So you’d like to travel to Italy with Art & Faith Creative?
We have women email us all the time with questions about our retreats, and you may also wonder what an Art & Faith Creative Retreat on Lake Como looks like.
So all this month I thought it’d be fun to highlight the “retreat experience” with you, and share some of the extra special touches that have always been a part of our retreats.
A Lake Como Creative Retreat
You may have found out about our retreats from a friend or maybe you’ve searched online for a retreat to attend and you’re ready to embark on an adventure to Italy!
We have women join us every year who have many different reasons why they come to Italy with us. Here are just a few:
~ They’re looking for new adventures and want to learn more about the Italian culture and the people we’ve come to know there over the last 16 years
~ They want to getaway from life for a bit, relax and reflect, all while enjoying a luxurious setting where everything is taken care of for you
~ They’ve raised their kids and are now looking to see what God has for them next in life
~ They’re excited to learn new creative skills, to create art from a faith-based perspective, and uncover new talents that can take home with them
~ They’re looking to be refreshed in their faith, deepen their understanding of God’s Word, and find other like-minded women to connect with
~ They want to enjoy this kind of retreat with their daughters, mothers or friends and make long-lasting memories
Today I want to talk about the first two…
It’s hard not to love Italy… it seems everyone wants to experience the lifestyle that Italy enjoys, and Lake Como is one of the top destinations. We’ve been hosting our retreats in Bellagio, Italy since 2012.
What may be hard to see from our website is ALL that we help you with from the moment you sign up to the moment we meet you in Bellagio. I know some women are nervous to come to a retreat so far from home and maybe so out of their comfort zone, but we help you every step of the way. From the moment you sign up you’ll receive a welcome email that gives you a TON of information about the retreat and all about traveling to Italy. It’ll have everything from what to bring, information on exchange rates, Italian nuances, what chargers to pack, what airport to fly into, hotel details and an area for you to tell us if you have any dietary or physical needs we can help you with. We can help you plan your air travel and we organize a driver to pick you up and take you back to the airport when the retreat is over.
Everything is taken care of for you, all you need to do is show up and we’ll take care of the rest…
That’s what most of the women tell us they love about our retreats and what makes them feel safe and comfortable traveling so far. They show up and don’t have to think about where to go next, what restaurants to make reservations for, or what the best places to explore are. We have it all planned out and give everyone the itinerary for the week. Of course there’s free time so you can explore, relax by the pool, have a spa treatment or wander the cobblestone streets and shop for Italian luxuries. We’ve organized the retreat week with a perfect balance of group time, creative time and free time. We want to make this trip as special and comfortable as possible, so we’re always around to help with any needs you may have.
We also love introducing you to all our friends in Bellagio…
We’ve been traveling to Lake Como every year since 2009! Bellagio is a second home to us and we’re considered “locals” in this community. That is something we don’t take for granted and feel very blessed that this place so far from home is truly like another family to us. So many women have seen the deep connections we have with so many friends on the lake, and how much we love to share those friendships with you. It’s a joy to see each group of women come and bond with the people we love so much here. It’s why we feel called to continue what we are doing in Italy… with you and with the people God has placed in our lives there. So if you come on one of our retreats, know that you are not just coming to visit and explore a beautiful destination… you are also being invited into the lives of our friends there.
Our retreats are luxurious getaways that’ll leave you with lasting memories…
I can truly say we pamper you like none other. If you’re looking to getaway and feel refreshed in all areas of life… our retreats will make you feel just that! I am a gift giver, and my daughters and I LOVE pampering each lady, serving you and encouraging you, and making you feel seen and cared for. We take you to some of the top gourmet restaurants in all of Italy, explore the most beautiful villas on Lake Como, enjoy the incredible scenery from the lake on a private boat, learn new art skills from talented artists, here about the history and culture of Lake Como from THE best local guide (who happens to be my dear friend as well). It’s all of this and so much more… I have to keep some things a surprise, right?
Travel expands our lives in ways we can never put a price tag on.
I completely understand that this is not an inexpensive retreat to come to. It’s a lot to consider joining us, but we believe it’s an investment that is well worth it. Our retreats further that investment by learning new art skills, opening up your creativity, deepening your faith through devotional time and creativity that connects us to our Creator. It’s also about finding new friends you’ll have for the rest of your life, and that is one of the biggest gifts of our retreats!
One of the joys I’ve seen over and over again is the connections made each year. New friendships, special bonds, and truly memorable experiences that live on forever. So many times these new friends are your new travel partners too! Many times I’ll see women who became friends on our retreats traveling to each others home towns for a visit or traveling to another destination they both wanted to go to. Even this year I have several women coming back again to one of our retreats, and even two ladies who roomed together a few years back in Bellagio are coming to my England retreat and rooming together again! Those are the kinds of connections the Lord puts together each time, and we are so blessed to be a tiny part of that.
Here’s a video I put together that highlights a little bit of what our retreats are about. Take a look:
Art & Faith Creative Retreats in Italy
For those of you who are contemplating joining us next year I hope these blog posts will give you a better idea of what they’re all about!
Our 2025 Creative Retreats will be open for registration THIS summer!
I’ll share more about our retreats next week, and answer any questions YOU have, so please feel free to ask anything in the comments below.
Have a GREAT weekend everyone!
Hugs to all,
Laura McCollough
Here’s a testimonial from someone who came to our retreat in Bellagio a few years back:
“Picture yourself standing on a precipice with arms outstretched, contemplating what lies ahead. You search, but you can’t quite see what is waiting there for you. You so want to take that leap but you are uncertain. There is fear, anxiousness, excitement, anticipation, and hope. Then imagine you lean into the dive and begin to free fall toward the unknown. As you are moving, you feel loving arms around you, cradling and reassuring you as they gently lay you down in a safe, soft place. That is a tiny metaphor for my experience at the Art & Faith Retreat in Bellagio, Italy hosted by Laura McCollough.
How could I have imagined such a beautiful trip with exactly the right group of women? Once again, when I trusted the Lord, He led me to where He needed me to be. Not only was I lavished with love, gifts and experiences, but I also came away with abiding friendships and a deeper relationship with Him. Laura was born to do this, I truly believe that. She has such grace and peace about her that rubs off on everyone she comes close to. Every hour of every day was a surprise and delight as she layered genuine affection mingled with her gift of ministering to others. I am so glad that I allowed myself to free fall into this beautiful place and time and that Laura was open to God’s plan for her. I can’t wait to return!" Lorraine