ROMANCING THE WRITER
Puglia Writer’s Retreat
immersive writing experience
FIVE DAY
JUNE
1st-6th
the
EXPERIENCE
Is your life idling for a creative fire? Our writing retreats are designed to ignite your inner flame. We’ll use our human experience to craft essays, short stories, memoirs, and poems. Our days will be spent in a lovingly restored 16th-century farmhouse, set amidst 130 hectares of olive groves and vineyards. We will be immersed in our writing practice, meditating, exploring the local villages, enjoying the beach and connecting with our literary selves. We will also experience delicious meals and local flavors. You set the tempo here, time is all yours.
the
INSPIRATION
Creativity, like love, flourishes when nurtured with tenderness, intrigue, and a touch of the unexpected. Writing isn’t just a discipline—it’s a seduction, a dance between inspiration and expression. To romance your inner writer is to create the conditions for magic. To trade the humdrum for beauty, to treat your craft like a beloved muse. feeding it with rich experiences and stolen moments of stillness. Writing cannot thrive on deadlines and caffeine alone; it needs moonlit walks, half-forgotten dreams, and the intoxicating thrill of putting the right words in the right order.
the
INTENTION
Puglia is a land of stories: whispered in the winding alleyways of Ostuni, etched into the weathered facades of baroque Lecce, and carried on the wind through fields of wild fennel and prickly pear. There’s a poetry to the way light spills over trulli rooftops at golden hour, how the scent of freshly baked focaccia mingles with the salty air, and how the horizon dissolves into the Adriatic like the end of a well-written sentence. We are deeply inspired by this place, like the great poets and writers before us. Writing that is rooted in place is writing that transforms.
LOCATION
the
Masseria Potenti is a lovingly restored 16th-century farmhouse, located in the heart of Puglia, Italy. Set amidst 130 hectares of olive groves and vineyards, it is just a short drive from the Ionian Sea. Family owned and loved for generations, the Masseria embodies rustic elegance and a bohemian soul.
Every corner is a study in effortless charm—whitewashed walls, weathered wooden doors, and flowing linen curtains billowing in the breeze. The rooms are a dreamy fusion of tradition and modernity, with artisanal ceramics, antique furnishings, and sun-drenched terraces that beckon for slow mornings of tea and morning pages.
Days unfold at a leisurely pace: a dip in the turquoise pool, a long lunch under vine-covered pergolas, and golden afternoons spent wandering the nearby villages or the beaches of the Ionian coast. At night, our candlelit dinners celebrate Puglia’s rich culinary heritage—think hand-rolled orecchiette, just-caught seafood, and olive oil pressed from the very trees that surround you.
WRITING SESSIONS
immersive
Our writing sessions are truly for writers of all levels. While they will draw you out of your comfort zone (where most good writing happens), they are also a supportive container for experimentation and exploration. We’ve spent years designing an experience that balances craft and creativity.
Our goal is to help you unlock your creative potential and connect to your authentic voice. We lead guided intuitive sessions like Owning Your Story and More Than Memoir, as well as craft & form workshops like The Lyrical Essay, Poetry Play, and so many more.
Learning in a setting outside of everything you've ever known, surrounded by new perspectives and life-changing experiences, is at the core of what makes our retreats so special.
TOGETHER
our time
A bird’s-eye view of how we will spend our days. Every morning begins with silent morning pages and tea. There is ample time throughout your stay to write, rest, and explore. This is only a sample schedule; it is always subject to change.
1st — Arrival Day
We officially begin at 5 p.m. with an Opening Circle and Welcome Dinner—a time to settle in, connect, and set our intentions for the retreat.
2nd — Let’s Write
We begin with a noble silence of tea and morning pages, followed by a grounding yoga session to help us tune in. Today, we dive into two essential writing workshops, sparking inspiration, generating new ideas, and building confidence in our craft.
3rd — Balance Is Everything
Our morning yoga practice will set the tone for a day of creativity and flow. After a writing workshop, the afternoon is yours—to explore, meet for one-on-one sessions, write, or simply be. As the sun sets, we’ll gather for an aperitivo and one of our favorite poetry workshops.
4th — Make It Sing
Today’s workshop will guide you through rhythm, voice, and creative flow, helping you fall in love with your writing all over again. In the afternoon, expect an adventure beyond the retreat space, where we’ll immerse ourselves in the local culture, gather inspiration, and experience storytelling in a new way.
5th — Bring It All Together
It’s hard to believe it’s our last full day. The morning begins with a generative writing session. Later, we’ll meet for a talk on publishing, life after the retreat, and sustaining creative momentum. After our Closing Dinner, we celebrate our journey with an open mic session—our favorite part!
6th — Sweet Goodbyes
One final delicious breakfast before we part ways, carrying our words, inspiration, and new connections back into the world.
what’s included
Accommodations for five nights
All meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
All writing workshops
Daily movement and yoga sessions
Arrival gift bag
Optional one-on-one sessions with leaders
Open mic night
not included
*Airfare, alcohol, taxis, additional services
your
guides
erin rose belair
Erin co-founded Trust and Travel and has been running and teaching retreats since 2019. Facilitating experience is one of the deep passions of her life. She is the author of the lyrical essay collection The Blue Years, an MFA graduate, and a professor from BSU. Her short stories have been widely published and won awards with Glimmer Train and Narrative. She is in the final stages of editing and submitting her novel, Culling. She is a mother.
Jade is a Brazilian-born writer, journalist, and the founder of Trust & Travel. She is known for her extensive work in travel writing and storytelling. Over the past decade she has contributed to publications such as Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Monocle, among others. Jade uses her gift with words to foster human connection through the exploration of language. She leads retreats and teaches writing internationally.
jade moyano
Reservations & Rooms
Whitewashed walls, vaulted ceilings, and antique wooden doors welcome you to your a serene bedroom. Each space feels carefully considered—furnished with handpicked vintage pieces, locally crafted ceramics, and woven textiles that nod to Puglia’s artisanal heritage.
Some rooms open onto private terraces, shaded by fig trees and trailing bougainvillea, while others feature deep stone bathtubs that invite slow, end-of-day rituals.
Email erin@wetrustandtravel.com if you would like to inquire about booking a shared bed, payment plans, or other accommodations on the property.
getting
TO US
The closest airports to Masseria Potenti are:
Brindisi Airport (BDS) – 50-minute drive (approx. 60 km)
Bari Airport (BRI) – 2-hour drive (approx. 160 km)
Both airports have car rental options and private transfer services. A car is highly recommended for exploring the area. We’d also be happy to coordinate shuttles so that guests who arrive at the same time can travel together. The drive is special, definitely savor it and make many stops.
FAQs
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There is wifi at the venue, but we do mind and follow intentional phone practices. We require no phones during workshop or at any meals. We request the rest of the week that you leave your phone in your room or only use it very intentionally. This decision has been made after years of retreats and our quest to be present during this experience.
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Check in is at 3:00pm, check out is at 11:00am. The retreat officially starts at 5pm on June 1st.
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Citizens from many countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, and most European nations, can visit Italy for up to 90 days without a visa.
Always verify your visa requirements based on your passport and the duration of your planned stay in Italy.
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Absolutely. The retreat is designed to ignite your creative potential, whether you have experience writing or not. Workshops are designed to nurture all levels.
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Yes. If you are traveling alone and book a shared room, we pair you with a roommate.
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We do regularly offer scholarships. We cannot guarantee a full scholarship on every retreat, in which case we will offer a partial scholarship. Apply on our website menu.
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We do offer a limited number of payment plans. Please email erin@wetrustandtravel.com to inquire.