Testimonials
Every retreat has a tale to tell.
“Yumi and Adriano have created a haven for aspiring artists seeking the perfect country setting, healthy but mouth-watering food, excellent tuition, and seriously good company.”
— CHRISTINE \ MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
“Great Yoga lessons, great sicilian food, great wines, great visits, superb location. The chef tuned into our needs and made sure that everyone in the group had a great time. Sicily is beautiful.”
— NANCY \ DUBLIN, IRELAND
“Imagine a group of 12 diverse people coming together from all over the world, each with different backgrounds… It was the most life-changing yoga week of my life!”
— MARIE \ PARIS, FRANCE
“We had a wonderful time and an enjoyable stay at Salinara in October, as a painter/non-painter couple attending the plein air workshop with Keiko Tanabe. Keiko is a world-renowned, highly talented, and skilled plein air painter — and a wonderful teacher. I highly recommend her workshop to anyone interested in watercolor.
We stayed in a charming 17th-century Sicilian farmhouse that provided all the necessary comforts. Our hosts, Adriano and Yumi, together with their team, were welcoming and attentive to all our needs. They took us to different locations to paint each day, served us delicious Sicilian food freshly prepared by a talented chef, and made sure we were entertained when needed.
This is a place you’ll want to come back to — and we certainly will!”
— LARISSA \ MOSCOW, RUSSIA
“My participation in Keiko Tanabe’s watercolor workshop at Salinara left me with wonderful new friends, unforgettable memories, and experiences I’ll cherish forever.
Salinara, set in the lush and serene Sicilian countryside surrounded by vineyards, the Mediterranean Sea, and historic towns and ancient structures, offers endless colorful subjects for painting inspiration. Keiko Tanabe’s instruction was hands-on and personalized, giving each participant a full immersion into plein air watercolor techniques.
The amenities, excellent food and wine, and all the services provided by the organizers and staff at Salinara made my stay comfortable, delicious, and fun.
All in all, an outstanding experience. Thank you again for everything — I hope to see you in the future!”
— DAWNA \ CALIFORNIA, USA
“The restoration you have achieved of the Salinara farm house with its ancient artifacts and inclusion of modern comforts and places to bask in the sun and relax amongst the scent of lemon and orange trees was how we imagined and hoped Sicily could be.
For me easy transport to lovely places to paint and sketch, with the variety of venues, that also gave Dave an opportunity to investigate and enjoy the whole experience, was very special.
We were very lucky too to be in such a pleasant international group with enough English speakers to make communication easy. The flexibility you showed and the variety of activities you managed to include with wine tasting, pottery visit, castle, fish market and the chance for us to go to some junk shops added to the painting instruction.”
— LORI & DAVE \ FLORIDA, USA
“A bit of a delayed post, but I couldn’t resist sharing some photos of Salinara Art Farm — the beautiful spot in Sicily where William, I, and the other painters stayed during Lori Putnam’s amazing workshop. The staff were wonderful, making our meals and daily painting trips feel effortless! Here are a few shots of the villa and its gorgeous surroundings. Enjoy!”
— CHARLENE \ CALIFORNIA, USA
“Thank you for such a wonderful time. We especially appreciated the outstanding organization and care you showed during our painting holiday with Olga Litvinenko. We were exceptionally well-fed with local farm products, and the opportunity to sample (and enjoy) the Marsala wines made it a truly memorable gastronomic experience.
Your staff were endlessly helpful and friendly — nothing was too much trouble for them in meeting our needs.
We would unreservedly recommend this course, but above all, your warmth and friendliness made it a very special and memorable holiday for both of us.”
— MARTIN \ LONDON, UK
“Simply great! I’ve been home for a couple of days now, but Sicily still comes to me in my dreams — saturated, technicolor visions of beauty and simplicity, accompanied by the scent of oranges. I can still feel the tranquility and serenity imbued by this little marvel of understated perfection. One could say that Adriano’s and Yumi’s sense of ospitalità creates a holistic environment fit for books and fantasies.
Great hosts. Great location. Great food. Great wine. The staff, too, were endlessly helpful and friendly.
Our heartfelt and sincere best wishes — hope to see you in Stockholm!”
— DAVID \ STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
“Wonderful experience! I cannot express enough how wonderfully we were treated — from the accommodations to the wine tastings, the retreat itself, and the spectacular Sicilian food prepared by the farm’s chef.”
— PAT \ TORONTO, CANADA
“Another incredible trip to Sicily, perfectly organized! Everything was wonderful. Adriano and Winnie are the perfect team, showing us the region and inspiring our art. Heartfelt thanks!”
— HELLEN \ OREGON, USA
“Coming home allows time for reflection and for slowly absorbing the spectacular experience of Sicily and Salinara. The bittersweet feeling of withdrawal is part of saying goodbye to such a beautiful time and place. Thank you.”
— JENNI \ CALIFORNIA, USA
“Salinara, an evocative example of Sicilian rural architecture, has been subtly and creatively transformed into a refined, charming retreat.”
— LUCAS \ BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
“Salinara radiates a positive energy that makes the whole family feel happy and welcome. It’s child-friendly, with spacious bedrooms and all the comforts you could wish for.”
— ESTER \ SWITZERLAND
“We loved every single day of our holiday at Salinara. For me, personally, it was an exceptionally special trip.”
— WILLIAM \ CALIFORNIA, USA
“Exceptional hospitality! Yumi and Adriano were incredible hosts. Our whole group felt so welcomed, and they went out of their way to ensure everything was perfect during our stay. The villa was comfortable, beautifully restored, and full of style. We can’t thank them enough — you’re running a business not just with passion, but with heart!”
— DANIEL \ TORONTO, CANADA
“The Yoga Retreat at Salinara was an amazing experience. The hosts were incredibly kind and generous, the rooms were lovely, and the outdoor facilities were fantastic. They even have new bikes! Any dietary requirements are perfectly handled by the local chef. I can’t wait to do it again next year!”
— NATALIE \ LION, FRANCE
“This place is truly a gem! We had a wonderful stay at Salinara, greeted with a beautifully lit villa, local wine, bread, and dried tomatoes, plus instructions in English covering everything we could need. It offers the best of both worlds — privacy and natural beauty. The villa was clean, spacious, and tastefully decorated with authentic tiles and charming old furniture. The bathrooms were excellent (powerful hot shower), and having a kitchen was a real bonus.”
— DIANNE \ BRUXELLES, BELGIUM
“My time at Salinara was truly unforgettable; I’ve never felt so happy. Attending the Sicily workshop was the most wonderful gift I could have given myself.”
— PENNY \ NEW YORK, USA
“Thank you for an amazing painting workshop with Gary Tucker — your talent is incredible. The participants were all friendly and inspiring. Overall, Salinara is the perfect destination for traveling alone or with a companion.”
— SUZY \ OREGON, USA
“Your generosity of spirit and warm, open hearts make spending time here an incredible gift. Words cannot express our gratitude.”
— MARY LEE & DOUG \ MONTANA, USA
“Our stay at the retreat center was perfect! Amazing location, spacious accommodations, excellent amenities, and top-notch service.”
— BROOKE \ SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
“10/10 — we highly recommend! The property feels like a luxurious hotel, beautifully decorated, with super comfortable beds and breathtaking sea views.”
— KALPANA \ NUOVA DELHI, INDIA
“A wonderful trip — thoughtfully curated experiences, hosted by the lovely Yumi and Adriano. They are generous, full of knowledge, a joy to be with, and serve amazing Sicilian food.”
— ROSE \ BRUXELLES, BELGIUM
“I wanted to tell you how much I loved the time I spent at Salinara during Gary Tucker’s art workshop.
The week at the retreat was the most relaxing, invigorating, and inspiring I can remember. The painting workshop was fantastic, but I believe that the excellent services at Salinara contributed the most to my enjoyment.
I would stay at Salinara again in a heartbeat, and I hope to see you again someday.”
— JANET \ SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
“An amazing trip to Sicily! I loved sharing it with my mother and meeting so many lovely women. Perfect balance of activity and relaxation, with Yumi handling all the planning — I just showed up and enjoyed! So many laughs, smiles, and a few happy tears — I wouldn’t change a thing.”
— PABLO \ MADRID, SPAIN
“Our watercolor retreat with Cindy and Theresa was made special by Salinara. Their staff and owners were so attentive to our needs and it could not have been better. Amazing places to paint , amazing rooms, amazing food and amazing friendships!”
— MARIE \ OREGON, USA
“I don’t even know where to begin to describe our experience at Salinara. The beauty of the surroundings almost fades in comparison to the kindness, professionalism, and warmth of the entire staff. We spent a dreamlike week, and the owners made us feel truly at home—like part of their family. Salinara is more than just a place to stay; it is an unforgettable experience that stays in your heart.
I can’t wait to be back.”
— ELEONORA \ MILAN, ITALY
“The warmth of the welcome I received at Salinara was so gratifying. It was my second visit and it felt like coming home. It is relaxing and the staff are attentive and kind. We were taken on visits to many places in the area where there were lovely views to paint; easels and folding chairs were provided. The food was fresh, local, seasonal and delicious. I felt really spoiled and can’t wait to go again. Below is a painting of the view from my bedroom window.”
— ANNABEL \ LA VALLETTA, MALTA
“Gorgeous venue and spaces. Very accommodating and friendly staff. The owners are fascinating people and make hospitality look effortless. Accommodations were beautifully done and I can’t express enough how lovely of a time our yoga retreat group had staying there!
Food was exquisite as well.”
— MGB \ MONTREAL, CANADA