Residence le Santucce, Castiglion Fiorentino

May 11-19, 2024

Cary Tennis’ Writing Workshop and Retreat at Residence Le Santucce

BALM FOR THE WRITER’S SPIRIT
TOOLS FOR THE WRITER’S CRAFT

YOU WILL BE
heard
respected
encouraged

AND WILL EMERGE
Energized
Motivated
Trusting your own voice
Eager to finish your project

ALL WHILE …
Sleeping in a beautiful Tuscan  inn
Eating great Italian food
Making lasting friendships

peace
companionship
solitude
inspiration
rejuvenation

Why here? Why May?

Serenity + Convenience!

Why is that so important for a writer in a workshop?

Within the medieval walls of Castiglion Fiorentino you have convenience: shops, restaurants, a pharmacy, caffès, museums, a beautiful urban park, a panoramic vista from the Loggiata Vasariano. Big cities are also convenient. But serenity and convenience together? The serenity that a creative mind needs? The serenity you’ve been seeking since leaving your busy life of family and work?

Say an idea comes to you during the workshop (as will happen)

You’re still in the creative zone! You’re hearing the voice and don’t want to lose it. Walk down via Dante to one of the great inexpensive restaurants, eat at at your own table or grab a sandwich or piece of pizza to go and eat alone in your room. Or dine with your fellow writers!

Why May? After the Tuscan winter the joy of spring is in the air.

Enjoy daily workshops in the splendidly renovated twelfth-century Residence Le Santucce, following the Amherst Writers and Artists method, as described in Pat Schneider’s groundbreaking book Writing Alone and With Others.

How to Attend

Let me know via email — [email protected] — or via WhatsApp (search for me by name, and/or +39 334 725 8715). Then reserve your room at Le Santucce with Luisella Tanganelli, at [email protected]. The total tuition paid to me will be only $950. If you have any questions, let me know.

A Guide for Participants

What to expect:

• Ample time away from your daily life to concentrate fully on your literary vision, craft and practice.
• Daily morning workshops in a beautiful, sunny, airy space, exploring and strengthening your personal writing practice.
• Support and encouragement, no matter where you are in your journey as a writer.
• Natural beauty, great food, and beautiful architecture.
• Our shared purpose: to strengthen our writing practice.

My job is to support you in your writing and to protect and encourage your writing in any way I can—by running the workshops in a responsible way, by offering professional advice on craft, vision and practice, by sharing my own difficulties and triumphs, and by guaranteeing that all voices are heard in a respectful way and all participants are treated with dignity. 

Practice and Daily Routine: Mornings we will gather for workshops following the Amherst Writers and Artists method. Afternoons will be spent variously in workshops, small group discussions on craft, genre and marketing, in individual conferences, in solitary writing, or optional lunch and excursions.
Meals: Each day the Le Santucce staff will provide a European-style breakfast of pastry, coffee, juices, breads, cheeses, meats, jams, yogurt, cereals, and fresh fruit. Most participants like to enjoy lunch and dinner in town at the excellent and inexpensive nearby restaurants. Groceries, sandwiches and snacks are also available right in town, only minutes away on foot. No one goes hungry! If you have one of Le Santucce’s suites with a kitchen, of course feel free to cook!

Getting to le Santucce

The most direct, trouble-free way to get here from abroad is to fly into Florence.

The Tramway from the airport to Santa Maria Novella train station is easy and quick. You buy a €1.50 ticket from the kiosk at the stop (be sure to carry some coins) and it takes you right to Santa Maria Novella train station in Florence. The train ride from Santa Maria Novella in Florence to the Castiglion Fiorentino station is about an hour and 15 minutes. It costs about €10. You buy a ticket for the next train from a kiosk in the train station. Just type in Castiglion Fiorentino. It takes credit cards and cash.  Let us know your schedule and we can pick you up at the Station. Of course it is always possible to buy your train tickets online, and that works just as well. Oh, about the trains: Make sure to remember to open your door yourself at Castiglion Fiorentino. More than once I have stood on the platform to welcome an arriving guest only to see the train enter the station and leave … with our friend standing at the door waiting fror it to open! Unlike many trains in the U.S., especially commuter trains, the doors do not automatically open. It takes a very assertive pull, actually, after you hear the hiss of the door being unlocked. A word to the wise: We look forward to seeing you get off that train in Castiglion Fiorentino!

On the other hand, if you fly into Rome:

It just takes a little bit longer. You take the Leonardo Express from Fiumicino airport to either the Roma Termini station or in some cases to the Tiburtina station. Then you catch a train to Castiglion Fiorentino. Let us know when you plan to arrive and we’ll pick you up at the Castiglion Fiorentino station.

Daily Calendar:

Day 1 (Saturday, May 11) “Arrival Day”
All Day: Arrivals and Check-in at Le Santucce
Orientation, getting settled, tour of the town
If time permits, an introductory AWA session
8–10 p.m., WELCOME DINNER AT LE SANTUCCE

Day 2 (Sunday, May 12):
8:30–9:30 a.m.  Breakfast at Le Santucce
9:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m., Morning workshop
12:45–3:00 p.m., Break for lunch
3:00–6:00 p.m., Afternoon workshop and/or individual conferences
Dinner as you choose–many great options.

Day 3 (Monday, May 13):
8:30–9:30 a.m.  Breakfast at Le Santucce
9:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m., Morning workshop
12:45–3:00 p.m., Break for lunch
3:00–6:00 p.m., Afternoon workshop or conferences
Dinner as you choose–many great options.

Day 4 (Tuesday May 14):
8:30–9:30 a.m.  Breakfast at Le Santucce
9:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m., Morning workshop
12:45–3:00 p.m., Break for lunch
3:00–6:00 p.m., Afternoon workshop
Dinner as you choose–many great options.

Day 5 (Wednesday, May 15):
8:30–9:30 a.m.  Breakfast at Le Santucce
9:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m., Morning workshop
12:45–3:00 p.m., Break for lunch
3:00–6:00 p.m., Afternoon workshop
Dinner as you choose–many great options.

Day 6 (Thursday, May 16):
8:30–9:30 a.m.  Breakfast at Le Santucce
9:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m., Morning workshop
12:45–3:00 p.m., Break for lunch
3:00–6:00 p.m., Afternoon workshop
Evening readings and entertainment [TBA]

Day 7 (Friday, May 17):
8:30–9:30 a.m.  Breakfast at Le Santucce
9:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m., Morning workshop
12:45–3:00 p.m., Break for lunch
3:00–6:00 p.m., Afternoon workshop or conferences
Dinner as you choose–many great options.

Day 8 (Saturday, May 18):
8:30–9:30 a.m.  Breakfast at Le Santucce
9:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m., Morning workshop
12:45–3:00 p.m., Break for lunch
3:00–6:00 p.m. Afternoon workshop or conferences or free time
8pm FAREWELL DINNER AT LE SANTUCCE

Day 9 (Sunday, May 19): “Leaving Day”
8:30–9:30 a.m.  Breakfast at Le Santucce
9:45 a.m.–10:45 a.m., Concluding
morning workshop
Check out 11 a.m., TRAVEL DAY, ALL DAY AS SCHEDULES DICTATE

Fond farewells. We hope to see you again next year!

ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO:

Residence Le Santucce
Via Trieste, 30 52043 Castiglion Fiorentino
[email protected]
Phone (Cary): +39 334 725 8715
Text messages: SMS, WhatsApp