The chestnut WEEKEND
A magical and nourishing seasonal weekend, deep in Mother Nature
23 - 25 October 2026 - Ticino, Switzerland
Prepare for an abundant winter - Chestnuts are the life force of valle di muggio
Here in Switzerland, and particularly in our southernmost canton of Ticino, chestnuts have a rich, life sustaining history accompanied by age-old traditions that make a trip to Valle di Muggio in chestnut season a weekend not to be missed.
As a sun loving Aussie, I never thought I’d hear myself rave about how much I love October, especially here in Europe where this autumnal month heralds the arrival of the long, dark winter ahead. But there’s a wild kind of aliveness that comes with the pristine air, clear skies and vibrant, transitional colours of this season that has won me over. It’s the sense of preparing ourselves to turn inwards with an already signed permission slip to take life more slowly – something so many of us crave yet never quite master, at this time of year especially.
The Female Forces are gathering again to host another glorious retreat in this very special part of Switzerland and at our favourite spot, the stunning Villa Oleandro, and you can join us!
Instead of wondering what happened to summer and arriving exhausted at the end of the year, this lovingly curated weekend is full of all the things you need to fill your cup and transition with grace into a new season.
As you arrive to a riot of autumn colours and sweeping vistas through the Valle di Muggio, you’ll feel your breath slow down and time stand still. Welcoming you to Villa Oleandro and this weekend retreat is your sign to let go of the doing and embrace the being. Together Sandra, (owner of Villa Oleandro), and I are have curated the very best of slow living, deep nourishment and Mother Nature for you, all perfectly timed for the valley’s chestnut harvest season. All you have to do is turn up exactly as you are ready to relax.
Over 2,000 years ago the ancient Romans brought chestnuts to Switzerland and today chestnuts remain one of the oldest crop plants in Europe. Until the 19th century they were an important part of people’s diets especially in the southern alpine valleys like Ticino and Canton Valais. The arrival of the potato usurped the value of chestnuts and they almost slipped into obscurity. That is until the Valle di Muggio Ethnological Museum revived the old chestnut traditions as part of the valley’s local identity.
During this retreat weekend, you’ll wake up to breathtaking views across the Valle di Muggio, sip your morning coffee on the grand terrace, and let the sun warm your skin as the sounds of nature ease you into the day. This weekend brings together ancient wisdom from Mother Nature, our passion for slow living, and includes daily Ayurveda yoga practices, delicious slow food sourced from the best local producers, and a very special guided hike of the valley’s chestnut forests and processing stages. Every moment of this weekend is crafted to help you slow down, tune in, and fill your own cup first.
A Retreat to guide your gracefully into winter
This weekend you can let go of man-made expectations and give your nervous system a chance to reconnect with your own natural rhythm and that of Mother Nature. At Villa Oleandro, there’s a unique kind of magic, where prana seems to flow freely and relaxing feels easy. From the vast array of freshly made and traditional local products that go into delicious home made meals, to the interweaving of Eastern and Western science through yoga, breath work, meditation and sound healing, to the magnificent vistas, hiking trails and ancient paths connecting both sides of the valley – the Chestnut Weekend is both a sanctuary for your soul and a feast for your senses.
The Chestnut Weekend includes:
Friday we welcome you with afternoon tea, followed by a deeply restful breath work and sound healing experience and a delicious group dinner
Saturday morning we wake up to the day with seasonal Ayurveda yoga, followed by a hearty brunch. During the day we’ll explore the chestnut forests and be guided by experts on how chestnuts are processed and the life force they provide within the valley.
On Saturday afternoon you’ll enjoy a relaxing yin yoga and deep meditation experience before gathering together for nourishing dinner made with locally sourced ingredients.
On Sunday morning enjoy a grounding Ayurveda practice to fill your body, mind and spirit with abundant health, and then tuck in to a final excellent brunch.
While the retreat ends at 11.30, you’re welcome to stay for a coffee on the sunny terrace or enjoy another glorious autumnal hike through the valley before heading home feeling deeply rested and complete.
Our passion is to share the beauty of this wild and wonderful place and to provide a space for women to feel powerful and well through movement, meditation, Mother Nature, food and deep soul connection.
Claim your spot on the chestnut weekend
This is intentionally an intimate retreat and a safe space for women and so is limited to a maximum of ten participants so that we can support your wellbeing fully. Accommodation is split between the stunning Villa Oleandro with beautifully updated suites, a mix of global art and modern design in an historic property, and the newly renovated, elegant rooms at Cà Nani Boutique Hotel right next door. If you’re joining with a friend and would like to share a room we offer a separate price on demand so please get in touch at info@emergencyoga.org to enquire.
Meet the Female Forces Behind Wild Soul
Donna Williams I Host + Wellbeing Entrepreneur
Born to parents with wanderlust and distant gypsy blood, Donna grew up running barefoot in the Australian bush, dog by her side, thriving on a life of adventure. She originally trained to become a prima ballerina but her sense of curiosity and independent spirit won out and she set off on a 20 year humanitarian career which took her to some pretty wild places, where meditation and yoga became her saviours.
Founder of Emergencyoga, an idea born in the Gaza Strip, Donna began her yoga life sharing free online yoga resources for humanitarians living in tough places. Over the last 15 years her love of movement, dance, music and a profound affinity with the planet all morphed into her creating a global wellbeing business, that supports women to re-become their wildest, most connected selves in some of the most beautiful places on earth. Add an obsession with all things Ayurveda and food, and it becomes obvious why slow living retreats, deep in nature are one of Donna’s flagship offers. Today, she lives deep in the Swiss alps and is passionate about sharing all the beauty of her adopted country with like-minded soul sisters.
Sandra Tettamanti I Host + Owner of Villa Oleandro
Standing on the wide, sunny terrace of Villa Oleandro, Sandra directs the gaze of her guests to the valley just beyond Valle di Muggio and to the place where her grandfather was born. She may be Zürichoise by birth but her heart belongs to this region. And it feels somehow more than serendipity that landed Sandra and her partner André on the doorstep of Villa Oleandro just as its previous owner was preparing to sell up.
We could tell you all about Sandra’s long humanitarian career and all the wild places she’s lived and worked, but in fact it is her deep love, knowledge and appreciation of all things beautiful – from art, to food, to design, dance and nature – that make her the perfect retreat host for our chestnut weekend.
Sandra has taken what was an average bed and breakfast space and turned it into a stunning and unique design journey. From the intentionally curated spaces within Villa Oleandro to her home made sour dough obsession, (yes you will get to try it!), to her ability to mobilize the female forces of the valley for our retreat., Sandra is the heart of why a stay at Villa Oleandro is so much more than a retreat.