RETREAT WITH Mirta

IN PUGLIA, ITALY

15th to 20th February 2027

Join me on a journey of self discovery during a slow art retreat in Puglia.

During my workshop we’ll play together on our sketchbook and loose paper, making art books and exploring different materials and using many techniques to feel free and inspired. If you’re looking for a slow paced art retreat with great food, bonfires under the stars immersed in an amazing place rich in culture and folklore join me!

ABOUT MIRTA

Two black and white silhouette illustrations, one of a tree with roots and one of a tree on a leafy branch, with a patterned background

I’m an illustrator in love with printmaking, marks making and subtle colours. I love books of any kind, I get lost in picture books. My illustrations are often about plants, little animals and imaginary creatures. I would love to leave in a tree house, that’s probably why I often draw them. What really interests me is telling the story of the reletionship between us and nature.

Those little things we barely notice, the change of light, the curling leaf, the dying flower, you’ll find them in my art

Mirta’s Website

Mirta’s Instagram

A cluttered artist's workspace with abstract and botanical artwork on the walls, a glass jar holding dried branches, a black and silver paper punch, a painted ceramic vase, and various art supplies and drawings.
Artist's sketchbook open to a page with two black ink drawings of leaves or plants on a blue watercolor background. Nearby are a small piece of paper with an artistic black and orange butterfly illustration, a wooden marker, and a smooth gray stone on a wooden surface.
Open sketchbook displaying two floral watercolor paintings, with art supplies and decorative objects on a white surface.
A workspace with various art sketches and paintings, including mountain scenes, an abstract forest, a vintage radio, and a large eye with a starry sky in the background, along with art supplies like a carving tool, rubber stamps, and a wooden box.

PUGLIA, THE RETREAT LOCATION

Puglia or Apulia, is the southernmost eastern region of Italy. Its coastline, the Adriatic in the east, the Ionian south and west, is one of the most beautiful in all of Italy, with silvery olive orchards stretching all the way to the long sandy beaches touched by the one of the clearest and cleanest seas in the Mediterranean. It is an ancient land, and one which was invaded many times in its history. One can still see towers built to ward off invaders centuries ago.

Two men walking on a dirt path in a vineyard, surrounded by green grapevines and trees, with a stone structure and hills in the background.
White Mediterranean building with potted plants on a balcony and steps leading to a door, sunny street scene.
A scenic beach with clear turquoise water, gentle waves, and a sandy shoreline under a bright blue sky.
A woman with long dark hair, wearing a red jumpsuit, stands in a narrow historic European street with stone buildings and ornate facade details, under a clear blue sky.

MASSERIA SPECULA - THE VENUE

Night scene with a fire pit in the foreground, wooden benches around it, a lit stone gate, and a building on the left side.

Carved into a gentle hill, our Masseria is surrounded by 20 hectares of exclusive private land, offering a tranquil retreat just 1km away from the enchanting shores of the Ionian Sea.

Masseria Specula is an exclusive retreat venue in Puglia, Italy, set within a beautifully restored 17th-century farmhouse dating back to 1611.

Website:

masseriaspecula.com

Instagram:

@masseriaspecula

A white Mediterranean-style building with a small balcony, black railing, and large yellow vase, with arched openings and potted plants outside, under a clear sky.
A white stone building with two arched windows and small balconies, set against a clear sky during sunset. In the foreground, a large shrub is surrounded by rocks and two lanterns are placed on the ground, with a staircase leading up to the building.
A white modern building wall on the left, with a chain-link fence and small trees along a beige stone wall in the background, and a distant view of trees, fields, and the ocean under a clear sky.
View of a stone wall and lush green shrub seen through partly open blue and white shutters on a stone building, under a clear blue sky.

THE ROOMS

Private bathrooms | Wi-Fi | AC & Heating | Double beds or single beds

Traditional Apulian stone bedroom at Masseria Specula retreat venue in Puglia, Italy
Spacious double bedroom at retreat venue in Puglia designed for yoga and wellness guests
Private ensuite bedroom at Masseria Specula with rustic charm and countryside views in southern Italy
Peaceful bedroom overlooking gardens at yoga retreat venue in Puglia, Italy

THE FOOD

At Masseria Specula, we’re lucky to have five Apulian women cook the authentic Italian recipes that their mothers taught them. We serve vegan and vegetarian food to help minimise the impact on the environment. In line with our ecological ethos, our chefs choose the best seasonal ingredients grown in the neighbouring fields.

A breakfast table with plates, croissants, pizza, cookies, jams, tea, and coffee cups, set with woven placemats and utensils.
A long dining table set for a meal in a stone room with arches, featuring plates, glasses, candles, and a centerpiece of pumpkins, oranges, lemons, and greenery.
Two women in white uniforms and hair coverings working with dough on a wooden table in a rustic kitchen.
A dining table set with woven placemats, blue and white speckled dinnerware, clear wine glasses, and white cups. A large vase with yellow flowers is in the center. The table is white with a rustic finish, and there are chairs with gray cushions.

THE PROGRAM

  • A white building with multiple stories and small windows, illuminated by sunlight, located near a stone wall and arched in the foreground, under a clear blue sky.

    DAY 1

    Welcome drinks

    Relax time

    Dinner

  • A calm body of water with a few birds floating on it, bordered by green bushes and trees, with a distant hilly shoreline under a cloudy sky.

    day 2

    Breakfast

    Workshop with Mirta

    Lunch

    Workshop with Mirta

    Relax time / beach / hikes

    Dinner

    Bonfire

  • A corner of a room with a black wooden table, a small wooden chair, a basket, and a framed picture on the table. There's a bottled water and an upside-down glass on a tray on the table. The wall is white with textured stone details, and sunlight creates shadows on the floor and table.

    day 3

    Breakfast

    Workshop with Mirta

    Lunch

    Workshop with Mirta

    Relax time / beach / hikes

    Dinner

    Bonfire

  • Historical stone church with round clock and dome, surrounded by colorful flowers and a courtyard.

    day 4

    Breakfast

    Excursion to Lecce

    Packed Lunch in Lecce

    Return to Masseria Specula

    Yoga session at the venue

    Dinner

    Bonfire

  • Watercolor painting of a forest scene with trees, birds, a fox, and a sitting figure, created on a sketchbook page, surrounded by art supplies on a wooden table.

    day 5

    Breakfast

    Workshop with Mirta

    Lunch

    Workshop with Mirta

    Relax time / beach / hikes

    Dinner

    Surprise

  • Scenic view of white cliffs with caves along a turquoise harbor, ocean with boats, and clear water revealing rocks beneath.

    day 6

    Breakfast

    Departures

BOOK YOUR SPOT

Single room at the main venue: € 2800 per person (3 spots remaining)

Shared room at the main venue (shared with 1 other person): € 2400 per person (4 spots remaining)

Shared room at the main venue (shared with 2 other PEOPLE): € 2200 per person (3 spots remaining)

Reserve your spot with a €1000 deposit.

The remaining balance is due by the 31st December 2026

What’s included:

Art classes with Mirta.

Art materials included.

Exclusive use of the entire property including all common areas, workshop spaces and gardens.

Accommodation at Masseria Specula.

All meals (freshly prepared breakfasts, home cooked lunches & dinners).

Complimentary water, coffee, tea.

Day trip to Lecce.

Self guided hikes to the beach or to a natural salt lake where flamingoes live.

Roundtrip airport transfer from/to Brindisi Airport (BDS) at one prearranged date and time with 1 minibus for the whole group.

All tourist taxes and fees.

What’s not included:

Airplane tickets.

Travel insurance.

Airport pick-up / drop-off from airports other than Brindisi Airport.

Anything not listed in the “What’s Included“ section above.

Send us a message to reserve your place: