Ann Beck’s Tuscan Embroidery Retreat 12th – 19th May 2026 - Lucca, Italy

Every detail of your retreat has been thoughtfully curated to provide a seamless and enriching experience. From rustic Tuscan charm to inspiring excursions and expert tuition, this package includes everything you need for a week of creativity, culture, and connection in the heart of Lucca.

Accommodation
Seven nights at the historic Hotel Villa La Principessa – a former 13th-century noble residence set amidst peaceful gardens. This traditional Tuscan villa offers warm hospitality and classic elegance with rich fabric wall coverings and vintage character.

Meals
Daily breakfast and dinner served at the hotel, accompanied by local wine. Most lunches are also included during workshop days. Please note that meals taken away from the hotel during excursions are not included in the package.

Excursions & Entry Fees
A curated programme of guided excursions, including transport and entrance fees – from a full-day outing to the medieval hill town of San Gimignano with a delicious lunch and time to explore, to a relaxing afternoon in Lucca with dinner in the iconic Piazza dell'Anfiteatro.

Studio Access
Access to our dedicated creative studio space within the hotel grounds, offering natural light and a calm environment. The studio is equipped with magnifying lamps and everything needed for detailed hand embroidery.

Tuition Fees
Four and a half days (27 hours) of expert embroidery tuition with Ann Beck, delivered in an intimate setting with a maximum of 15 guests. Ann’s fresh and imaginative approach to embroidery ensures inspiration, encouragement, and individual attention throughout the retreat.

While we aim to provide an all-encompassing retreat experience, the following items are not included in the package price:

Travel to and from the retreat venue
Guests are responsible for arranging their own travel to Hotel Villa La Principessa in Lucca, including flights and transfers. An optional private transfer from Pisa Airport can be pre-booked during the registration process.

Travel Insurance
Personal travel insurance is not included and is strongly recommended to cover unforeseen events such as cancellations, illness, or travel disruptions.

Beverages outside of studio and mealtimes
Drinks ordered outside of included meals or the studio environment (e.g., bar service or room service beverages) will be charged separately.

Meals away from the hotel
Lunches and dinners taken off-site during excursions are not included in the package, allowing guests the freedom to enjoy authentic local cuisine.

Gratuities
Gratuities for hotel staff and guides are not included. However, a pre-paid gratuity option is available during the final booking process should you wish to contribute in advance.

Project Kit
The embroidery project kit is not included in the tuition fee and must be purchased directly from Ann Beck. All participants will receive details and pricing from Ann in advance of the retreat.

Your journey to Hotel Villa La Principessa offers the perfect introduction to the beauty of Tuscany, with rolling hills, historic towns, and picturesque countryside greeting you along the way.

By Air
The nearest airport is Pisa International Airport (PSA), located approximately 30–40 minutes from the hotel by car. Pisa is served by a wide range of direct flights from across Europe and select international hubs.

Airport Transfers
For your convenience, we offer an optional pre-bookable private transfer service from Pisa Airport to the hotel. If you wish to reserve this service, simply select it during the booking process and provide your flight details.

By Train
Lucca is well connected by rail, with regular train services from Florence, Pisa, and other major Italian cities. The nearest train station is Lucca Centrale, about 10 minutes by taxi from the hotel.

By Car
If you’re travelling by car, Hotel Villa La Principessa offers on-site parking. The hotel is located just outside Lucca’s city walls, making it easily accessible by road.

Pre-Arrival Support
Closer to the retreat date, we’ll send you detailed arrival information and directions. We’re always happy to assist with coordinating your travel plans to ensure a smooth and stress-free journey.

Your comfort and enjoyment are at the heart of this retreat. From hearty Tuscan meals to warm and characterful accommodation, every detail has been arranged to ensure a restorative and welcoming experience.

Food
All meals are served at the hotel’s in-house restaurant, offering a cosy and traditional atmosphere that reflects the rich culinary heritage of the region. Expect simple, rustic Italian dishes prepared with care and seasonal local ingredients.

Your package includes:

• Continental breakfast
• Morning and afternoon coffee breaks during studio sessions
• Light lunch on all workshop days
• Three-course dinner with local wine

The kitchen is happy to accommodate all dietary requirements – just let us know in advance and we’ll ensure every meal is tailored to your needs.

Accommodation
Guests will stay in classically styled rooms within the historic Villa La Principessa, a 13th-century noble residence turned hotel. While the interiors are traditional and somewhat rustic in character, the cleanliness is exceptional, and the attentive, friendly staff provide outstanding service.

Each room is equipped with comfortable bedding, air conditioning, and a private en-suite bathroom. Room upgrades may be available after booking – please contact us for details.

Learn more about the hotel:
www.hotelprincipessalucca.it

To ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay in Lucca, especially during the beautiful Tuscan spring when the weather is generally warm with occasional rain, we recommend packing the following essentials:

Embroidery Supplies
Bring your preferred embroidery tools such as scissors, magnifiers, needles, and any equipment you like to work with. Ann will provide full details about the project kit separately.

Comfortable Footwear
Lucca’s charm is best discovered on foot, especially through its historic walled centre. Pack well-cushioned, closed-toe shoes suitable for cobbled streets and gentle hill walks.

Light Layers & Waterproof Jacket
May in Tuscany can offer both sunny and breezy days. Pack a few light layers and a waterproof jacket to stay comfortable in shifting weather conditions.

Sun Protection
Sunglasses, a sunhat, and sun cream are highly recommended, especially for excursions and time spent outdoors in Lucca’s gardens and piazzas.

Smart-Casual Attire
A few smart-casual outfits are ideal for group dinners and evening outings, including one special dinner at a local trattoria.

Travel Adapters
Italy typically uses European standard plugs (Type C and F), but some rooms at Villa La Principessa still use the traditional Italian Type L sockets. We recommend bringing a universal adapter with Type L compatibility.
If you are unable to find the correct adapter, charging facilities will be available in the workshop space for your convenience.

Camera or Smartphone
Capture the artistic inspiration of the Tuscan landscape, the details of historic villas, and your creative journey throughout the week.

Small Day Bag
Perfect for excursions—carry your essentials like a water bottle, wallet, phone, and a light scarf or compact umbrella.

Having these items on hand will ensure you’re prepared, comfortable, and able to fully enjoy your creative retreat in Lucca.

Health and Accessibility

We want every guest to have a safe, enjoyable, and fulfilling experience during their time in Lucca. Due to the nature of this retreat and the historic setting of the region, we kindly ask guests to consider the following before booking:

• This retreat includes guided walking tours over cobbled streets, gentle inclines, and uneven surfaces, as well as access to historic buildings and gardens that may have limited step-free access.
• Hotel Villa La Principessa is a historic property but does have a lift for guest use. However, most bathrooms feature showers over baths, with only a limited number of rooms offering walk-in showers. Guests with mobility concerns will be given priority for these rooms—please contact us early if this applies to you.
• Guests with mobility concerns or significant medical conditions are encouraged to speak with us prior to booking so we can assess suitability and offer personalised guidance.
• While we are happy to explore ways to accommodate individual needs, any arrangements must not adversely affect the overall group experience.

We are committed to supporting your participation and will always do our best to offer suitable solutions where possible. Please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help ensure your retreat is both comfortable and rewarding.

The Nightbird kit is an advanced level kit based on my larger artwork Nightbirds. It has been designed and hand made with much care and love, with the highest quality materials sourced from all over the world. Prior experience with silk shading and goldwork is recommended.

The finished embroidery is approximately 7 1/2" square and incorporates silk shading, goldwork, crystals, sequins, beads, and couching. It is stitched on a deep blue, iridescent silk taffeta background. The kit requires a minimum size 12" slate frame, but can also be done on a larger slate frame if that is what you have. If you have questions about what type of frame to use, please contact Ann. This kit cannot be done in an embroidery hoop.

I hope you will enjoy entering the magical world of the Nightbird, and that you will enjoy working with all of the beautiful elements in this kit as much as I have!

Please Note: The Nightbird kit is not included in the price of the workshop. The price of the kit is $375.00 U.S. dollars, plus shipping, and any applicable VAT and duties. It will be available directly from Ann via her website. Workshop participants will receive a discount code for 10% off the purchase price of the kit only. All necessary materials and an extensive and detailed, full color instruction booklet are included in the kit. Slate Frame is NOT included.

Cancellation shall take effect only when Creative Experiences receives written notification from the person confirming the booking. All correspondence should be addressed to Creative Experiences, 55 Westfield Avenue, Cupar, Fife, KY15 5AA, United Kingdom or by email to info@creative-experiences. In all cases of cancellation, the deposit forfeit. The following cancellation fees expressed, as a percentage of the total holiday cost, will become immediately payable to Creative Experiences.

Cancellation charge:

Cancellation within 8 weeks; 40% of holiday cost payable

Cancellation within 7 weeks; 60% of holiday cost payable

Cancellation within 6 weeks; 80% of holiday cost payable

Cancellation within 4 weeks; 100% of holiday cost payable

Deposits

For any holiday, we require a non-refundable deposit of 20% of holiday cost. If your deposit payment is not received within 7 days, the holiday may be offered to other interested parties.

Payment of holiday cost

The balance of your holiday cost must be settled 8 weeks prior to the commencement date of your holiday. If your holiday booking is made within 8 weeks of commencement, payment must be made in full immediately on booking. If payments are not made in accordance to this schedule, bookings will be treated as cancellations and deposits will not be refunded.

Insurance

Every person for whom a holiday is booked with Creative Experiences must have adequate insurance cover and must be able to show us proof of insurance upon request.

Cancellation by the client

Cancellation shall take effect only when Creative Experiences receives written notification from the person confirming the booking. All correspondence should be addressed to Creative Experiences, 55 Westfield Avenue, Cupar, Fife, KY15 5AA, United Kingdom or by email to info@creative-experiences. In all cases of cancellation, the deposit forfeit. The following cancellation fees expressed, as a percentage of the total holiday cost, will become immediately payable to Creative Experiences.

Cancellation charge:

Cancellation within 8 weeks; 40% of holiday cost payable

Cancellation within 7 weeks; 60% of holiday cost payable

Cancellation within 6 weeks; 80% of holiday cost payable

Cancellation within 4 weeks; 100% of holiday cost payable

Alteration by Creative Experiences

If in the unlikely event that there have to be any alteration made by Creative Experiences, we will notify you as soon as possible and offer you one of the following options.

1. I) To accept the new arrangements
2. II) To cancel your holiday and receive a full refund.

We will not be liable for refunding any expenses, which have been occurred as a result of the booking.

Our holidays require a minimum amount of guests to be able to to continue with the holiday. We reserve the right to cancel or postpone the holiday in case the minimum number has not been achieved.

Changes

Should you wish to change your booking, Creative Experiences will endeavour to accommodate any changes subject to any differences in price and availability, but cannot guarantee that changes can be made. Creative Experiences will make an administration charge of £50 for any change in booking. Bookings cannot be changed within 2 weeks of the start of your holiday.

Responsibility

Creative Experiences will not be liable for any loss or damages occurred to any client as a result of:

Any event or circumstance which could have been avoided if the client had taken reasonable care.

Any circumstance or event which Creative Experiences or its suppliers could not have foreseen or prevented even with all due care and attention.

Circumstances out of the reasonable control of Creative Experiences such as strikes, wars, civil or political unrest, quarantine restrictions, terrorism, government actions, natural or nuclear disaster adverse weather conditions including injury or illness to staff thus reducing level of service.

Injury, illness or death due to any activity at any time during your holiday, except where such injury or death is caused by the negligence or fraud of Creative Experiences.

Loss of, theft of or damage to any of your belongings at any time of your holiday, whether within the chalet, in the neighbourhood or otherwise.

Injury, illness or death associated with the consumption of any food or drink we may supply except where such illness, injury or death is caused by the wilful negligence or fraud of Creative Experiences or its directors, officers or employees.

Excursion days

We do not accept responsibility if an artisan or person does not show up or cancels private booked excursion such as walking tours, artisan lessons, cooking lessons, wine tastings etc. Should this situation arise, Creative Experiences will try their very best to book another excursion and find an alternative at no cost to the client.

Our suppliers

Creative Experiences is working with third party suppliers such as hotels, villas, transfer companies and others. We are more than happy to discuss any of your requirements such as food allergies with hotels, specific room allocations, pick and drop off times with transfers companies, however we cannot guarantee that your request can be fulfilled. In case of special client requirements not being accepted by the third party, we will be contacting you at our earliest convenience to let you know.

Complaints and Problems

In the unlikely event that you have any reason to complain or experience any problems with your holiday, you must immediately inform the Creative Experiences representative and the supplier of the service(s) in question. Any verbal notification must be put in writing and given to our representative and the supplier as soon as possible. Until we know about a problem or complaint, we cannot begin to solve it. Most problems can be dealt with quickly. If you remain dissatisfied however, you must write to us within 28 days of your return to your home country giving your booking reference and full details of your complaint. We regret we do not accept any liability in relation to any complaint or claim which is not notified entirely in accordance with this clause.

Website Accuracy

Please note that the information and prices shown on this website may have changed by the time you come to book your holiday. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the website and prices, regrettably errors occasionally do occur. You must therefore ensure you check all details of your chosen holiday (including the price) with us at the time of booking. The website is the sole responsibility of Creative Experiences. It is not issued on behalf of and does not commit any independent organization/carriers whose services are featured in it.

Emergency

Creative Experience will provide you with assistance in case of emergency during your holiday with us. We can help you bringing you to health services, working with local authorities and international consulate in case you lost your passport or important papers.

If you have an emergency because of your own negligence, Creative Experiences may ask you for a fee occurred during the process such as extra transfers, missed bookings with third parties and more.

Conduct

When you enjoy your holiday with Creative Experiences, you are responsible for any damage or loss caused by you. In case of damage in a hotel or villa (third party supplier), the client has to pay the damage charges directly to the supplier.

We do reserve the rights to cancel your holiday, in case you put others in danger through your actions, verbal abuse and by causing significant distress to other holiday makers who are joining that group. We do not tolerate violence or abuse in any form to our clients or staff members.