Slow Tides: Culinary Retreat
Calabria, Italy
October 4-10, 2026
Master the art of slow living
Join us for a retreat in Calabria, one of Italy’s most underrated regions on the coast of the Ionian Sea.
You will spend a week diving into its food culture celebrating one of the most agriculturally abundant regions of Italy. Daily cooking lessons will emphasize fresh ingredients produced by farmers we know by name. You’ll learn traditional recipes and techniques that make sense for the season we’re in, and leave with renewed inspiration for your own kitchen.
With the beach as your backdrop, you can expect outdoor cooking lessons, daily ocean time, and local cultural activities. Think long lunches, local markets, family recipes, good wine, and unhurried conversations.
The beginning of October is a perfect time for you to take a breath, slow your pace, and allow yourself time to reflect, connect, and get inspired before we move into the winter months.
What you can expect
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6 nights at Le Torre S. Antonio Dimora Storica, a restructured castle on the beach
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3 all-inclusive meals, daily
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Great wine and non-alcoholic drinks
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Optional morning yoga hosted on the beach
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Daily cooking classes
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Southern Italian recipes and techniques to bring back to your home kitchen
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A boat excursion on the Ionian Sea
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A historical tour of a medieval town
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An olive grove tour and explanation of olive oil production
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Pizza lesson taught by an Italian chef
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Welcome gifts to settle into the week
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Daily time for yourself to spend swimming, journaling, reading, and relaxing on the beach
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An opportunity to connect with a new group of friends
A typical day
Morning
Start your day waking up on the beach. Maybe you join us for a relaxed optional yoga session or maybe you prefer a solo walk near the water before coming to breakfast for an Italian coffee and local pastry.
As a group we will walk to the venue for our daily lesson. Classes are a relaxed, hands-on experience perfect for any level of home cook.
You can expect to learn traditional Italian and local recipes unique to Calabria, with an emphasis on what makes Italian food so great: it’s fresh, it’s local, and it’s made in harmony with the season.
After a few hours of lesson and taste testing, we will adjourn for lunch on the beach with optional wine.
Afternoon
The beach will be calling in the afternoon. You’ll have some time for yourself to read or journal near the sea.
You can then expect a late afternoon activity including: wandering the groves of a local olive oil farm or making pizza in a local wood fire oven.
Evening
Dinner will be different every night, in an effort to give you exposure to all types of classic Italian dishes. Expect lots of delicious food, good wine, and stunning views.
Stay on the coast
Accommodation is included in the price. You will be staying at Le Torre S. Antonio Dimora Storica, a restructured 18th century castle on the beach of Santa Catarina dello Ionio in Calabria. Rooms will be available in villas surrounding the castle.
There are private or shared villa options. A shared villa includes 2 private bedrooms, a shared living space and a shared bathroom.
There are also shared villas with a private bedroom, a shared living space, and 2 private bathrooms. This is a great if you want to come with someone or want an affordable option and are open to making a friend.
The private villas include your own bedroom and private bathroom.
Meet your hosts
Justine Banbury
Justine left her corporate job in the States and moved to Italy in 2024 to follow her dream of learning to cook. Since then she has trained in bakeries, restaurants, pizza places, and homes of Italians in Calabria, Bologna, Veneto, and Rome.
Her passion for meeting new people and learning new cultures has kept her abroad. That, along with her love of Italian cooking, has led her to create A Tavola Retreats.
These retreats are her attempt to share the magic she has found in the Italian food culture: cooking following the seasons, using what is locally available, and creating community doing what you love.
Elia Fregola
Elia was born in Rome and studied in Italy and Malta. After a decade traveling the world for corporate business, he was eventually pulled by the culture of Southern Italy. He bought and rebuilt an abandoned house in the medieval village of Santa Caterina dello Ionio in Calabria, and decided to adopt the Southern Italian slow lifestyle.
Time is the most valuable asset here- time to cook every meal with intention, time to enjoy the nature around you, and time to sleep. He has seen firsthand the benefits this concept of time has brought to his own life. As an ex-Human Resources director and entrepreneur, he tries to share the new spirit and harmony he has found with the people around him.
Pricing:
Early bird pricing (ends August 15) 1900 € (private room with shared living space and shared bathroom) or 2100 € (private room with private bathroom).
Regular pricing: 2100 € (private room with shared living space and shared bathroom) or 2400 € (private room with private bathroom).
To reserve your spot, please fill out the form below. We will connect with you as soon as possible with all information about logistics and payment. Thank you!
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Flights are not included. You will need to coordinate and purchase your own flight.
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Any travel / medical insurance
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Flights should be booked into Lamezia Terme (SUF).
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We will provide bus shuttle options at specific times to accommodate your arrival and departure.
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Transportation to the retreat’s designated activities will be included.
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You should plan to arrive during the day on Sunday, October 4 and our first scheduled activity will be a welcome dinner on Sunday night.
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Activities will conclude Friday night, October 9 then breakfast will be included before departure on Saturday, October 10.
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Weather in October should still be very nice, pack as you would for 70 degrees. Also having a few options for cooler evenings can be helpful.
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We will be on the beach, so a swimsuit and your beach towel are optional but obviously recommended!
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Cooking classes will be conducted outside near the beach (weather permitting). Aprons will be provided, but we also recommend bringing a set of clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.