PhD: is a world-leading expert in the Enneagram much in demand for her distinctive combination of academic insight and personal understanding. A student of the Enneagram since 1990 she has extensive professional experience in its application: in psychotherapy, business, personal and spiritual growth and in Enneagram workshops worldwide.
Mauro is the “producer” behind the transformative Dante, Florence, and Enneagram workshop, set against the enchanting backdrop of Florence, Italy. Nestled in the historic city of Bergamo in northern Italy, Mauro is not just a resident but a devoted custodian of its rich heritage. As the founder of the NoveVie Enneagram school and a certified teacher affiliated with the renowned Palmer-Daniel school, Mauro is dedicated to the pursuit of self-discovery and personal growth. With a profound connection to his homeland, he, like all Italians, embarked on a journey through Dante’s timeless masterpiece, “The Divine Comedy,” during his formative years, imbuing him with a profound and culturally resonant appreciation of this literary gem.
Teresa is a certified teacher in the Narrative tradition and a retired psychology lecturer. She has been a student of the Enneagram for over 15 years and part of the core team of EnneagramAlive.co.uk which is dedicated to the provision of hight quality teaching in the UK & Ireland. Originally attending as a participant, Teresa has returned many times to Florence to help facilitate the activities of the week. She now returns for a fifth time and is looking forward to sharing her knowledge of, and interest in the history of Dante’s wider contribution to our cultural understanding of justice and the afterlife.
Helen is a long-term Enneagram coach and facilitator who helps lead us on a vivid, personal ‘felt sense’ journey through the Divine Comedy. In addition to 18+ years Enneagram inquiry, Helen brings a Cambridge MA in literature and deep experience in experiential learning and development.
An excellent city centre location in the historical centre of Florence, it is a remarkably peaceful space. Yet just five minutes’ walk away from the Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria.
Piazza del Carmine, 21
50124 – Firenze – Italy
Phone: +39 055 213856
Fax: +39 055 281835
Email: info@fmmfirenze.it
The workshop ticket price does not include accommodation, as we’ve found in previous years that people prefer to make their own arrangements. We’re of course on hand to help with the advice that’s here. Please also see the FAQ section, full of useful details, or email us if you need further support.
Florence’ Amerigo Vespucci airport and Pisa’s Toscana airport and are both in easy reach of Florence. Public transport links from both airports to Florence Central Railway station.
Florence’ Amerigo Vespucci Airport is just 4 km from the city centre. Easy to reach by bus, taxi or train.
A taxi direct to the venue is a convenient option. Otherwise take public transport to Florence Central Railway station. It is then a 15-20 mins walk or short taxi-ride to our venue.
Public transport from Florence airport: The shuttle bus, named ‘Volainbus’ takes you to Firenze Central Railway Station. Cost € 6.00 (one way) or € 10 (return ticket). Tickets can be bought on board or in advance from newspaper stands. Departs every half hour.
The new railway line T2 Vespucci connects the Central Train Station to the Vespucci airport. Cost €1,50. Tickets from the automatic vending machines at every stop and must be validated on the train.
We say – the best of all three and a real blend. Similar in nature to ‘cultural holidays’ offered elsewhere, where lectures by specialist experts combine with the ‘holiday’ element of immersion in the local culture, sights, sounds and places of special interest relevant to the theme in hand.
We welcome participants of all faiths and none. Dante’s Divine Comedy sits within a Christian framework, yet with pre-Christian influences including classical literature, mythology, astrology and more. The Enneagram similarly offers a spiritual pathway and attracts people of different faiths, yet without alignment to any one.
No problem! Past participants have found the week a wonderful first encounter.
We’ve had several advanced students of Dante in the past, who absolutely loved the week and the fresh insights it brought.
A traditional Italian building, formerly a convent, with elegant proportions and frescoes in a number of rooms, from our lecture theatre space to the bedrooms.
Spend your early morning in the Casa’s elegant courtyard garden. Join a gentle and meditative pre-breakfast Tai Chi/Qi Gong session if you wish. After breakfast, come to the spacious group room, perhaps for an arrival meditation, followed by a lecture-style presentation, poetry readings and more. Take part in a small group discussion to explore how the material touches you and your own life experience. Break for refreshments in an adjacent, elegantly proportioned room overlooking the Plaza. After continuing the morning in the group room, take a stroll, find a sandwich or join a friend in a local café for lunch. Most days there’s something scheduled in the beautiful Florentine surroundings. Return for a late afternoon session 4-6pm. Evenings are free for you to spend as you wish (apart from one group dinner), opting in to a small group restaurant bookings if you’d like to. Each day is structured slightly differently, so this is just a flavour.
There is a lift in the Casa enabling level access to bedrooms and group lecture room. But doorways and equally ancient uneven cobbled streets mean wheelchair access is limited. To take part in guided walks you need to be able to walk and remain standing for a couple of hours: you may choose to do just part of the one longer tour.
Cafes, coffee shops and restaurants are close to hand and open long hours. There’s an excellent small Conad City supermarket with surprisingly good delicatessen just across the square, on Via Santa Monaca. A good chemist and pharmacy also, Farmacia Del Camine, on Piazza Piattellina, just a few steps from our venue’s front door.
Good public transport links with Florence Central Railway station. From there, it’s a 15-20 mins walk or short taxi-ride to our venue.
Bus and train options exist. Buses are very frequent and once on board, the journey takes around one hour.
Excellent information on public transport links here: http://www.pisa-airport.com/en/the-passengers/transport/bus.html
In previous years 25-30 people. Venue size is the key factor and we limit numbers in order to keep the group small enough to be informal and friendly.
All over the world! In the past, Italy, France, Greece, UK, New Zealand, Australia, US East & West Coasts, Korea and beyond.
English is used throughout, with some spoken Italian to help us appreciate Dante’s poetry in the mother tongue. You need a reasonably good understanding of English to get the most from the week.
We move through the three chapters of the Divine Comedy, beginning in the ‘dark wood’ and (1) entering the Inferno and descending its depths, (2) experiencing Purgatory and finally (3) rising through Paradise. You can follow the story as a member of the audience, watching it unfold. Or if you prefer, you can engage more fully, with a depth of experience to match the poetic and spiritual potential at hand. We encourage you to follow your own heart and preference, while supporting the level of work that feels right for you.
A basic level of Enneagram knowledge will enhance your experience of the trip. Consider visiting www.enneagramworldwide.com or asking us for advice on reading/audio materials.
Experienced Enneagram advocates have found it fascinating week. This includes a number of highly regarded teachers on the international Enneagram circuit.
Yes, we’ll send this to you individually a couple of weeks before the start date.
Each day there is an hour or so for lunch and an afternoon break at some point. You can take time out of the programme to rest and restore if need be: we ask only that tell us.
Many people have taken part without knowing any one else before they arrived: all have said how much they enjoyed it. Sharing a table and good conversation with others is very much part of the Italian experience! There’s no pressure to stay in the group for evening meals.
It can add to your enjoyment if you read The Divine Comedy in advance, although far from essential. We’ve enjoyed the recent Clive James edition (2015).
The BBC audible download ‘Divine Comedy’ is a dramatization well worth listening to (and much quicker than the read!).
Included in the booking fee:
Not included in the booking fee:
COST: Ticket 2025 Euro: 1,300.00
