firenze’s historic center that goes beyond the standard tourist experience.
A lifetime in Florence wouldn’t be enough, but we’ve carefully curated each week to include exclusive, signature Duende Immersion moments you simply can’t recreate on your own. From iconic landmarks like the Duomo and the Uffizi Gallery to artisan neighborhoods and world-class cuisine, we’ll make sure you’ve had your fill of Florence—and that you feel more like a local than a visitor by the time you say arrivederci.
With the support of our on-site concierge and local guides you’ll enjoy the city of Florence on a deeper level, revelling in what tourists often lack: the ability to truly take your time.
Week by Week
Become Part of Florence’s Charm
By spending an extended amount of time in the city, you’ll naturally connect with a side of Florence’s mystique that remains inaccessible from the average traveler.
You’ll slip behind the scenes into Florence’s ateliers, stepping into working studios and meeting the master craftspeople and artisans who are keeping centuries-old traditions alive right now. And because the magic doesn’t end at sunset, you’ll also have the option to join evening events—concerts, performances, and spontaneous, delightful outings we curate on site—so your evenings in Florence feel just as rich and memorable as your days.
Find Your Tribe
Community is the real luxury
From the moment you arrive, you’re folded into a small circle of women who are just as curious, thoughtful, and open-hearted as you are.
Living abroad can be exquisite, but it can also be lonely. New streets, new language, new routines — and no one to text for an impromptu aperitivo. Duende Immersions was created to remove that ache.
These weeks are conducive to creating an intimate group of women sharing a temporary life together — noticing the same sunsets, getting lost in the same side streets, laughing over the same bottle of Chianti.
Duende is designed so you don’t just collect photos — you collect people.
The Duende Immersion Experience
Discovery and Connection, all curated for you.
The weekly plans we’ve organized for you is just the beginning!
In addition to these anchor experiences, you’ll also have the option to join evening events—concerts, performances, and spontaneous, delightful outings that we curate on site—so your nights in Florence feel just as magical as your days. (Wine window tour anyone?)
Behind-the-scenes access to Florence’s ateliers, where you’ll step into working studios and meet the master craftspeople and artisans keeping centuries-old traditions alive
Guided culinary walk through Florence, tasting your way from markets to hidden trattorie
Weekly countryside escapes to gems like Chianti and San Gimignano, complete with a curated tasting and long lunch at renowned wineries
Skip-the-line museum experience with local experts
The Excursions
Exploring Tuscany’s Timeless Treasures
You’ll spend one day a week enjoy Tuscany’s rich history visiting iconic Tuscan towns. From medieval towers to Renaissance ideals, San Gimignano, Siena and Pienza each offer a unique journey through Italy’s cultural heritage. We’ll even explore bella Umbria, Tuscany’s lesser-known but no less beautiful sister.
Pienza
Uncover the charm of Pienza, known as the "ideal Renaissance town," crafted by Enea Silvio Piccolomini, later Pope Pius II. He transformed his humble birthplace, Corsignano, into a Utopian city reflecting the classical ideals and spirit of the Italian Renaissance.
San Gimignano
Discover the medieval charm of San Gimignano, famous for its iconic skyline of ancient towers, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its unique architecture and exceptional 14th- and 15th-century frescoes. Wander its cobblestone streets, where history and beauty meet at every turn. With rich heritage, art, and culture, San Gimignano offers an unforgettable journey back in time.
Siena
Siena is Tuscany at its most timeless—a perfectly preserved medieval hill town where terracotta rooftops, sloping alleys, and sunlit brick squares feel like stepping into another century. Centered around the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and its soaring Torre del Mangia, the city moves at a slower, more deliberate pace, inviting you to wander without a plan, and soak in its quiet magic.
Perugia
Perugia is Umbria’s quietly magnetic hilltop capital, a place where everyday Italian life and centuries of history blend effortlessly. Perched above rolling green valleys, its stone streets, grand piazzas, and Etruscan walls create a lived-in beauty that feels both intimate and authentic. Known for its chocolate, jazz, and deep cultural roots, Perugia offers a more understated, soulful side of central Italy—perfect for lingering, wandering, and settling into the rhythm of local life.
The Accommodation
A Private Palazzo
in the Heart of Florence
There’s the option to self-source your own accommodation, or, for a more seamless experience, opt into our Duende apartments and feel the full charm of effortless immersion experience.
Florence in a prestigious palazzo where history meets modern comfort. Situated in the city center, you can easily explore landmarks like the Florence Cathedral and Uffizi Gallery.
Meet Your Language Instructor
Elisa
If you decide you’d like to opt into the language component, you’ll have the pleasure of working with Elisa, an Italian language educator and the founder of Elisa’s Italian School.
Originally from Milano, she helps people feel more at home in Italy through language, culture, and everyday experiences.
She has guided students from around the world to communicate naturally and feel confident in real-life situations, so they can move through Italy with ease and truly enjoy the experience.
Try on your life abroad
Choose Your Florence Chapter
Below you’ll find the different ways to join us in Florence.
Whether you’re staying a week or a full month, each option includes curated hosting, cultural connection, and our signature Duende touch. Stays for multiple weeks have pro-rated pricing. (It’s actually cheaper to stay longer!)
Stay…
One Week
from £1950 per person
Choose any week
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Find your own accommodation but enjoy the benefits of the planned activities, group dinners and excursions.
£1,950 per person for the week
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Stay in a centrally-located, shared boutique apartment with beautiful furnishings and high-quality linens and bedding. You and your roommate have your own ensuite bathroom.
£3,100 per person (pro-rated pricing available upon request for multiple weeks)
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Stay in a centrally-located, shared boutique apartment with beautiful furnishings and high-quality linens and bedding. Your private room has its own ensuite bathroom.
£4,100 per person (pro-rated pricing available upon request for multiple weeks)
Two Weeks
from £3700 per person
Choose any 2 weeks
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Find your own accommodation but enjoy the benefits of the planned activities, group dinners and excursions.
£3,700 per person for two weeks
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Stay in a centrally-located, shared boutique apartment with beautiful furnishings and high-quality linens and bedding. You and your roommate have your own ensuite bathroom.
£5,900 per person for two weeks
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Stay in a centrally-located, shared boutique apartment with beautiful furnishings and high-quality linens and bedding. Your private room has its own ensuite bathroom.
£7,800 per person for two weeks
Three Weeks
from £5260 per person
Choose the 1st or the last 3 weeks
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Find your own accommodation but enjoy the benefits of the planned activities, group dinners and excursions.
£5,260 per person for three weeks
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Stay in a centrally-located, shared boutique apartment with beautiful furnishings and high-quality linens and bedding. You and your roommate have your own ensuite bathroom.
£8,500 per person for three weeks
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Stay in a centrally-located, shared boutique apartment with beautiful furnishings and high-quality linens and bedding. Your private room has its own ensuite bathroom.
£11,300 per person for three weeks
Four Weeks
from £6600 per person
The full Florentine experience
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Find your own accommodation but enjoy the benefits of the planned activities, group dinners and excursions.
£6,600 per person for one month
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Stay in a centrally-located, shared boutique apartment with beautiful furnishings and high-quality linens and bedding. You and your roommate have your own ensuite bathroom.
£11,200 per person for one month
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Stay in a centrally-located, shared boutique apartment with beautiful furnishings and high-quality linens and bedding. Your private room has its own ensuite bathroom.
£14,800 per person for one month
*Self-sourced: you arrange your own accommodation in Florence; Duende provides the full immersion experience, community, and hosting.
Included in Every Duende Immersion
No matter how you choose to stay, every Duende guest receives:
Limited spots available
Reserve with a 25% deposit
Flexible payment plans available
What Community Looks Like at Duende
At Duende, connection isn’t left to chance.
Thoughtful Group Sizes
We intentionally keep numbers low and curate for fit, so you’re surrounded by women who are here for depth, not drama.
The Perfect Social Rhythm
Gentle daily and weekly touchpoints — coffee meet-ups, guided walks, aperitivo evenings, shared dinners — make it effortless to slip into connection, even if you’re introverted or a little shy at first.
A Host Who “Holds the Room”
You’re not left hovering at the edge of a group. Your Duende host is there to make introductions, read the energy, and help friendships form naturally.
FAQs
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This is for the curious minded, slow-traveller who wants to take her time and get to know her surroundings and those she’s sharing it with. While men are welcome, we envision 99.9% of our immersion clientele will be female.
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Yes. When you register and pay your nonrefundable deposit, you can opt into setting up a payment plan.
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Deposits are nonrefundable unless there's a waiting list and someone would like to take your spot. In the case we are able to sell your spot, you will be refunded your deposit, less £250 admin / transaction fees.
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The full itinerary will be sent to you about a month prior to departure. If you have specific questions regarding the excursions, please do reach out to us.
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In the event you’d like to bring your partner or husband, we recommend arranging your own accommodation. Please note that, to maintain group cohesion and a consistent experience, participation in Duende Immersion activities and events is limited to enrolled guests only, and we’re unable to accommodate non-participants on an ad hoc basis.
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Yes, absolutely. We offer custom, add-on itineraries for those who'd like to spend a few days exploring on either end of the trip. You can opt in during the registration process or write to us at duende@duenderetreats.com and we'll help with a bespoke itinerary suited to exactly what you're looking for.
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Yes, we have a separate price point for self-sourced accommodation. Please note that Duende cannot help with any property issues if booked through a third party.
