About Sunflower Retreats Holidays

Sunflower Retreats Holidays, established in 1998, is a small independent company and was the first yoga holiday retreat in Sabina, and the first of its kind in Italy.

Our yoga retreats and holidays are based around health and relaxation, good food, Italian culture, eco-tourism and nature, and we promote, acknowledge and transmit the intrinsic and endless values of nature to all our clients.

Our ethical business eco-tourism philosophy

We support the rural community of the Sabina Hills economically by bringing our groups to Italy. Local businesses, from craft shops to farmers, benefit from our visitors, as they live within the community and spend with them. We renovate and use village houses for our accommodation, employ local people and work with the community in order to enhance the village's economy and integrate the concept of eco-tourism into the culture of Sabina. We also contribute part of our profits to support local festivals and functions each year.

We aim to continue to promote eco-tourism and protection of nature. To promote ethical tourism and traditional organic methods of farming, we work alongside the WWF and other environmental charities protecting the fauna and flora of the Sabina mountains, Italy and the world. We transport guests to local nature reserves, wild streams and sulfur springs, mountains and woodlands working alongside local people, as our groups are small and have a theme of relaxation and eco-tourism.

The History of Sunflower Retreats Holidays - 1998 to 2008

Sunflower Retreats was founded in 1998 in Brighton, England, where Lucy and Alan met and lived at the time. They both had a keen interest in yoga and healing and in being close to nature, along with a shared dream of setting up Sunflower Retreats in Alan's home town of Casperia, in the Sabina Hills, in Italy. They envisioned a place where people would come and retreat from the world to enjoy the authentic Italy. To this end, they sought advice from The Prince's Trust, a UK charity which assists young people who want to set up their own businesses.

After approaching The Princes Trust they decided to apply for a start-up business loan in 1998 and were assisted by the Trust's business mentor, Mike Peck, who advised them on their business plan. As a result, the board of The Princes Trust in Brighton agreed to fund them with a start-up loan of £4,000. This helped them to buy, among other things, their first VW minibus. The company was based in England for the first 3 years before relocating to Italy in 2001.

Since 1998 Sunflower Retreats has grown steadily, bringing more international guests each year to Casperia, which itself began to slowly awaken. The community has became more involved with Sunflower Retreats and now, instead of organizing everything themselves, Alan and Lucy have been able to expand into eco-tourism, employing a team of local people, as well as international yoga teachers and therapists.

For the past 10 years Sunflower Retreats has aimed to create a place where guests come to rejuvenate and recharge; a place where people can step away from their busy lives for a short time to be themselves and find peace within themselves; where they can enjoy Italy among people who cater to their needs so they can achieve these goals -- all in beautiful surroundings.

Sunflower Retreats has the same aim to this day and will continue on this path in the years to come. We are transforming and growing more and more in ecological awareness and appreciation of nature. By revisiting our web site occasionally you will see future new projects and developments.

We would like to sincerely thank Mike Peck who, sadly, passed away in 2001. He was not just our business mentor but became a real friend to us. We would also like to thank Jo Pickering & co at the UK booking office, Paola Faggiano and the Sunflower team in Casperia, Marc Wisbey and Karen Hill our web designers, and Carlo Melodia, who helped to develop our brochure.

And a warm thank you to all the guests who have enjoyed our holidays over these years and who have enabled us to create Sunflower Retreats. We hope we will continue to satisfy you in the years to come by developing new projects and ideas that will help you enjoy Italy as you recharge, rejuvenate, heal, reconnect with nature and have a great holiday.

Our symbol; the sunflower

Casperia and the Sabina Hills have many fields full of sunflowers from late June to early August which inspired the name Sunflower Retreats.The sunflower is one of the strongest symbols of summer, other than the sun itself, growing in gardens and open fields with wild abandon. The sunflower is a symbol of community, an international symbol of peace and one of good luck and health in Italy. While it appears to be a single bloom, the head of the sunflower is actually composed of a multitude of flowers, surrounded by yellow petals. Each flower focuses on one entity; the sun. It follows the sun's apparent journey across the sky, hanging its head when the sun no longer shines on it. The sunflower not only stands sentinel as a reflection of the sun, but it provides food in its seeds for small animals, birds and even human beings.

Contact details for Sunflower Retreats Holidays

11 Via Tito Tazio,
Casperia,
02041,
Rieti, Italia

NIF/VAT number: B54329982