October 7–14, 2025

A restful retreat in the Italian countryside.

Che vita! What a life!

We want to invite you to join us for our first Che Vita Getaway featuring long, delicious days of refreshment and delight at a hilltop villa in Umbria, Italy.

Together, we’ll eat incredible food, see pieces of rural Italy, taste local goods of all kinds, rest, and enjoy being away from the hustle. Instead, we’ll fill our cups with beauty!

  • Hosted by Shaye and Stuart Elliott

  • Catered by local cooks

  • Curated experiences hosted by local guides

  • 7 nights, 8 days (Tuesday-Tuesday)

  • Intimate and exclusive (max 10 guests)

The region of Umbria is both quiet from mass-tourism and at the same time bursting with beauty, restaurants, cafes, and lively villages. Its easy accessibility to Rome and Florence make it the ideal place to call home for a week. The week has been filled with beautiful activities and meals - all you have you do is show up! We’ll take care of the rest.

A villa saturated in the good life. 

Come recharge with us while making new memories, seeing beautiful places, and enjoying delicious food from the heart of Italy!

Your getaway includes:

  • Catered dinners

  • A beautiful kitchen, stocked with delicious local foods for your enjoyment, along with coffee and wine

  • 7 nights in a beautiful, luxurious Italian villa just 5 minutes away from Città della Pieve

  • Private driver to and from villa from designated pickup locations

  • Visit to historic Saturday morning market

  • Farm tour and lunch at a local organic vegetable farm

  • Truffle hunting and lunch with a local Umbrian guide

  • Winery tour and tasting

  • Pasta making class with Shaye

  • Curated day trips to local villages

  • Free days to shop, hike, travel and explore Italy as you wish 

  • Gift bags upon arrival 

  • Daily apertivi 

  • Access to the heated pool on the villa property

  • Plenty of space to rest & recharge as needed

Hosted by Shaye & Stuart Elliott

I first set foot in Italy 20 years ago, wide-eyed and green to the world.

Desperately searching for a place of rest and recharge, a local Nonna opened her small kitchen to satisfy our needs. First came plates of perfectly cooked vegetables, simply dressed with oil, vinegar, and parsley. Then came slow-braised meats and tomato-dressed gnocchi, pillowy and luxurious. 

That was the moment I fell in love with Italy. 

Since then, Italy has become part of the soul of our family - it is where we draw from deep wells of heritage-based cooking and inspirational beauty. It is an ancient treasure that is still alive with vibrant people, gorgeous architecture, and flavorful, regional dishes.

We are honored and delighted to spend a week with you in the Italian countryside, and hope you will find Italy as charming and delicious as we do. Che vita - what a life!

Details & Pricing

We are eager to host a wonderful experience for you and your traveling companion in Umbria.

Your time as our guest will include housing, food, transportation to and from designated pick-up points, and optional guided tours and tastings in the area. See here for a detailed list of what’s offered.

The tour fee does not include cost of flights to or from Italy, transportation to the designated pickup locations (train, etc.), or travel insurance (though we highly recommend it!).

Because part of Italy’s charm is that work and schedules come second to food and wine, we cannot guarantee against unforeseen changes to schedule or plans, and recommend that you come with a willingness to be flexible if the need arises!

Price & Requirements

We’ve curated this experience for couples and duos. Couples, sisters, mothers and daughters, or best friends… we can’t wait to have you!

The rate for the trip is $6,997.50 per person. Due to the uniqueness of our old Italian villa, we require you to book your reservation as a duo. The couple/duo rate is for 2 people, in a shared bed, in an ensuite room at our lovely villa for $13,995 total. We have a very limited number of en suite rooms featuring two beds, to be assigned in order of booking and preference. To book this trip, a 20% deposit is required, with 40% due 6 months prior to travel and the final 40% balance due 3 months prior to travel. 

 

*Please click on the product links for all deposit and payment terms and conditions. Attendees must be at least 18 years old. If you have any health or other conditions that require a single room, please reach out to us at shaye@theelliotthomestead.com for more information and specialized pricing.

About Your Villa

Come enjoy some serious Italian style and charm in the green heart of Italy.

The 350sqm villa that has been built on the site of a derelict farmhouse, from which as many materials as possible were repurposed for the new building. The house’s unique location, tucked into the hills just five minutes from Città della Pieve, offers picture-book views towards the pretty hilltop town, a valley on one side, the Val di Chiana the other, and Tuscany beyond.

Outside, there is a large heated pool with views to match, and a path that leads through the trees to a centuries-old, original wine cellar that has been transformed into a cantina.

The property is built over three floors: four bedrooms on the first floor; kitchen, dining and living space, as well as a further double, on the ground floor; and a TV room on the lower-ground floor. The modern farmhouse aesthetic is a tactile mix of materials and a fanfare of soft lines creating a delightful interplay between circular shapes, such as the dining table, and more linear angles, such as the smooth resin stairs.

All five bedrooms sleep two and feature memory-foam mattresses with high-quality bedding. Each bedroom has its own en suite bathroom.