Information and FAQ
Registration Information
The participation fee for an in-person retreat is 35 euros per day.
It is possible to request sponsorship or free participation through the retreat fund, or to make a contribution based on your actual financial means, to be agreed in advance.
The retreat fee must be paid within 4 days of registration, except in cases where payment arrangements have been agreed in advance with info@piandeiciliegi.it
The annual Association membership fee is 25 euros. You can include it with the retreat participation fee in your first bank transfer, specifying in the payment reference that the payment covers both the retreat and the annual membership fee.
Please note: all payments must be made to the Credit Agricole account, IBAN: IT47F0623065420000030714189
Registration through the website will open on Sunday, January 17, 2027, at 8:00 a.m.
Registration for in presence retreats is possible after registering on the website and logging in.
These are the steps to follow:
- Register on the website
- Log in to the website with your username and password
- Once you have selected the retreat you wish to attend, complete the registration form in all the required fields. You will receive a confirmation email with payment instructions and a link to complete the questionnaire.
- Complete all fields of the questionnaire carefully, providing the requested information, within 15 days of registration.
- Pay the participation fee for the retreat within 4 days from registration, following the instructions you will receive by email.
PLEASE NOTE:
- To participate in a full retreat that is divided into two parts, you must register separately for both periods. However, you only need to complete the questionnaire once.
- If you encounter any difficulties with your registration, you can write to info@piandeiciliegi.it
Registration for online retreats is possible after registering on the website and logging in.
For weekend online retreats, the contribution is 20 euros, while for retreats lasting several days the amount will be specified. The recommended retreat fee will be 5 euros per day, plus 5 euros (also recommended) as a fixed administrative fee. These amounts can be paid by bank transfer within 5 days of registration. After making the payment, you will receive an email with some information and a questionnaire to complete. Once you have submitted the questionnaire, you will receive the login credentials for the Zoom room.
IMPORTANT: As these are special retreats integrated into everyday life, practitioners are NOT required to participate in all the meditation sessions during the day. This should only be done if possible, without forcing oneself.
RETREAT CANCELLATION: Each retreat has a minimum number of participants, varying depending on the teacher, from 6 to 8. If the number of participants is below this minimum, the retreat may be cancelled.
The deadline by which the teacher will communicate any cancellation of the retreat due to insufficient registrations is the Friday before the scheduled start date.
If you realize that you are unable to participate in the retreat, please let us know in good time so that another person can participate in your place.
The teachings are given free of charge and the teachers carry out their activities without receiving any compensation. At the end of the retreat, however, as is traditional, participants are invited to make a donation (using the bank details that will be provided from time to time by the teacher) as a way of acknowledging the value of the teachings received.
For any additional information that you have not found on this page or in the email, you can contact the retreat teacher, whose email address you will find in the same email you receive upon confirmation of payment. For retreats led by foreign teachers, the contact person will be indicated from time to time in the retreat program published on the website.
The Center usually provides 25 places for retreats with one teacher and 30 places for retreats with two teachers and for retreats led by Ajahn Chandapalo and Piero Urban, divided between single and double rooms.
Single rooms are reserved for people who have a genuine need for them and will be available while places last. There is no additional charge for a single room. To facilitate the registration process, requests should be sent to info@piandeiciliegi.it with the subject line “SINGLE ROOM REQUEST – RETREAT_TEACHER’S SURNAME – MONTH”, specifying the reason for the request. The office will check availability and provide confirmation after registration.
There are waiting lists for people who were unable to find a place, in case registered participants cancel. To facilitate administrative procedures, if you wish to be added to the waiting list, you must send an email with the subject line “waiting list_retreat_teacher_month” to info@piandeiciliegi.it.
If a place becomes available, the office will contact the first person on the list by email, giving them a deadline by which to accept. If no reply is received within that time, the office will proceed to the next person on the list.
The fee must be paid no later than 4 days after registering for the retreat.
If you cancel at least 30 days before the start of the retreat, 90% of the amount paid will be refunded.
If you cancel between 30 and 5 days before the start of the retreat, 50% will be refunded.
If you cancel within 5 days before the start of the retreat, no refund will be provided, except in the case of serious reasons preventing participation in the retreat. The assessment of such serious reasons is at the discretion of the office. In this case, 90% will be refunded.
Retreat cancellation: The Center reserves the right to cancel the retreat if a sufficient number of registrations is not reached. In this case, the full amount already paid will be refunded.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
A meditation retreat certainly offers great benefits, as it encourages the development of moment-to-moment awareness throughout the days of practice.
However, this training requires sustained practice and a certain degree of psychological stability. Therefore, if you have recently experienced a traumatic event, have been diagnosed with a psychiatric illness, or are experiencing severe depression or anxiety, this may not be the best time to attend a retreat.
An intensive meditation retreat requires psychological balance and resilience; therefore, we invite you to keep these aspects in mind before registering for a retreat. If you are under the care of a mental health professional, it is advisable to discuss this with them.
You can also contact us at info@piandeiciliegi.it and get in touch with the meditation teacher to make sure that the retreat conditions are suitable for you at this time in your life.
Tinnitus: We would also like to point out to those who suffer from tinnitus that the condition may become more noticeable in the quiet environment of the retreat and the center. Please keep this in mind if you decide to register. To sleep more comfortably, we suggest bringing white noise headphones.
- Comfortable clothing
- Enough changes of clothes to cover at least 10 days of your stay
- Bed sheets or a sleeping bag, and a pillowcase (the Center provides them for 5 euros)
- Towel
- Personal hygiene items
- Any necessary medication
- Meditation cushion or bench (the Center has meditation cushions if you do not have your own). Individual mats are provided in the meditation hall.
- Indoor slippers
- Notebook and pen
- Umbrella for rainy periods
- Digital or otherwise silent watch (optional)
- Flashlight for moving around outdoors early in the morning or in the evening (optional)
- Earplugs (optional)
- Insect repellent for the summer (optional)
*For longer retreats, it is possible to use the Center’s washing machine for a contribution of 5 euros per wash
Yes, it is certainly possible. Good motivation and a willingness to follow the instructions given by the teacher with trust and commitment, both during the evening talks and private interviews, are helpful.
While waiting for the retreat, we recommend practicing with some guided meditations that you can find on our YouTube channel, or in the audio files on our website under “guided meditations”.
This is an example of the daily schedule. Depending on the teachers, this schedule may vary; wake-up time may be at 4 instead of 5 (very rarely), the day may end at 9 p.m. instead of 10 p.m., and meal times, the Dhamma talk and evening meditation sessions may also vary.
We recommend that practitioners follow the schedule as closely as possible, to facilitate the development of mindfulness and concentration, but of course everyone will be free to manage their own practice – within certain limits – so that they can feel comfortable.
| 5.00-6.00 | WAKE-UP and WALKING MEDITATION |
| 6.00-7.00 | SITTING MEDITATION |
| 7.00-8.00 | BREAKFAST |
| 8.00-9.00 | WORK and WALKING MEDITATION |
| 9.00-10.00 | SITTING MEDITATION |
| 10.00-11.00 | WALKING MEDITATION |
| 11.00-12.00 | SITTING MEDITATION |
| 12.00-13.30 | LUNCH and REST |
| 13.30-14.00 | WALKING MEDITATION |
| 14.00-15.00 | SITTING MEDITATION |
| 15-00-16.00 | WALKING MEDITATION |
| 16.00-17.00 | SITTING MEDITATION |
| 17.00-18.00 | TEA BREAK/WALKING MEDITATION |
| 18.00-19.00 | SITTING MEDITATION |
| 19.00-19.30 | WALKING MEDITATION |
| 19.30-20.30 | DHAMMA TALK |
| 20.30-21.00 | WALKING MEDITATION |
| 21.00-22.00 | METTA PRACTICE OR OTHER CONTEMPLATIONS |
| 22.00-5.00 | REST |
Dana means Generosity; it is a mental quality that can be cultivated in our lives.
Dhamma teachers do not receive a salary; they offer the teachings to those who wish to receive them without asking for a fee. Likewise, it should be kept in mind that translators volunteer to help with the retreat, and that the daily fee you pay to participate in the retreat only covers energy costs, food, administration, and travel expenses for the teachers. The many other duties and expenses faced by the Center are supported by donations.
At the end of the retreat, it is good practice – taking into account your personal financial means – to acknowledge the value of these teachings by leaving an offering for the teacher, the translator when present, and, if possible, the Center. The offering is made anonymously, by placing cash inside an envelope. It is not possible to leave Dana for teachers and translators by bank transfer to Pian dei Ciliegi, since the Association cannot transfer money to private individuals without a valid reason. Dana for the Center, on the other hand, can be paid by bank transfer.
For a detailed explanation of Dana read here.
During the retreat, Noble Silence is observed. This means maintaining silence both in speech and in other forms of communication, in order to develop introspection and continuous mindfulness without encouraging the thinking mind. Participants will have conversations with the teacher throughout the retreat to discuss their practice and receive instructions. Naturally, they may speak with staff members and the retreat manager for any needs.
They are training principles that help us maintain the mind in a wholesome and mindful state, creating a safe environment for ourselves and others. They also help us avoid future regrets. At the beginning of the retreat, meditators undertake to observe these precepts.
- I undertake to abstain from killing or harming other living beings. (Including insects and mosquitoes)
- I undertake to abstain from taking what is not freely given to me. (I do not steal or borrow things without asking)
- I undertake to abstain from all sexual activity. (Also avoiding any kind of flirting with fellow practitioners)
- I undertake to abstain from wrong speech. (Lying, insulting, slandering, etc.). Noble Silence is observed during the retreat.
- I undertake to abstain from substances that cloud the mind, such as drugs or alcohol.
- I undertake to abstain from eating solid food after lunch. (Optional)
- I undertake to abstain from entertainment such as music, shows and dancing, and from adorning the body with cosmetics or accessories.
- I undertake to abstain from using high or luxurious beds or seats.
Meals are vegetarian. Vegan meals can be requested.
Breakfast consists of oat porridge, muesli, cornflakes, biscuits, yogurt, bread, butter, plant-based butter, jams, peanut butter, plant-based milk and cow’s milk, and fruit.
Several courses are prepared for lunch: a first course, a protein-based second course, cooked vegetables, raw vegetables, bread, and fruit.
Our relationship with food becomes part of our mindfulness practice, accepting and being content with what is provided.
Traditionally, the eight precepts are observed during the retreat, the sixth of which requires abstaining from solid food after lunch. Fruit juices and hot tea are offered in the afternoon.
Those who do not feel ready for this may have a light snack in the afternoon, a decision that can be made day by day during the retreat itself.
If you have allergies, confirmed intolerances, or health issues related to certain foods, you can indicate them in the retreat registration form. Please remember that during the retreat, personal diets not related to genuine health issues, as well as personal food preferences or tastes, should be set aside. The kitchen will try to accommodate different needs whenever possible.
If you have many special requests and need to avoid many types of food, please keep in mind that it will not be possible to prepare an entire menu just for you. In this case, you should be prepared to make do with something simple (such as plain rice, boiled vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, etc.), which you can then supplement with foods you are able to eat from the buffet. Anyone who reports dietary issues should visit the kitchen during the first morning of the retreat (usually around 10 a.m.) to make arrangements with the cook.
If you are gluten intolerant, you can bring your own bread, cereals or biscuits for breakfast. Rice cakes are always available.
No one is required to stay against their will. If the retreat becomes too much for you, you can decide to leave.
Before making this decision, however, it is advisable to talk to the teacher; moments of difficulty are completely natural during a retreat and, with the right encouragement, appropriate instructions and continued practice, these difficulties may disappear, making us stronger and enabling us to complete the retreat with satisfaction. The first few days of a retreat are usually very different from the last.
If you still decide to leave, please inform the retreat manager so that they are aware of your absence.
We recommend wearing comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.
We ask that you avoid clothing that reveals too much of the body, especially during retreats led by monks or nuns. For both men and women, please avoid low-cut T-shirts or tank tops, very short shorts (trousers or shorts that reach just below or just above the knee are suitable), and, if possible, leggings. In this way, we help our fellow practitioners by not drawing attention to our bodies.
It is a volunteer meditator who makes themselves available to the other participants to manage practical needs that may arise during the retreat (providing blankets, medication, printing tickets, etc.) or to facilitate communication between meditators and the teacher or staff. They are also responsible for ensuring that the retreat is conducted in accordance with the Center’s rules.
Members who wish to contribute in this way can volunteer as retreat managers, provided they have already participated in at least 3 retreats here at Pian dei Ciliegi. In the autumn of each year, a schedule with the program for the following year is sent out, and candidates can indicate their availability for specific periods. If possible, they will be assigned to one or more of these retreats. Participation in the retreat will be free of charge in this case. For retreats with foreign teachers, a good knowledge of English is required.
Currently, Pian dei Ciliegi has very limited space to accommodate guests who wish to spend time here at the Center working as volunteers, so this is quite rare. Usually, during retreats, only meditators and staff members are present. Nevertheless, during certain periods it is possible to host one volunteer at a time. In this case, we ask the person to follow the Center’s rules and the 5 precepts, and to work for two/three hours a day in exchange for food and accommodation. The volunteer can meditate in the hall with the group and listen to the evening talks.
We will mainly consider meditators we already know, or people who are willing to help and carry out any work that may be needed at the time (cleaning, gardening, etc.) and who have a strong interest in Buddhist practice. For information, please write to info@piandeiciliegi.it
Unfortunately, it is not possible to bring your pets. The reasons include hygiene concerns, the possibility of people with allergies staying in the same room after you, and the fact that we do not have a dedicated space to accommodate animals. In addition, you will be engaged in intensive meditation practice throughout the day, a situation in which distractions should be kept to a minimum. Your pet would be left alone in an unfamiliar environment for long periods of time and would also likely disturb the other meditators on retreat.