Your view of Assisi as you arrive by foot from Valfabbrica on the Via di Francesco.

Catherine and her husband Dr. Kees den Biesen organize and lead private individuals and small groups in discovering the hidden wonders of Italy which holds a special place in their hearts. From 2001 to 2007, they lived north of Rome in a 13th century stone house which they partly restored. Before that Kees spent four years studying theology in Rome. They have moved back to Umbria in 2016 after missing the people, land, and sacred light.

During Covid, we naturally stopped guiding groups, but we are now open to helping individuals or groups who are interested in creating a journey of special spiritual significance. Here are a few of our past journeys.

Journey to Places to the Higher Self
21-27 September 2020

Right after the International Meeting at Casa Assagioli, we invite you to travel east to visit medieval churches and mountain hermitages. You will discover sacred places, explore beautiful villages and, of course, enjoy the cucina locale. During this five-day/six-night journey, you will have a chance to experience places of transcendence in the green heart of Italy – in the forest-covered  Umbrian Apennines, the home of many generations of seekers and saints of the transpersonal. We hope you can join us. For more information, see Journey to Places of the Higher Self.

Dante Trips in the Casentino

Past trips have included a small group of Dante enthusiasts who traveled together for eight days from Firenze into the Casentino. Catherine and Kees’ love of “slow travel” brought the Dante lovers to hidden churches and sacred sites that date back to the time of the Etruscans, including visits to Camaldoli Monastery and La Verna where St. Francis retired to in prayer and ultimately received his stigmata.

Dante Trips to Tuscany, Ravenna and Umbria

In May, 2018, Catherine and Kees look forward to welcoming Dante lovers who wish to deepen their understanding of Italian literature, as they delve into the writings of Petrarca and Boccaccio while staying in the beautiful town of Lucca, Tuscany.

Past trips offered by Catherine and Kees include a Dante trip to Ravenna where the great poet lived out his last days. In October 2016, they traveled with small group to Perugia and Fabriano focusing on how Franciscan and Benedictine life and saints who appear in Dante’s Divina Comedia.

If you are interested, either as a group or individual, in being guided to poetic places in Italy,  please contact Catherine below. For more details about our past journeys, visit PoeticPlaces where you can find detailed programs and photos.