San Frediano Church, Lucca, Italy

Spiritual Intoxication can be found just about Anywhere in Italy! To explain my definition of spiritual intoxication I’ll borrow a Greek word – Euphoria – which means “a state of intense happiness and self-confidence.”

Surrounded by beauty, art, delicious food, ancient architecture, a culture that thrives on preserving the best of the past, open-hearted people, beaches, mountains, countrysides of rolling hills, vineyards and gardens–there is so much to take in that is intoxicating, and I’m not talking about wine in Italy, even though the grape vineyards are abundant!

During my Italy Retreat For Women I find Spiritual intoxication in the grandness of Italy and in the simplest aspects, like bicycle and hiking trails, or the statue of Saint Francis on the hillside of Monterosso in the Cinque Terre.

Spiritual intoxication is being in that place where you are celebrating all that is beautiful in you and the world, being sweetly compassionate with yourself. Savoring an adventure, a moment in time and living it fully.

Living the sweet life, la dolce vita!

Spiritual intoxication can be found in…

Walking into San Frediano Church and all of the churches and duomos
Hiking through the grape vineyards on the sunny slopes of the Cinque Terre hillsides overlooking the turquoise water of the Mediterranean.

Spiritual, heart opening, take your breath away moments, makes you want to open your arms wide and love the world, brings happy tears to your eyes, washes away pain.

Shrines and reminders of love and devotion.

A spontaneous kissing embrace, a piazza full of fresh colorful vegetables.

St. Francis overlooking the Ligurian Sea in Monterosso, Cinque Terre

Shrines embedded into the walls

Spiritual saturation on a quiet walk on top of the Lucca wall, le mura, surrounding the city. It’s rare to see it devoid of walkers and bicyclists. –

60-foot wide park and bicycle trail on top of the wall that extends around the circumference of Lucca for about 3 miles

Tasting a double scoop of gelato–noccciola and pistachio.

Lenora and The Forum , 2000 years old, in Rome

Soaking your tired bones on a warm September day:

And a sun-drenched courtyard inviting you in.

Learn more about traveling to Italy on Lenora’s Italy Retreats For Women
Find out more about Lenora’s Sweet Life Workshops and Sweet Life Happiness Coaching.

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